NEW Milton skipper Ryan Beck has backed Sarisbury Athletic’s promotion cause and called on the Southern League to relax rules over ground grading.

Beck claimed the rest of Division One were “playing for second from the off” this season as the Hampshire outfit kicked off the campaign with seven wins from seven matches.

Sarisbury triumphed in the second tier last year but were denied promotion because the boundary was too short on one side of their Allotment Road ground.

The Southern League’s ground grading criteria states: “The boundary must be no less than 50 yards and no more than 90 yards from the nearer middle stump on the match pitch,” but the table-toppers are set to meet league officials with a view to going up this time.

And with the champions leading the way again, as well as Bournemouth sitting bottom of the Premier Division following last season’s relegation reprieve, Beck believes the league should reconsider their policies to keep the Southern League competitive.

The Milton skipper told the Daily Echo: “Sarisbury are the best side in the league and hopefully they will be allowed up this year. It is a lovely place to play, and while I know they (the league) have to draw the line somewhere, what is the point in having a top team that can’t go up?

“Their pitch is a few yards short on the one boundary and the league need to look at things like this because it is going to keep happening. If it was a dodgy wicket then fair enough but a slightly short boundary doesn’t make a massive difference.

“With such a dominant team in the league you’re playing for second from the off and that is no way to run a league. The best teams should be in the best leagues.

“I think there are only four of five teams that can take promotion which is a bit of a joke. I don’t think the league will do anything about it yet but they need to.

“It has been like this for years and years – I remember when Lymington went up in third place (in 2008) ahead of Burridge and Ventnor. They have strengthened and settled since then but the top teams should get their chance.

“Allowing movement would have given Bournemouth the chance to rebuild in Division One instead of another season of struggle at the top level. Without their Aussie lad Alex Keath they would really be struggling this time.”

Meanwhile, Milton hope to halt a recent run of four defeats in five league matches when they entertain Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday.

Beck makes one change to his side with David Wheeler, who scored an unbeaten 149 for the seconds last weekend, coming in for the injured Mark House (shoulder).

New Milton: R Beck, L Beck, J Park, N Park, Wheeler, Watts, Elliott, Gargaro, Loader, Prodomo, Staniford.