THE FOOTBALL Association have officially given the green light for Solihull Borough and Moor Green to merge.
The Solihull News has learnt that as of June 1, Solihull Moors FC will start gearing up for a season in the Nationwide Conference North from Damson Park.
The combined board of directors are currently ironing out details but it's under-stood that Solihull Borough's chairman, Trevor Stevens, and secretary, Joe Murphy, will remain in the same roles at the new club.
Issues still to be confirmed include the club manager, colours and crest.
Solihull Moors' new manager could prove to be the most contentious decision with both clubs wanting their current staff to play a part.
Moor Green will be eager to hold on to Bob Faulkner, their stalwart of 21 years who has guided the ex-Hall Green club from the lower regions of the non-league pyramid to the Conference North, while assistant boss John Frain and coach Rob Elmes have been loyal servants.
Meanwhile Solihull Borough boss Micky Moore has stunned his critics by guiding his young, relegation-tipped squad to a respectable mid-table position in the BGB Midlands Division on a shoestring budget.
The UEFA A Licence coach's record, alongside his equally-qualified assistant Duncan Riddle, will certainly not have gone unnoticed by the Boro board.
Damson Park stadium, which is cur- rently just short of the grade B standard required for Conference North football, may be upgraded to Conference National specification in the future with the installation of an extra 250 seats as well as new turnstiles.
After months of rumours, plans for a merger were first announced on January 20 by Moor Green secretary Nigel Collins. The News has discovered that the FA eventually granted permission, subject to conditions, in February.
Moor Green welcome Hyde United to Damson Park tomorrow after stretching their unbeaten run to four games on Saturday with a 1-1 draw with Harrogate Town.
Solihull Borough head to Dunstable Town tomorrow after losing 2-1 to Willenhall Town last weekend.
