The club has also confirmed that through the lack of management, as well as a ground to play on, the reserve team will be withdrawing from the Hellenic League with immediate effect.

The Ducks were stepping in after Chinnor withdrew from a friendly match with Easington.

But Sports found out United would also not be able to come just over an hour before kick-off.

Their boss, Ian Feaver, said that he was told by Ducks reserve manager Eddie Wright that United's players had preferred to go shopping instead.

"For a club of Aylesbury's stature to behave in that manner is disgraceful," Feaver added.

Now, in resonse to Wednesday's Bucks Herald article about the mix-up, Ducks chairman Graham Read has issued a statement in a bid to clarify what happened.

"On behalf of the Directors, Committee and everyone else connected with Aylesbury United Football club, we have sent our sincere apologies to Easington Sports for the debacle that occurred on Saturday August 2nd," he said.

"We have no excuses! This should not have happened and we deeply regret the inconvenience caused to the members and supporters of Easington Sports."

Read explained that their reserve team secretary, Matt Day, resigned during the middle of July and it was Wright who 'hastily' re -arranged the cancelled Chinnor fixture with Easington Sports.

He did this 'unknowingly to any of the Committee or Directors at Aylesbury United,' and 'the fixture was not endorsed or confirmed with authority.'

Wright resigned as the reserve team manager on Monday July 28.

Read adds: "Knowing Eddie as I do, I can imagine what's happened.

"Chinnor cancel the game with Easington, Eddie steps in to help out- arranges our reserve team to take the place of Chinnor, already aware that the Aylesbury reserve game (against Aylesbury Prison on August 2) had been cancelled.

"Then at the eleventh hour, (he) realises that he was unable to field a team, as some of the players had been notified by the club there was no game this week, and only a handful players turned up.

"With regards to his comments of the 'players have gone shopping' (this) was a complete and utter flippant, throw away remark that should not have been said.

"Out of respect and courtesy we again apologised to Easington.

"I know this does not 'right the wrongs', but feel sure that they will understand how the situation arose," Read said.

"We run a proper and professional club at Aylesbury and I must reiterate this fixture was not arranged, endorsed or confirmed by any official of the club."