At the end of 1910-11, when Central finished in eleventh place, there was a rift between some of the reserve sides of Football League clubs like Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool and the Lancashire Combination. Southport Central joined forces with these teams in a bid to form the Central League. In all, thirteen clubs seceded from the Combination but the league refused to accept Southport’s resignation which was sent by telegram to a meeting of the Combination at the Pack Horse Hotel, Bolton. The Combination felt that they were entitled to more than a mere telegram for a matter as serious as withdrawal. A further meeting held at the Queen’s Hotel, Southport-at which Southport were again unrepresented-turned down their resignation request and went on to draw up the Combination fixture list. Southport, together with Rochdale, stuck by their original decision and the whole matter was referred to the Lancashire F.A who found in their favour. Southport Central were duly elected founder members of the new Central league, receiving the maximum 13 votes.
