BIGWIGS at non-league club Whitehawk faced a backlash from supporters yesterday as they attempted to rebrand the club Brighton City FC for the 2016-17 season.

An application from the club has been sent to the Football Association which has forced fans to fight back with an online petition in a bid to block the move.

As of yesterday, over 400 people had signed the petition with the club expecting a similar backlash to the one Hull owner Assem Aslam received when he tried to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers.

In the letter, fans voice their displeasure at the lack of communication between the board and the supporters, other than “a single sentence on the website.”

The letter goes on to say: “While we understand that Whitehawk’s owners want the best for the club, we do not feel that changing the club’s name to ‘Brighton City FC’ is the right choice.

“Not only is the current name unique but the team’s amazing FA Cup run this year offered a great amount of exposure for Whitehawk.

“The club is not as obscure as it’s being assumed and it’s not difficult for people to find out the information they need online.

“Even if a person was to know the club was in Brighton, they’d still have to find out where the ground is, which would involve sifting through a load of Albion information.

“Not only is the Whitehawk name unique but it has 70 years of history and links to the surrounding community.

“There has been no consultation with fans, while there’s been no more information or explanation other than a single sentence on the website.

“The people who come to Whitehawk each weekend are just as dedicated and supportive as the owners, and they deserve more communication than’s been offered so far.”