Hamilton Parish have pulled out of the FA Cup citing a lack of match fitness.

The Hot Peppers were scheduled to face Corona League side Island Bulls in the first match of a FA Cup preliminary round double-header at White Hill Field on Sunday.

“As you may know after our rollercoaster of a season last year, we lost 16 players in the transfer window and more during the late transfer window — most of whom were included in the starting XI of our Premier Division team,” new Parish coach Makhail Saltus told The Royal Gazette.

“We are in the rebuilding phase of the men’s team, relying solely on previous Parish players who haven’t been active for some time and require time to reach the fitness levels needed to compete.”

Parish, who also lost the services of coach Sergio Goater at the end of last season, were heading into the match fresh off a humbling 15-0 defeat by Southampton Rangers in their First Division opener at Wellington Oval last weekend.

The Hot Peppers’ demise comes just months after lifting the Dudley Eve Trophy — the club’s first major silverware.