Non league club have relegation request accepted after allocation appeal gets rejected

Non league club Winsford United have had their relegation request accepted after their a league allocation appeal gets rejected.

After the Football Association announced that it would be moving to the Midland Football League for the next season, Winsford United requested “formally relegation”.

The team and the fans would have to travel hundreds of miles to attend away games.

The club, along with Northwich Victoria lost an appeal against the move and now has no choice but petition for a transfer to the North West Counties Division One in order “to protect the existence” (of the team).

Northwich accepted the decision and “will move forward in the next phase” for the club.

But Winsford are taking voluntary relegation.

A message from the Board read: “WUFC can today confirm that the FA have accepted our request to join the North West Counties Division 1 for the upcoming season.

“Whilst being moved into the Midlands against our request would of seen us meet new friends and visit new places, as a board we felt the club could not continue to function with the added strain on resources and finance. We felt in the interest of the future of Winsford Utd we had no choice but to make this difficult decision.

“We thank our supporters, volunteers, management team and players who have stuck by us and shown loyalty in the face of adversity. Now let’s look forward to the season. C’mon you blues.”

LEAGUE STATEMENT:

Since the League Allocation Appeal Outcomes were announced on 9th June, there have been ongoing discussions between Winsford United and The FA to seek an application for voluntary relegation to Step 6 which would be the North West Counties League Division One South.

Despite the Midland League having had their AGM prior to the appeal being heard, it was confirmed that these were presented to it’s AGM as subject to FA appeals. While after an AGM, only internal changes can be made in accordance with Regulation 5.6, equally vacancies are dealt with at the sole discretion of the Committee and The FA have tried to be as pragmatic and supportive as possible.

Therefore, it has been agreed to accept the request from Winsford United to take voluntary relegation and be allocated to the North West Counties Division 1 South. Uttoxeter Town will be reprieved from the North West Counties Division One South, to the Midland League Premier Division. As the allocations have already been published, changes are done to minimise disruption, rather than through national ppg as is done prior to allocation release.

We at the NWCFL acknowledge this ammendment and will be accommodating Winsford United as part of our Division One South structure for the 2023-24 season. FA Regulation 5.10 will apply as a result. For clarity, Winsford United are ineligible for promotion or participation in a play off at the end of the 23/24 Season in accordance with Regulation 5.10

5.10 Where a Club resigns from a League that Club will not be eligible for promotion for at least one Playing Season following the Season in which it resigned.

Should Winsford United win promotion back to Step 5, the club have been advised that the likely outcome would be to the Midlands League again subject to the usual processes of the FA Leagues Committee. We wish Uttoxeter Town well in their return to the Midlands League Premier DIvision and look forward to seeing Winsford United at our AGM this weekend.

Winsford United Football Club ask to be ‘formally relegated’ after FA force Midlands league move.https://t.co/6VsQJHSU1S

— ITV Granada Reports (@GranadaReports) June 13, 2023

WINSFORD STATEMENT ON REJECTED APPEAL

In a statement, Winsford United said: “Over the past 24 hours the club has received the devastating news that our recent appeal against lateral movement on the football pyramid was rejected. 

“The FA have confirmed that should the club wish to remain at step 5 that we will be playing in the Midland League next year as per the recently publicised allocations.

“In an emergency meeting last night the club explored all options, but do not see a feasible way forward for the club to compete in the geographical area of the Midland League. 

“It’s therefore with great sadness and regret that we have today petitioned to be formally relegated to the NWC Division 1 with immediate effect in order to save our club.

“We hope they can assist us and accept this request. At this point we would like to thank all of those wonderful people who helped during the appeal, your support meant everything Winsford United FC. 

“As a club we have not reached this decision lightly, this is a decision that we feel is necessary in order to protect the existence of WUFC.

“We hope our fantastic supporters, volunteers, players and staff understand the reasons for this and stand by us.”

SEE MORE: Non league clubs discover fate of 23/24 appeals (approvals, rejections, reprieves, relegations)

This is how fans reacted as non league club Winsford United have relegation request accepted after allocation appeal gets rejected…

@StaveleyMWFC: Each club may have their own reasons for voluntary relegation. Hope it works out for you 👍

@DavidTa32012708: Although we may not gain promotion at least we can still win the League, Macron, Edward Case,Cheshire Senior, Mid Cheshire Senior and FA Cups and FA Vase so plenty to play for. Recent events have raised the profile of the Club with not only the general public but also certain influential parties and we need to build on this renewed interest to help make WUFC great again (to coin a phrase)

@1874Community: Understand it was a difficult decision for you, but all the best. I’m sure that you will do fine and be back fighting in no time.

@DavidRe86250053: Whilst I accept I don’t know all the facts and restraints in this particular situation, sorry but I can help feel we have are no winners in this. Moving forward influencers and decision makers should review urgently to avoid it happening again,

@APATBillShep: Shows lack of ambition. Should have accepted the move. Either happy to stagnate at Level 6 or hope that laterals have stopped if they ever get promoted to the Prem.

@daleskitt: It’s certainly a brave move by Winsford considering they won’t be seeing Step 5 football now until at least 2025… they’ll be making a few trips to Shropshire and Staffordshire in the NWCFL D1 South next season…. which they would have done in the MFL anyway.

@RussWWFC: It is a sad situation but just bad luck. Always gonna be some areas that have too many teams.

@ulstershaker: Got to feel sorry for Winsford United and their fans. Put in a league against their wishes, can’t compete in that league and stay viable, opt to go back whenst they came but at a lower level and can’t win promotion for a year. It all seems rather unfair on Winsford to me!

@Russ030695: The league and @FA have done nothing to help Winsford,being forced to relegate yourself because you had your league switched without any request or consultation shows the blazers don’t care. Just a paperwork exercise. @KieranMaguire hopefully you can cover this in a podcast

@Wrenchi: A strange decision, into a lesser league with no hope of promotion, travelling to a number of teams close to the midland league, once available for promotion, back to the Midland league in any case.
Odd

@BlueBren: Seems like common sense has prevailed for once. A rare quality where many football associations are concerned.

It is a triple whammy for @WinsfordUnited as they are now ineligible for promotion next season and if they gained promotion in 24/25 and refuse a move to @MidlandLeague, they will be relegated to the feeder Leagues.

— Paul Lawler (@paullawler) June 14, 2023

Of course the winners out of this are @UttoxeterTownFC who get a reprieve and rejoin @MidlandLeague. They of course lost their appeal against lateral movement to @nwcfl as they found themselves in the same situation to @WinsfordUnited @CongletonFC and @NorthwichVicsFC

— Paul Lawler (@paullawler) June 14, 2023