APPEAL TRIO SET FOR D-DAY AT WEMBLEY

THE National League North and South play-off picture will become clearer this week as Darlington 1883, Poole Town and Hungerford Town head to Wembley to fight their corner.

All three clubs have been told that they will not be allowed to participate in the end-of-season games as they do not meet the minimum seated requirements needed for promotion to NonLeague’s top flight.

The FA’s Ground Grading Category B document states: “To qualify for promotion to the National League, the ground must achieve a Category “B” Grading together with 500 seats under cover by 31st March in each season.”

All three clubs put in their appeals by Thursday’s deadline and their hearings will be heard together at the home of English football this Wednesday.

If the appeals are unsuccessful and if any of the clubs finish in the top five of their respective division, the play-off spot would go to the next eligible team.

A statement from Darlington, fourth in the National League North ahead of yesterday’s game against AFC Telford, read: “The main ground of appeal is in accordance with the National League rules (Rule 17.4 and Appendix 1) in that the National League came to a decision to which no reasonable body could have come.

“The rule requiring additional seating in excess of the Category B requirements is only applied at this tier. At other tiers, promoted clubs have until March 31 in the year following promotion in order to meet any additional ground grading standards.

“In order for clubs to participate in the National League North/South playoffs they are effectively required to invest significant amounts of money on covered seating with no guarantee of a play-off spot as of 31st of March in that season, let alone promotion.”

Poole and Hungerford, fifth and sixth in the National League South heading into the weekend, are also contesting the ruling and a decision is expected to come well before the National League’s final games next Saturday.

A Dolphins statement added: “After the liaison with Darlington 1883 and Hungerford Town, the club submitted a detailed notice of appeal to the FA, on Thursday April 20.

“The hearing will be held before an independent appeal board. All three appeals will be heard together in one consolidated hearing.

“The club expect a decision to be made on the day, meaning there should be no delay to the current play-off schedule.”