Wicklow Rovers win appeal to move three teams to DDSL

THE WDSL have been rocked again as Wicklow Rovers were granted approval to migrate three of their teams to Dublin & District Schoolboys League.

Rovers recently sought permission from the WDSL to send an U-12, U-13 and U-15 team to the capital. It was rejected by the powers-that-be within the Garden County and subsequently by the SFAI (Schoolboys Football Association of Ireland) but upon appeal to the FAI, the Whitegates outfit were granted permission to replant three of their schoolboys teams in the DDSL.

The Wicklow Town-based club are the latest high-profile club from the county to up sticks.

Ardmore Rovers, Arklow Town, Enniskerry YC, Woodbrook Rovers and Greystones United have all done so previously despite the WDSL’s best efforts to prevent them.

These clubs alone would have a multitude of teams playing outside of Wicklow, meaning 100s and 100s of players operating outside of their own county.

The lacks of teams now staying to U-16 level in Wicklow will have a detrimental effect on the Wicklow Youth League.

The question must be posed – why are the FAI willing to allow this move which will only serve to weaken the WDSL?

This weekend the WDSL have three games on Sunday in the Bridgewater Centre Park – two at U-12 level and one at U-13.

Up to this game a number of Wicklow Rovers players were likely to have played and they’re now likely to miss out once they sign for the DDSL.

If/when Wicklow Rovers make the move, in order to remain there, they must ensure that for every team they have in the DDSL, they have a team in the same age group competing in the WDSL.

This will most likely see them send ‘A’ teams to Dublin with the respective ‘B’ teams remaining in Wicklow.

The WDSL are allowed to appeal the decision. When contacted by the Bray/Wicklow People, they said could not comment until the full committee has met.

They were expected to meet yesterday evening (30/01) but any such appeal would set the WDSL back €5,000.