The Non-League Football Paper

UNITED THROWN OUT OF PREMIER

- WELSH ROUND-UP By Carl Field

PONTYPRIDD UNITED say they are devastated to have been relegated from the Welsh top flight after their appeal against the refusal of a Tier 1 Licence for next season was rejected.

It means that, regardless of their result in their final game of the season at Aberystwyt­h Town today, Pontypridd will drop out of the JD Cymru Premier. It’s the final nail in the coffin of what has been a season to forget for Pontypridd, who have also been docked nine points this term for rule breaches.

“Our club is devastated and disappoint­ed by the Football Associatio­n of Wales’s decision to reject our men’s team’s tier one license applicatio­n appeal for the 2024/25 season,” said a club statement. “This rejection was attributed to the omission of a signature on successful­ly audited financial accounts.

“In place of a signature, the club had submitted a formal signed letter from the auditor’s office which confirmed approval of the paperwork.”

Despite their woe, Pontypridd might still have a big say in which side does down with them.

Bottom club Colwyn Bay, level on 22 points with Pontypridd and two points behind Aberystwyt­h Town, must beat Barry Town United today and hope Aberystwyt­h fail to win against Pontypridd if they are to avoid a return to Cymru North.

Champions The New Saints

and runners-up Connah’s Quay Nomads bring the curtain down on another league campaign – in a dress rehearsal for next Sunday’s Welsh Cup Final.

TNS are bidding to do what no other Welsh top-flight side has done in more than 25 years and go through an entire league season without a single defeat.

They have won 29 and drawn two of their 31 league matches this term and victory today would also extend their winning league run to 26 matches on the bounce.

The only other matter to be settled in the Championsh­ip Conference today is who finishes in fourth place.

Newtown, who occupy that position by a point ahead of Caernarfon Town, go to Cardiff Met in their final match with Caernarfon entertaini­ng Bala.

The Robins and Caernarfon have now been confirmed in fourth and fifth – securing a home play-off semi-final for the last European place – after Cardiff Met were yesterday deducted three points by the FAW after the charge against them for fielding an ineligible player in their league fixture against Bala on February 3 was upheld. It means Met’s points tally reduces to 36 and therefore they cannot catch the two sides above them and will be away in the play-offs.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom