KEY POINTS:
United Soccer 1 has again slammed the door on the three clubs chasing places in the new-look Northern Regional League.
After being instructed by New Zealand Football's appeals committee to revisit the appeals from the Glenfield Rovers, East Coast Bays and Waitakere City clubs, the federation's board has reaffirmed their decision to stop them from entering the new competition which replaces the old Northern Premier League/First Division.
"The board carefully reviewed each club's submission separately," said new chairman Bevan Catley. "Then all three submissions collectively, and the unanimous decision of the board was that our original decision should stand."
In making the not-unexpected call, Catley said he hoped that would be the end of the matter.
At least one club intends taking the issue back to New Zealand Football.
"The decision is totally unacceptable," said Waitakere chairman Peter Bult yesterday. "We will again be appealing to New Zealand Football and asking that they give us an outright/binding decision without further input from US1."
The three clubs have reluctantly entered teams in the federation's competition. While they now appear to have lost any chance of playing in the Lotto Sports NRL, which kicks off today, it is unlikely they will give up fighting for their members to play at the highest level.
