KEY POINTS:
The three United Soccer 1 clubs chasing a place in the Northern Regional League have been tossed a lifeline.
East Coast Bays, Glenfield Rovers and Waitakere City were denied permission by the US1 board to join the new competition organised by the Auckland Football and Waikato/Bay of Plenty federations. The board acted on the recommendation of chief executive Keith Johnston.
The clubs turned to New Zealand Football, which yesterday upheld the appeals and said US1 must now reconsider the clubs' applications on their merits.
The NZF appeals committee also directed that US1 must disclose to the clubs the assessments made by independent assessor Peter Courtney.
It is understood the East Coast Bays club were close to achieving the maximum mark when criteria was assessed and Glenfield were not too far away. Despite that, US1 did not endorse their applications.
Former US1 board chairman Steven Yates, who resigned last week, said the ruling justified his decision.
"I have been very considerate of the whole process," said Yates yesterday. "It was always my belief if the clubs were considered good enough they should be allowed to play in the regional league."
Yet, at the board meeting where they voted on Johnston's recommendation, Yates was the only one to vote against it.
"I was extremely surprised at that. I then saw it as time for me to resign," said Yates.
