May 23, 2023
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Warrenpoint Town’s statement said they remain confident the club’s future “can be agreed”.
The Northern Ireland Football League have announced that the Irish Premiership promotion/relegation play-off between Dungannon Swifts and Annagh United will take place next week.
NIFL said it was a result of Warrenpoint Town’s unsuccessful appeal against not being awarded a championship license.
Concurrent with the NIFL’s announcement Tuesday night, Warrenpoint said they would not initiate arbitration.
Warrenpoint instead said they would “continue the dialogue.”
South Down Club said this will take place “with our football family in the NIFL and our governing association partners in the Football Association of Ireland”, adding that they “remain confident that a bright future for Warrenpoint Town Football Club can be agreed through this approach “. .
Warrenpoint Town finished the season second in the Championship which meant they were set to play in the Irish Premiership promotion/relegation play-off against Dungannon, who finished second from bottom in the top flight.
However, Warrenpoint’s failure to pay a tax bill on time resulted in the IFA’s licensing committee not granting their championship license for the next season.
Warrenpoint considered seeking arbitration
Warrenpoint’s appeal against that decision was dismissed last week and the club initially said they were considering taking the matter to arbitration.
However, Warrenpoint’s decision not to do so allowed the NIFL to confirm play-off dates for next week, with the first leg taking place on Tuesday 30 May before the second leg at Stangmore Park two days later.
The Club Licensing section of the Football Association of Ireland’s website states: “In 2019, NIFL [Northern Ireland Football League] has taken the decision to extend mandatory licensing to all clubs competing in the third division, the Premier Intermediate League (PIL). This was first implemented in the 2020–21 season for licensing for the 2021–22 season.
These rules seemed to indicate that Warrenpoint could be forced out of the NIFL structure due to a rule violation.
However, Warrenpoint’s statement on Tuesday night suggests they remain optimistic about the club’s future prospects.
“Our goal is to continue to grow association football in the southern Down area and create a community-based club and youth pathway,” the Warrenpoint statement concluded.
NIFL also announced on Tuesday night that the Championship Promotion/Relegation Play-off between Ballymacash Rangers and Knockbreda will take place on May 30th and June 3rd.
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