| Gloom and joy over licence appeals |
| Tuesday 18 May 2010 |
 THERE was gloom at Llangefni and Rhyl, but joy in Bala, Haverfordwest and Newtown, after the outcome of the domestic licence appeals. The failure of the Lilywhites and promotion aspirants Afan Lido and Llangefni to gain their tickets opened the door for three Welsh Premier clubs to escape the drop despite finishing outside the top 10. Cefni's licensing officer and vice-chairman Russ Austin said: "We’re very disappointed for all those at the club who worked so hard to try to get us the licence and the players whose tremendous efforts won us the Cymru Alliance. "This doesn't give a lot of encouragement for all the other feeder league clubs who want to come up as if we can’t get in I can't imagine who will." But Haverfordwest chairman Rob Summons was delighted at the last-minute reprieve. "I cannot put into words what this means to the fans, players and officials, it is certainly a relief, as now we can get on with the business of organising for next season," he said. And manager Derek Brazil said he was looking forward to the increased competition in the new league and is already planning his squad for next season. The celebrations were also shared at Newtown, the lowest-placed of the clubs to survive: "My reaction is one of sheer joy and relief," said chairman Mike Jones (pictured). "We now have a second chance to take the club forward and we must seize that chance with both hands. "Darren [Ryan] has been like a coiled spring waiting for today's news but now he can make his moves in the transfer market. He knows who he wants and the club will back him and help him in every way possible. "The WPL will be tougher than ever next season and we need to up our game in every department. "It would have been devastating to miss out on the new set-up and we must learn the lesson of last season. "They say that for every winner there is a loser but this season six clubs have lost out and I sympathise with the directors and supporters of all those clubs who will not be celebrating tonight," Jones added. Rhyl Fans Association chairman Jonathan Evans summed-up the feelings of supporters: "We are devastated – the Welsh Premier without Rhyl is like fish without chips,” he said. "After all the difficulties of last season we thought things were sorted so this has come as a real blow. "It is not just Rhyl who will suffer – the league will suffer too. "It is proving hard enough to sell this Super 12 idea, but now they’ll be doing it without one of the biggest clubs. "But we’ve been the best supported club in the league for the past six or seven years and we will continue to follow Rhyl whether they are in the Welsh Premier or the Sunday League." Gap Connah's Quay also drop into the Cymru Alliance after failing in their appeal and secretary Ally Bennett said: "We have still not been informed [by the FAW] but really no surprise there." |