THE UniBond League Premier Division play-offs have been re-arranged following an edict by the FA which has resulted in Hyde United being declared champions and Prescot Cables moving into fifth place at the expense of Burscough, who miss out by one point.
The league's management board originally decided to expunge the record of Spennymoor United, who failed to fulfil 10 of their last 11 fixtures, a decision which suddenly rendered Farsley Celtic champions, with Hyde, Workington, Whitby and Burscough in the four play-off places.
However, following an appeal by Hyde and Work-ington alleging that the ruling was tardy and unfair, the FA overturned the league decision and ordered that Spennymoor's unplayed games should all be deemed 0-0 draws, with three points going to their opponents.
This has meant redrawing the final table and Farsley Celtic, after believing they had won the title and automatic promotion to Nationwide Conference North, now wind up third on 83 points, the champion-ship going to Hyde with 88 points. Workington finish runners-up with 85 points and Whitby are fourth on 80, while Prescot Cables receive an unexpected boost to fifth spot on 71 points, one more than Burscough who had themselves been preparing to take part in the play-offs.
The semi-finals will now be played on Saturday with Workington at home to Prescot and Farsley Celtic hosting Whitby Town. The final will be the following mid-week.
This might not be the end of the affair, however as disappointed Farsley and Burscough have promised to fight the FA verdict at 'a higher level', although Uni-Bond League chief executive Duncan Bayley stresses that the FA's decision is final and binding.
Burscough press officer Stan Strickland said: "The decision to expunge Spennymoor's record by the UniBond League Management Committee was clearly the right one and has been recognised as such throughout the League by clubs and supporters without a direct interest in the outcome.
"No decision could be satisfactory for everyone, but in the circumstances the final league table should be based only on results. It really is beyond belief."
