A ‘LOGIC-DEFYING’ dispute between the North Wales Coast Football Association and Conwy United is casting an ugly shadow on the beautiful game.
The club say the authority have forced late cancellations for their opening two matches of the season in the Black Dragons Reserve League.
However the NWCFA have reportedly insisted that Conwy should be playing in the Caernarfon and District League and not the Clwyd League-officiated reserves division.
Mike Beech, club secretary, said: “They (the NWCFA) told us we would have to play in the Caernarfon league and we didn’t want to do that, as no disrespect to the clubs there but it’s hardly of a high enough standard.
“The reserves want to be competitive and they need to be groomed for the first team.”
Regulations set out by the Football Association of Wales state that reserve teams should not play in the pyramid system, with the result being that the Black Dragons Premier Reserve League was set up last season.
Yet when Conwy applied to join the league along with Porthmadog and Bangor City seconds, they were apparently denied entry by the NWCFA.
Mike added: “There is no rule to say we can’t play in the reserve league - the likes of Glan Conwy, Llandudno and so on are all in it.
“What makes it even more confusing is that in one year’s time there has to be a designated reserve league in Gwynedd, so we would only be in the Black Dragons for one season.
“It’s all very frustrating and defies all logic.”
The latest game to be affected was Friday’s match with Prestatyn Town, that was called off by the NWCFA with just eight hours notice.
Seasiders press officer Mark Jones said: “It’s very, very disappointing to lose a game when its down to football politics and we have nothing but sympathy for Conwy United.
“They’re the real losers here as they have a group of young men who just want to play football and they can’t.”
NWCFA secretary Keith Wyn Owen said: "The decision has nothing to do with the North Wale4s Coast FA - it is a Welsh FA matter."
Former NWCFA vice-president Bob Payton added: “I’ve been in football for 42 years and I’ve never seen such a shambles.
“My advice to Conwy United, if they want it, is that they have a fixture with Glan Conwy reserves this Saturday and if everything is in place, they should play the game.”