Quote Originally Posted by sancho_theswan View Post
Spoke to BelSwans secretary. He clarrified a couple of things. BelSwans juniors didn't have the numbers in the grades required to consider approaching. Secondly Swansea FC were approached and agreed to submit teams. Northern requested that these teams would have to play under BelSwans banner as per NPL criteria which was fair enough. So BelSwans opted to withdraw due to a number of issues. Namely not wanting to cause problems with Swansea FC, both clubs realising that there is a lack of quality juniors left in the area after lots leave to all other clubs and "rep" programs. Lastly not real sure where these extra teams are expected to train or play? So there were a number of issues with gaining an NPL licence... I guess. It's not just about laziness, lack of ambition etc.
Without this sounding like a Belswans bashing and again I'll say that I'm on the outside looking in but to me if you can't fill the required criteria or have any plans to fill the required criteria then why are you and these other clubs still in the NEWFM? For me a club with this attitiude (and I'm not bagging you as it's very considerate of the junior club you spoke about) should be playing in the ZPL.

You have given legs to the argument of bringing ambitious clubs who have the required facilities, junior base and strong commitee to be promoted in the place of clubs like your own to be relegated to ZPL or ID's league.