Warrenpoint Town has warned the Irish FA's decision to refuse the club a Championship Licence and Promotion Licence for participation next season could have a "catastrophic effect" on football in South Down.
In a statement released on Friday morning the club revealed the refusal centred on an outstanding liability to HMRC of which the club was unaware, and was settled in full within a matter of days after it had been brought to the club’s attention by the IFA.
The Point were due to play Dungannon Swifts in the promotion/relegation play-off, but this has now been postponed to allow the club's appeal to be heard next Wednesday, May 10.
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The club has appointed Turley Legal to lead its appeal and said it will "robustly challenge" the IFA's decision claiming they are being "treated differently" because they are a smaller regional club.
“As a club we understand that the Licensing Committee have offered discretion to bigger and more established teams in the league, where the facts of the case were similar to our own," the statement read.
"However, because we are a smaller regional club, it can’t help but feel like we are being treated differently.
"Our club currently relies on the efforts of our volunteers, and we don’t have the full-time support of employees dedicated to regulatory oversight like some of the bigger clubs will have.
“The IFA’s Domestic Football Licensing Manual outlines a review period that runs from 1st to 15th April. This is in essence a period during which potential financial issues that might have an impact on licensing applications can be flagged up and, where possible, addressed.
“Having previously been unaware of it, during the review period the club was made aware of a nominal sum of outstanding monies owed to HMRC.
"Upon becoming aware, the club moved quickly and effectively to settle the liability in full on 14th April which was within the review period.
"We were given a verbal assurances by the Licensing Committee’s Independent Financial Expert that he was satisfied that we had provided him with everything he required – including proof of payment to HMRC to clear all outstanding monies – and he indicated that should be the end of the matter.
“Warrenpoint has worked tirelessly as a club – from top to bottom – to make itself a regional soccer success story and to encourage participation in the game throughout the South Down region across all ages.
"To be on the verge of a possible return to the Irish Premier division is something we see as a fitting reward for our supporters, officials, players and the wider Warrenpoint community. We cannot overstate how strongly we feel about this refusal, and we will not be taking this initial decision of the IFA lying down.”
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