Rhayader future 'in doubt'

Rhayader's relegation from the League of Wales could put the club's future in doubt, says general manager Phil Woosnam.

The mid Wales side, who finished bottom of the table last season, were initially saved from the drop when Welshpool's ground and facilities failed an official inspection.

But the Cymru Alliance champions won their appeal to a Football Association of Wales commission, and that decision was rubberstamped by the LoW on Tuesday.

The difficulty for us now is the distance involved to play matches

Phil Woosnam

Woosnam said: "There's no ill feeling against Welshpool, because they won their league and we finished bottom in ours.

"We are disappointed in the FAW appeals hearing, though, that they can allow Welshpool back into the league.

"With all due respect, it is basically a parks pitch in Welshpool. People can attend a game there for nothing because there is a public right of way alongside the ground.

"They have done a lot of work there, but it still is not an enclosed ground.

"The LoW has its critics about being something akin to parks football, but a good reputation has been built with regards to facilities.

"So it's disappointing that this decision - basically agreed by two members of the FAW - has been made."

The Rhayader official also believes that his club face financial hardship after being relegated to the Cymru Alliance.

"The difficulty for us now is the distance involved to play matches.

"Our nearest game is 50 miles away, so the cost in running a team to play in Anglesey and north Wales is horrendous as far as we are concerned.

"We have made every effort to get into a south Wales league, but there hasn't been a positive response to that."