IN WHAT could be the most bizarre title decider in history, the Wessex League championship has been confirmed – in a stuffy Football Association office.
Moneyfields celebrated winning the league last Saturday as they burst out the bubbly, a champions banner and danced on the pitch following a 1-0 win over Newport IoW.
But the cheers turned to tears last Wednesday afternoon when they were dramatically stripped of their title.
Moneyfields discovered the outcome of their appeal hearing after they played a suspended player at the start of 2017. It has taken so long to resolve that the outcome was only known four days after the season concluded.
Their FA appeal failed and the club were docked the three points they earned in the game back in January.
And that meant Portland United jumped above them without even playing!
Portland chairman Robin Satherley told The NLP: “I’ve had more than 50 people ask me the question, why wasn’t this sorted weeks ago?
“This accusation was made in January, the league and the FA knew when the season was due to finish but everyone has been left in limbo.
“Moneyfields were found guilty – it’s not the way you want to win it but rules are rules, there’s nothing Portland United can do about that.”
