Gresford Athletic receive tier 2 licence setback – Caersws, Cefn Albion and Flint Mountain also fail first attempt

Gresford Athletic are confident they can overcome a problem which has prevented them getting a tier 2 licence at the first attempt.

The Cymru North club, who will ground-share with Cefn Druids at The Rock next season, need the document to remain competing at their current level. The one stumbling block, Gresfird have revealed, is a ‘personnel matter’.

The FAW Tier 2 First Instance Body met yesterday and today to consider the Tier 2 Licensing Applications for the 2023/24 season.

The Panel assessed 63 applicants for the Tier 2 Certification and clubs were assessed against a number of infrastructure and personnel criteria.

FAW Tier 2 Licensing is a mandatory requirement for clubs to participate at Tier 2 of the Welsh Football Pyramid for the 2023/24 season.

Gresford were the only existing Tier 2 club refused a licence.

The Wrexham area club said in a statement: “Gresford Athletic have today received the news that the First Instance Body (FIB) have rejected the club’s FAW Tier 2 License application for the 2023/24 season.

“Whilst the news is very disappointing for the club, we have read through the letter of notification and are confident that the one personnel discrepancy can be rectified upon appeal and we fully intend to do so.

“We will be making no further comment at this time.”

Ardal North East champions Caersws and promotion hopefuls from that league, Cefn Albion, were also refused a tier 2 licence, as were Ardal North West fourth-place finishers Flint Mountain.

From tier 3, Bangor 1876, Denbigh Town, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and Brickfield Rangers were granted tier 2 licences.

Denbigh and 1876 have it between them to finish first and second in tier 3 Ardal North West, where two promotion places are up for grabs, one via a play-off against the Ardal North East runners-up.

Following today’s meeting, the independent First Instance Body decided on the following:

NORTH

Existing Tier 2 Clubs:

Granted (15)

Buckley Town
Cefn Druids
Chirk AAA
Colwyn Bay
Conwy Borough
Guilsfield
Holyhead Hotspur
Holywell Town
Llandudno
Llanidloes Town
Mold Alexandra
Penrhyncoch
Porthmadog
Prestatyn Town
Ruthin Town

• Conwy Borough, Holyhead Hotspur and Penrhyncoch all finished in relegation positions.

Refused (1)

Gresford Athletic

Existing Tier 3 Clubs

Granted (4)

Bangor 1876
Brickfield Rangers
Y Rhyl 1879
Denbigh Town

Refused (3)

Caersws
Cefn Albion
Flint Mountain

Withdrew (5)

Corwen
Llanfair United
Llanuwchllyn
Llay Miners Welfare
Nantlle Vale

All clubs have a right of appeal against these decisions and must be submitted within 10 days.