ONE of Gwent’s top clubs are set for a Sport Arbitration tribunal after a row with the Football Association of Wales has left them unable to kick a ball in anger so far this season.

Cwmbran Celtic, who finished fourth from bottom of Welsh League, Division One, last term, alongside Ammanford (who suffered the same fate in Division Two), are set for action after a dispute over relegation procedure.

In scenes similar to the previous year with Barry, a row over procedure and policy at the FAW and Welsh League has led to chaos in terms of scheduling with the clubs relegated, despite not finishing in the relegation zone.

Both clubs are already eight games in arrears this season and rooted to the bottom of divisions Two and Three with no points in a row that has rumbled for 171 days, though realistically, they already face a huge battle to fulfil their fixture obligations, irrespective of which division they end up in.

The row unbelievably extends to six months, the problem initially arising in April when the campaign concluded, when the FAW announced they would not increase Division One to 17 clubs to accommodate the relegated Afon Lido.

That meant that four teams would be relegated, despite the rules of the competition stating clearly at the start of the campaign that only three teams would go down.

The two clubs are arguing simply that the FAW have failed to comply with their own regulations and have been left angered by what they say is a lack of common courtesy from the power brokers of Welsh football.

Celtic say they first heard rumours of their impending relegation on social media in April, but they were assured by Welsh League officials that the precedent that saw Barry win a High Court battle to remain in the Welsh League the previous year would mean no procedural changes.

However, in April the FAW ruled that the two clubs would be relegated, a status instantly challenged by the clubs with Celtic’s John Stockwell writing a five-page letter to the FAW requesting mediation with legal representation.

That letter was ignored by the FAW, before a meeting of the 51 Welsh League clubs on June 28 saw them vote for a 17-team division next term.

That was one of several occasions the clubs believed the issue to be resolved, but Celtic were then stunned to receive notice that a letter from FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford was stating that another SGM needed to be called and that “appropriate sanctions,” would be handed out if the clubs didn’t reverse their decision. They duly did.

Celtic and Ammanford lodged an appeal on July 22 against the verdict but a hearing didn’t occur until August 26, a 35-day delay.

That meeting was chaired by a district judge alongside two FAW councillors (neither from South Wales), but privately representatives for the clubs felt insulted after being forced to rush through their testimony, though the clubs did win the appeal.

That led to a special meeting on September 25 at the FAW with the clubs confident that having the support of the Welsh League and its member clubs that they’d finally get the news they craved. However, the FAW still voted against the clubs who are now stuck in limbo.

Perhaps most surprisingly, when the FAW’s 29 council members voted on the issue, the 12 members who are a part of the Welsh League management committee – and therefore most privy to how the procedure works - were banned from voting.

The entire saga has now reached day number 171 and John Stockwell of Cwmbran Celtic – who has been representing both clubs – insists all they want is justice.

“We are taking this to the Sports arbitration tribunal. The Arbitrator will be a prominent Sports barrister and we absolutely will abide by his decision,” he said.

“But as we see it, the FAW are stopping us from playing football and have failed to comply with their own procedures. We have tried to meet six times with Mr Ford to resolve the matter but he has refused to even reply to our letters.

“At no time have the FAW ever told us our case is flawed.

“It is not fair on our players, supporters or committee to be treated this badly by the organisation that is supposed to set fair rules and abide by them.

“The FAW council has 12 members who are also on the Welsh League management committee. The FAW stopped them voting on this matter which is something they did not insist on last year in the Barry Town case.

“They even introduced a rule change last Thursday to force their decision through. This was undemocratic and something they should be ashamed of.”

The Argus contacted the FAW but Mr Ford was unavailable for comment as he’s at an IFAB meeting abroad.