Tividale face relegation through ground rules
Tividale Football Club face relegation from the Northern League after officials ruled their Packwood Road ground is not up the scratch.
Dale are set to appeal the decision of a ground grading committee to refuse them the 'Grade D' status they need to stay in the EvoStik League Division One South.
But they currently face relegation back to the Midland Football League, despite an impressive debut season in the Northern League.
A club statement read: "Tividale Football Club have received the final report of our Ground Grading (Grade D Specification) Inspection that was undertaken on Wednesday, April 1, at 12pm
"Unfortunately, the conclusion of the report reached by the Northern Premier League and Football Association respectively is that our application for Grade D status has been rejected.
"Having analysed the report of our ground grading inspection in detail, Tividale Football Club will be exercising our right to lodge an appeal to the conclusion of the report that has been reached within the next seven days.
"Tividale Football Club will be making no further comment until the result of the aforementioned appeal is concluded."
Tividale won promotion from the Midland Alliance – which has since been absorbed into the new Midland Football League – last season and were given a year to meet the requirements for Grade D.
They currently lie eighth in Division One South, after taking seven points from their last three games, and retain an outside chance of reaching the play-offs.
Tividale today declined to comment on the ground for their appeal, but sources close to the club say officials believe their Midlands location has been an issue for the Northern League.
It is understood the bid for Grade D status was rejected on health and safety grounds, but Tividale believe they have resolved the issues concerned.
