St Helens Town to be given relegation lifeline

St Helens Town will be given a relegation reprieve from the North West Counties Premier Division, according to documents obtained by FootballEditorial.com.

The club, which finished second from bottom in the 5^th tier of non league football, will survive because Flixton have folded, leaving an extra place in the league.

The news, which was expected by many at the club, will be confirmed at the league’s annual AGM on June 16^th, according to documents sent out in preparation for the annual meeting.

The reprieve means St Helens Town and new manager Gary Bickerstaffe, will have another chance to avoid relegation in the 2012/13 season and sets up an intriguing derby with nearby Wigan Robin Park.

The Wigan side will be confirmed as Champions of the First Division (tier 6) at the AGM and will be promoted along with second-place Norton United.

While St Helens survive, Atherton LR, who finished a place below them at the bottom of the table, will be relegated to the First Division.

Remarkably, they will be the only team from either division to be relegated this year from the two North West Counties League divisions.

Merseyside will not boast any new teams in the North West Counties League First Division next season with West Didsbury & Chorlton of the Manchester amateur leagues expected to be confirmed as the only new club next year.

It means South Sefton, who dropped their application earlier in the year, and controversial Widnes FC will not be joining the North West Counties League this year.

The AGM is also expected to confirm the relegation of Woodley Sports, recently renamed Stockport Sports, from tier 4 (Evo Stik First Division) into the North West Counties Premier.

They will be replaced by champions Ramsbottom United, who finished ahead of local side Bootle in the race for promotion to the higher division.

Category: News