Mid-Ulster league officials call vote process ‘fair and democratic’

Mid-Ulster Football League officials have described as “fair and democratic” the voting process designed to resolve the current campaign.
Football is on lockdown in Northern Ireland. Pic by Pacemaker.Football is on lockdown in Northern Ireland. Pic by Pacemaker.
Football is on lockdown in Northern Ireland. Pic by Pacemaker.

An e-mail survey open to each of the 65 clubs under the Mid-Ulster Football League ladder resulted in a two-thirds majority decision to “declare it finished as per projected average points table”.

As a result, clubs were notified on Wednesday night - following the Irish Football Association green light - by the Mid-Ulster management committee of a definitive outcome across the 10 divisions.

Relegation was a point of discussion but, ultimately, ruled out in the interests of “rewarding clubs but not penalising”.

Outstanding cup finals will be scheduled “at a later date”.

The option to adopt an average-points system was backed by 37 clubs, with 21 voting for null-and-void and two supporting an extension plan. Five clubs did not participate in the vote.

“Faced with such a difficult dilemma in unprecedented times, we consider the voting process a fair and democratic way to reach a conclusion,” said a Mid-Ulster Football League spokesman. “The members of the management committee were determined to involve the clubs and felt strongly the only way to move forward was with full and open communication from our teams.

“In the end, the approach was unanimous and we officially contacted clubs on Monday evening to vote by Wednesday evening with the verdict relayed to the clubs on Thursday evening, after the IFA confirmed that they had noted the decision of the Mid-Ulster Football League.

“As it was about rewarding clubs but not penalising, we opted to resolve the champions and promotion places but unanimously take relegation out of the equation, although clubs were given the option of requesting it in the interests of future rebuilding and one side has already indicated that position.

“Now the final step is to update the final league tables for our teams and put on our website, with the system only impacting on positions for a limited number of clubs.”

The final list of winners and runners-up or promoted teams is as follows (full tables on MUFL website):

MID-ULSTER INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE SECTION A: Banbridge Rangers (champions); Ballymacash Rangers (runners-up).

MID-ULSTER INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE SECTION B: St Mary’s (champions); Markethill Swifts (promoted).

MID-ULSTER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Ballyoran (champions); Coalisland Athletics (runners-up).

MID-ULSTER LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Armagh Blues (champions); Annalong (promoted).

MID-ULSTER LEAGUE DIVISION THREE: Gilford Crusaders (champions); Glenavy Youth (promoted).

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