Rangers promotion rejected

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 42

Rangers promotion rejected

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Rangers will not, after all, be permitted to field a team in both the Rothmans Soccer League and the top regional contest, the Hertz League, next season.

At a meeting on Monday evening, to which all clubs in the Hertz League and the premier league were invited, the clubs voted, 8-3, against allowing Rangers, which won the premier competition last winter, to be promoted. Nearly two months ago, the southern regional council agreed to promote Rangers, which have just completed their first year in the national league.

This was a direct reversal i of the situation which had existed for several years. But it was believed a precedent had been set — and a loophole created — by Dunedin City, which had its second team in the southern zone of the Hertz League last season. It was ruled that only the play-off: matches between the two zone winners constituted the regional league — the zone contests were i the equivalent of qualifying grades. But, obviously, several Christchurch clubs were un- i happy with the situation and a letter from the Cashmere- < Wanderers club resulted in <

the meeting being arranged. The letter made three relevant points.— The New Zealand Football Association’s rules state that no club can field more than one team in the national league and in the various divisions of the regional leagues; The majority of Canterbury clubs have for several years rejected Christchurch United’s proposal to allow national league teams into the top regional contest, therefore giving an indication of their feelings on the matter; And the better players m Christchurch would be inclined to move to Rangers,

realising that, at worst, they would be playing in the southern league, thus weakening other clubs in the league. The eight clubs which voted against the promotion of Rangers were Western, Halswell United, Cashmere, Shamrock, Technical, Nomads United, New Brighton, and Burndale United. The three in favour Were Rangers, Woolston W.M.C. and Christchurch United. Those absent were the two Timaru sides, Northern Hearts and Timaru City, Temuka United, University and High School Old Boys.