Morda back in?

MORDA United have hailed the decision to let the border club compete in Wales as a victory for “common sense”.

The Weston Road club have been in a bitter legal battle with the Shropshire Football Association (SFA) and Football Association of Wales (FAW) after being barred from playing in the J T Hughes Montgomeryshire League.

However this week saw the end of a five month battle and the club granted permission to see out the season in Wales.

Club spokesman Rob Drury welcomed the news, but insisted such a decision should not have taken five months to reach and hit out at both associations.

“If I am honest I cannot say which is worse,” said Drury. “Both associations contributed to such an unnecessary delay and I am just glad that it is over and the club can look forward to 2015 with this resolved.”

The club had faced folding after the Shropshire FA barred their planned move to the Welsh system.

The club, which played in Wales from 1988 to 1994, had sought to compete in the Montgomeryshire League, citing the reduced travelling distances compared to the Mercian League.

It was also argued that a host of Welsh clubs played in English competition and neighbouring TNS, based in England, compete in Wales and therefore a precedent had been set.

However for five months the Shropshire FA steadfastly refused to grant permission until a meeting in Shrewsbury last week saw the county association back down and allow the club to see out the season in Wales.

Story from County Times Sport @CTSport