Willow Park FC's departure from the ADSL is confirmed

IT'S been confirmed this week that Willow Park and Mullingar Athletic are no longer members of the Athlone & District Schoolboy/Girl League (ADSL). Uncertainty surrounded the two club's continued involvement with the ADSL following a Special General Meeting held on September 12. At that meeting, the league clubs voted in favour of implementing an alteration to Rule 5 of the ADSL constitution. The revised rule states that ADSL member clubs cannot enter a team, at any underage level, in another league. And with both Willow Park and Mullingar Athletic currently fielding teams in the Midlands Schoolboy League (MSL), it left their futures with the ADSL in major doubt. Since last Monday week's Special Meeting, a solution to the problem has not been found, and both Willow Park and Mullingar Athletic have now officially joined the MSL. Prior to the Special General Meeting, Willow already had an U-16 team in the Midlands League. The move brings to an end Willow Park's long-running association with the ADSL, with the Athlone-based club having been closely affiliated to the league since the club's formation in 1972. A statement on Willow Park's website said: "On Monday (September 12), the ADSL introduced a new rule, the impact of which is that Willow Park schoolboys cannot play in that league if we have a team registered with another. As our under-16s play in the Midlands Schoolboy League, after much discussion, and as we are no longer eligible to play in the ADSL, we have moved all our teams to the MSL." Over the past week, managers and committee members of Willow Park have been meeting with parents and players to alleviate any concerns they may have had in relation to the move, said club spokesman Tony O'Sullivan. "It's disappointing for the club, but our club members felt we had no option but to move all our teams to the Midlands League," said O'Sullivan. The development also means Willow Park players are no longer eligible to take part in the ADSL's successful Academy programmes. A statement from the ADSL this week said: "The rule change was brought in by the clubs of the ADSL, and was voted in by almost a 3 to 1 majority vote at the Special General Meeting. Following the meeting, on September 12, the clubs affected by the rule change, Willow Park and Mullingar Athletic, were asked to reconsider their position and to discuss the matter further with their committees. The ADSL committee were due to meet the following Monday, September 19, to consider any submissions, by any club, in relation to the rule change. However, no submissions were received by the ADSL. Willow Park met with officials of the Midlands League last Tuesday week, and made a decision to withdraw its teams from the ADSL, and to enter the Midlands League. The ADSL received an e-mail from Willow Park outlining this decision last Wednesday. The ADSL, and all its other member clubs, are disappointed by the decision, because the ADSL is a stronger league with Willow Park and Mullingar Athletic. The clubs involved have made their decisions, and they need to take responsibility for them." Meanwhile, St Francis FC have clarified their position in relation to the issue. In an article recently published by the Westmeath Independent about this matter, it was stated the aforementioned rule change would have "immediate consequences" for Willow Park, St Francis and Mullingar Athletic. It was stated that St Francis would be impacted by the rule change as they have a team in the Combined Counties U-17 League. An official from St Francis has pointed out that they did not, at the time of going to press, have a team in this season's Combined Counties League, and the club continues its involvement at all levels with the ADSL.