LLANIDLOES Town Ladies have folded their side after a very controversial month for the women’s game in north Wales.

The North Wales Women’s Football League returned to action on Sunday for the first time since it was banned in January by the FAW from staging further matches, because of the league’s refusal to admit Rhyl FC’s Development team.

A month of frustration for the 12 clubs followed until last week, when the FAW announced it was taking over the running of the league for the rest of the season.

The Daffs, however, have confirmed that they have withdrawn membership, following a difficult season that had seen them win just twice in 13 league games.

“We have decided to withdraw this season from the league, due to so many uncertainties,”revealed a club statement.

“The league was suspended for a number of weeks and due to us not knowing if, or when the league would restart a number of players have made other commitments, either to other sports or to work, which is very understandable.

“The time it would take for people to recommit would make it very difficult for us to fulfil our fixtures in the short term, so we have made the decision to continue with training, and if all the problems that have arisen are ironed out by the start of the season, to reassess our position.

“Good luck to all the clubs continuing this season, and we hope to see you all at Llanidloes Town again very soon.”

Women’s football resumed action in north Wales last Sunday, but the NWWFL has complained to UEFA and FIFA over the FAW’s handling of the situation.

Rhyl Development, who won appeals to the North Wales Coast FA and FAW to compete in the league, were finally due to play their first-ever competitive match at Amlwch last weekend, but the match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The NWWFL had refused to admit the team as it insisted development sides should play in development leagues only.

Concerns were raised that Rhyl’s first and second team could end up playing each other, if the first team got relegated.

NWWFL chairman Bill Darwin said: “If we were to accept the reserve team into the league, it would cause many potential problems, especially since their first team play directly above in the Welsh Premier League, and have finished in the relegation zone over the past three years.

“If the first team were to be relegated then there would be two teams from the same club in the NWWFL, and this would cause many problems, and possibly even lead to corruption and match fixing. “

Darwin added: “This would definitely not be good practice, but it is what the FAW are forcing the NWWFL to do. This will be magnified in the future when other reserve teams have joined, as they now have a precedent to do this.”

The FAW, however, have confirmed that Rhyl Development are now admitted, and have the opportunity to fulfill all 22 fixtures between now and the end of May.

There other teams in the league include Airbus, Amlwch, Bala Town, Bangor City, Bethel, Denbigh, Kinmel Bay, Llanfair, Northop Hall, Prestatyn and Pwllheli.

An FAW spokesman said: “Following the previous decision of our Appeals Panel to suspend the North Wales Women’s League, due to its non-compliance, the same panel then sat again on 30 January.

“Due again to the non-compliance of the league to accept Rhyl, the FAW has now taken over the running of the league until the end of the season. We will be also working closely with clubs on a week-to-week basis, and will decide at the end of the season on the next step forward.”

Three of the six games scheduled went ahead as league fixtures recommenced under the auspices of the Football Association of Wales after a four-week break.

Top-of-the-table Northop Hall returned to action in style with a 6-1 home drubbing of Prestatyn, Bangor City’s had a 5-0 victory over Bala Town and Denbigh Town won 3-0 away against Bethel.