Yeltz thrown out of FA competitions
Halesowen have been thrown out of next year's FA Cup and FA Trophy without even kicking a ball.
The Yeltz have been excluded from the competition after failing to pay Maidstone United monies owed.
The Stones are believed to be due between £1,800 and £1,900 following their 4-1 third round qualifying win at the Grove in October.
Clubs are supposed to settle their debts within 14 days of games being played but Halesowen failed to do so – so the Football Association suspended them from the competition next season.
They have also been banned from the FA Trophy, as they allegedly owe money to first qualifying round opponents Durham.
Now the Yeltz Trust have slammed the club, managed and owed by Morell Maison, but insist they will try and salvage its reputation.
A statement said: "We feel we cannot back the current officers of the club in the situation they have created.
"We cannot condone the present situation, whereby the name of Halesowen Town Football Club is being damaged within the local business, the social community and the wider footballing bodies."
Guy Cooper, board member of the Trust, revealed they found out about the ban through the FA and felt the club should have told them.
He said: "We've been trying to develop a relationship with the club and feel we should be told about little things like this.
"We find it very difficult to continue to work and develop, when we find out they kept information from us.
"There are a thousand unanswered questions. We are very concerned about the long term future of the club."
Steve Clark, the FA's head of competitions, confirmed the club hadn't registered for next season's competitions because of the ban.
He said: "Halesowen Town failed to enter the FA Competitions for next season by the closing date of Wednesday April 1, which may have been due to the decision of the FA Cup committee not to allow the club to participate in the competition next season, for a breach of rules for failing to effect financial settlement with Maidstone."
The ban will come as a huge blow for the Yeltz who will miss out on valuable revenue from the cup competitions – especially as they are in £15,000 of debt.
Halesowen Town officials were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
