England's biggest crisis club relegated THREE divisions after being left with no pitch and playing 70 miles away
But it's somehow got worse - AFTER the season finished.
2
Farsley Celtic hope to set up a new groundshare for next season
Credit: Rex
2
Celtic were not able to use their ground this season
Credit: Rex
Fans blasted an "absolutely crazy" situation as Celtic have been relegated THREE DIVISIONS.
Crisis upon crisis has descended upon the semi-professional Yorkshire club following a failed decision to put in an artificial pitch at their Throstle Nest ground last year.
It never got built - so Celtic played most of their 2024-25 'home' games 70 miles away in Buxton, Derbyshire.
They famously
READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
Controversial chairman Paul Barthorpe then departed - with Celtic forced to field youngsters on the way to finishing bottom of the National League North.
But instead of dropping into the Northern Premier League, they have been booted all the way down to the ninth tier - the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
Low points of the season included a 6-1 defeat to then-bottom Needham Market - when Redfearn was absent without explanation.
Women's team manager Izzy Roads and youth coach Phil Lake took the reins, with Redfearn later revealing he had resigned days earlier.
Most read in Football
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
Under-fire Barthorpe soon quit too after six years steering a club that had went bust in 2010 but reformed in 2015.
Now homeless Celtic have been denied a licence to play in Steps 1-4 - the four highest levels below the EFL.
The club said: "As a board we recognise this will be as disappointing for our fans as it is for us. It's not what we wanted.
"But sometimes you need to take a step backwards in order to move forwards, and pragmatically we believe this move to be necessary to protect the long-term financial future of our club."
One fan responded: "It's absolutely crazy that Farsley Celtic has dropped three divisions to now the 9th tier of the English football pyramid.
"It's an absolute joke, should never have got this far out of hand."
Another wrote: "Triple relegation to Step 5... what a mess!"
However, a third supporter took a longer-term view.
He posted: "Like any fan I want to get back up ASAP but we need time to stabilise behind the scenes and then get back up where we belong.
"I'd say 2-3 seasons hopefully then we go back up with a sustainable model."
While we could have appealed against this decision, the long-term future of the club remains our priority
Club statement
Celtic issued a lengthy statement on being booted down the leagues - insisting a groundsharing deal has already nearly been sorted for next term as they rebuild gradually.
They said: "At the end of the last season we said our efforts would be concentrated around ensuring the financial stability of the club.
"A season playing all our games away from The Citadel was always going to leave us with a financially challenging summer.
"The debts facing the club have continued to mount in recent weeks.
"We are in a situation where we have to be pragmatic. NCEL offers us significantly lower travelling costs and running costs in general as we seek to stabilise the club."
Celtic are finally hoping to get a new surface so they can return home.
Their statement added: "Our funding bid for a new pitch will be decided by the Football Foundation next month.
"Our planning application for new energy efficient and reliable floodlights is being considered by the council and is subject to a funding bid.
"A ground share for the start of next season is almost agreed, and we are still working on securing a lease for the ground.
"While we could have appealed against this decision, the long-term future of the club remains our priority and a lot of work is being put in by the board and others to ensure Farsley continues to have a semi professional football club.
"The long-term future of our first team, Deaf, Junior and Women's sides continues to be our priority."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Ger Lyons left ‘gobsmacked' as Howd'yadoit claims Naas €110k prize under Colin Keane
Completing a 38/1 treble on the day, Keane got up close home on the 13/2 chance to hold off Unbreakable Duke by a nose to claim the €110,000 first prize. Unbreakable Duke was subsequently demoted to third, with Summer Is Tomorrow promoted to second, following a stewards' inquiry into interference. English raider Jel Pepper (6/4 favourite) was fourth for Paul and Oliver Cole, while Prix Robert Papin winner Green Sense was withdrawn by Joseph O'Brien due to unsuitable ground. Lyons, who teamed up with Keane to land this race with Sacred Bridge in 2021, admitted: 'I'm gobsmacked, as I didn't think he'd be good enough. 'What an honest horse, he's been doing it well. We wanted to win a maiden en route to winning a nursery, but he (handicapper) hit him with a mark that I thought was ridiculous for what I felt was a poor maiden. 'We came here because it was a good pot, and I said any bit of the prize-money is grand. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd win.' He added: 'I'm delighted as Sean's (Jones, owner) horses are now bought for and named by his sons Eddie and James to keep them interested and they are here today. They are the next generation, so it's great. Seán has been with me from day one.' Bonus Time kicked of the Keane hat-trick by making all to land the opening Ironxcell For Energy Race over an extended five furlongs. The 2/5 hotpot was sent straight to the head of the field with Zuheila racing keenly in behind. Keane did not have to ask his mount too many questions as the Paddy Twomey-trained filly ran out a half-length winner from Kodilicious. The second leg of the jockey's treble came aboard Michael O'Callaghan-trained Noli Timere which justified 11/4 favouritism by three lengths in the fillies' maiden over a mile. Down in Cork, Phillip Enright was the jockey form as he completed a double, which was initiated by the victory of Love At Sea (5/2) in the opening Mallow Mares Maiden Hurdle. Second at Ballinrobe on her most recent start, the Eddie Power-trained seven-year-old attempted to make all but was headed at the third last by 11/8 favourite Kabylia, which was travelling strongly in the hands of Conor Stone-Walsh. Not fluent over the last, the market leader failed to kick on and was headed by the rallying Love At Sea with Enright at his strongest in the last half-furlong to get Power's charge up by a half-length. The Kerry rider went on to complete his brace an hour later aboard The Border Boy (17/2) in the second division of the two-mile, one-furlong handicap hurdle. The Border Boy jumped into a narrow lead at the third last and Seán Aherne's charge increased his advantage heading to the last, before galloping clear and prevailing by two and three-quarters of a length from runner-up Bannow Blaze. The featured Follow Us On Twitter Hurdle turned into a match after the defection of The Big Doyen. Alan O'Sullivan attempted to make all on Mozzies Sister but the pair were joined by the Andy Slattery-trained Smooth Tom approaching the last and despite a far from fluent jump, the 4/5 favourite went on under Cian Quirke to score by a length-and-a-half.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
'We want to get him fit' - St Mirren boss has plans for former Cork City man Dijksteel
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson intends on gradually integrating Malik Dijksteel into his team after granting the ex-Cork City winger his debut at Parkhead on Sunday. The original plan for the Dutchman joining the Scottish Premiership club in January was fast-tracked last week following a public spat with his City manager Ger Nash. It transpired the 24-year-old had, in fact, made himself available for last Friday week's game against Sligo Rovers despite claims to the contrary from his manager. City received a small fee for brokering a deal that suited all parties and the winger was named on the bench for Sunday's league opener against Celtic. Robinson introduced his new capture late on in the game played before bumper opening day crowd of 58,814. The Buddies were three minutes away from holding Celtic until Luke McCowan's deflected winner punctured their resistance. Lisburn-born Robinson also blooded another former League of Ireland graduate at Paradise. Tunmise Sobowale was two years ago sold by his hometown club Waterford to Shrewsbury Town and via a spell at Swindon Town was recently recruited by the Saints. Killian Phillips, who made his Ireland debut in the summer friendlies, also arrived in Paisley over the summer, upgrading his loan from Crystal Palace into a permanent deal. 'We've seen an incredible piece of athleticism from Tunmise but he's not played any football,' said Robinson after the wing-back's 15-minute league bow. 'Malik was only in the building two days and I'm not sure he touched the ball after he came on. 'We want to get these boys fit to have them as options, starting with next week. There's a reserve game this week and hopefully we'll have more selection headaches for our next game against Motherwell.' Liam Scales and Adam Idah started for Celtic, with Sligo native Johnny Kenny replacing the latter with 12 minutes left. Celtic were on Monday paired against either Kazakhstan outfit Kairy Almaty or Slovan Bratislava in the playoff round of the Champions League to be played in just over a fortnight. Idah was influential in the Bhoys' run to the knockout playoffs, where they lost in February to a late Bayern Munich goal.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Celtic will be ready for crucial Champions League qualifier
Luke McCowan delivered a big moment in Celtic's time of need on Sunday then declared he and his team-mates would rise to the pressure of their Champions League play-off. Celtic will be heading to Kazakhstan or Slovakia in their bid to reach the league stage after being paired with either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava. The first leg, which is due to take place at Celtic Park, will come four games into the season with Brendan Rodgers' side facing Aberdeen next weekend and then Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup. Winning the play-off will be worth tens of millions of pounds for the club and ensure Celtic have a chance to build on last season's impressive European campaign rather than taking a step back into the Europa League. But McCowan, who netted a late winner against St Mirren on Sunday (below), is sure they will embrace the challenge. "These players play under massive pressure all the time," the 27-year-old said. "It's what playing at this club takes. "You need to be ready for that pressure, you need to have your chest out, your head high and go and show that you're a Celtic player. "That's what it demands and that's what the manager wants. Pressure in a game hopefully brings out your best qualities. "I'm sure we will be (ready). I mean if you were to ask us if we played it this midweek, I'm sure we'd all be ready. "When those games come around, it's about embracing it and knowing what the challenge is going to be." Celtic reached the knockout phase for the first time in 12 years last season before bowing out to a last-gasp goal against Bayern Munich in Germany. When asked if he felt they belong in the league stage, McCowan said: "I think we showed that last year, but it's about proving it again. There's always a demand for more at this club." The former Dundee midfielder proved the hero on Sunday as Celtic opened their William Hill Premiership title defence with a 1-0 win over St Mirren. The champions hit the frame of the goal three times and had a Callum McGregor strike disallowed for handball as the Buddies looked set to frustrate the title favourites. But substitute McCowan found the bottom corner of the net with a deflected strike in the 87th minute to send Celtic two points ahead of Rangers after the opening weekend of the season. "It's what you're here to do," he said. "You're here to score goals and help the team win games. "You want to create energy, you want to create positivity when you're coming off the bench and I think, at the point we made the changes, they probably needed some fresh legs. That's what the squad's there for. "We had enough chances to go and win probably two football matches, really unlucky with a few hitting the post, obviously a goal chopped off as well. "On another day, you probably come away scoring two or three, maybe more."
