FRESH storm clouds are gathering over this season’s MP Foulkes Montgomeryshire Cup.
The once proud competition has been much maligned in recent campaigns, with the 2010 final delayed for eight months, while several clubs have withdrawn in recent seasons.
Now Llanidloes Town official Peter Jones has called for the competition to be immediately overhauled, while describing the 10-mile radius, residency ruling as “discrimination.”
The controversy arose after Llanidloes Town’s first round victory over Abermule, with the Daffodils 5-1 winners.
However this week Abermule made an official complaint to competition organisers, claiming Jamie Breese and Jack Bermingham should not have been included in the Llanidloes Town line-up, due to where they live.
However the row has scratched at the surface of a long standing debate over whether the Montgomeryshire Cup is a relevant competition in its current format.
Jones fumed: “This is the only competition in Wales where a radius rule is enforced and it is time for it to go.
“The rule comes from a bygone age before the one-player-one-club ruling was enforced in this region, as well as the rest of the country.
“Jamie Breese was born in Llanidloes yet cup rules state he cannot play for the town of his berth because he now lives 50 yards outside the radius.”
Jones added: “If a cup were to start which said only bald people or thin people could play, then there would be outrage as it is clearly discrimination, but there is no difference in this case.
“It is a ridiculous rule and one that has no place in modern day football.”
Jones hit out at the competition rules further, blasting: “Every other cup in Wales has a three day limit for protests to be made, that is except for the Montgomeryshire Cup, which has none, and just sums up that despite its claims to be a senior cup it is nothing but amateur.
“Playing the 2010 final midway through the following season should never have been allowed because it was a totally illegal final.”
Jones said the Daffodils will re-consider future participation, if the current rules stay in force.
Abermule spokesman Bryan Jarman said: “The club can confirm it has made an official protest to the cup organisers.”
Cup secretary Bernie Jones added: “A protest has been received and it is now up to Abermule to provide proof and Llanidloes Town to refute any evidence.”