MORE fallout following relegation from The Football League now affects our youth team, as they prepare for another campaign in the FA Youth Cup.

As a Blue Square club, we are no longer except until the first round proper and instead have to enter at the first qualifying round stage, with three rounds to progress through until we reach the first round proper.

To make matters worse, by the luck of the draw, we find ourselves in the preliminary round, so this year will have to negotiate an additional round just to reach the first qualifying round!

The draws for all the qualifying rounds were announced today and have also given us four consecutive away ties, were we to progress to the first round proper.

Preliminary Round:
w/c 8 Sept - Stalybridge Celtic v Wrexham

First Qualifying:
w/c 22 Sept - Northwich Victoria v Stalybridge or Wrexham

Second Qualifying:
w/c 6 Oct - Chorley or Marine v Northwich or Stalybridge or Wrexham

Third Qualifying:
w/c 20 Oct - Warrington or Prescot or Salford or Leigh or Nantwich v Chorley or Marine or Northwich or Stalybridge or Wrexham

"We weren't expecting to find ourselves quite so far down in the draw," said Head of Youth Steve Cooper.

"But we are, where we are, and all we can do now is look forward to the Stalybridge Celtic game.

"If we are good enough to win through, then we will worry about the other teams in due course."