Post by gw on Jun 10, 2007 9:53:04 GMT -1
Boston United have been demoted to the Blue Square North Division.
The Pilgrims lost their Football League status last season, but received a further demotion at the Blue Square Premier's annual general meeting.
The decision, which means a reprieve from relegation for Altrincham, results from Boston's financial problems.
Blue Square Premier chief executive John Moules said: "They're in breach of certain rules, it was felt Blue Square North was the best place for them."
Boston were given a 10-point deduction to compound their relegation from the Football League as they went into administration.
The Blue Square Conference chief executive refused to confirm the rules which Boston have breached, saying: "We are under a confidentiality agreement, as are Boston, and are not allowed to discuss them.
"We had meetings all day on Friday with Boston United and then informed Altrincham that they were staying up."
Boston's financial problems led to charges for former manager Steve Evans and ex-chairman Pat Malkinson of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue.
Evans was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years after admitting the offence, Malkinson was given a two-year suspended sentence after admitting a similar offence.
Altrincham's relegation reprieve was their second in successive seasons.
The Cheshire club finished in the relegation places in the 2005-06 season after they were deducted 18 points for fielding an ineligible player, but they were saved by Scarborough's financial problems.
The decision to demote Boston into Blue Square North division - formerly the Conference North - will be contested by Worksop, who were relegated from the division into the Unibond Premier League.
Worksop will argue that Boston should have been relegated from the Blue Square Premier altogether.
Chairman Howard Raymond told the Non-League Paper: "The Conference rules must cover all three leagues, and we will be asking our lawyers to study this closely and will almost certainly lodge an appeal."
