5:38pm Thursday 5th June 2008
By Ian Whiting
Farsley Celtic's plans for next season are on hold until they know for sure which Blue Square division they will be playing in.
They should get their answer by this weekend when the Conference League holds its annual meeting on Saturday.
The Celts ended the last campaign third from bottom of the Blue Square Premier and expect relegation to the Blue Square North for the new term.
However, with the well-documented finiancial problems at Halifax Town, Altrincham - who finished fourth from bottom in the last relegation place - are set for a lifeline.
The Shaymen's financial collapse means they are due to be placed at a lower level despite them ending the campaign fifth from bottom.
And such are the complexities involving promotion and relegation issues that Celts chairman Andy Firbank is holding off major preparations until he knows for sure that Celts' relegation has been rubber-stamped.
"Until we sit down for that meeting we are not sure what will happen," he said.
"There are more theories than you can count on both hands regarding other clubs, coming down and going up.
"Last year we sat down for the AGM and one club was removed from the division, half an hour later they were back in.
"It is that fluid. You can't predict anything. But we know we finished below the safety mark and have to take the consequences, whatever they are.
"We have tried to keep our squad together because it is a stable group and if anything we want to add quality to it."
Farsley's club captain Ryan Crossley has already joined neighbours Guiseley in the UniBond Premier and question marks hang over others.
Firbank pointed out that his management team cannot sign non-contract players until after this weekend and said they would not speculate about possible signings.
He said: "We will give the news as and when it happens. We are not going down the road of making promises that won't be kept. Our supporters are a well-educated bunch.
"They want concrete developments reported not wish lists and guesstimates.
"With everything up in air until the Conference meeting this weekend it is not sensible to plan too much at this stage.
"On Monday, it will be all systems go. Our league position will be clear and the situation regarding contracts will be over and we will be free to discuss terms with players and formulate our squad."
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