Hayes & Yeading’s appeal against their relegation is still being processed by the Football Association and the delay is wreaking havoc with their plans for the new season.
United fell out of the Conference South at the end of last term following a dramatic final-day defeat to Dover Athletic at Kingfield Stadium.
It looked as though the club will be playing step three football next season but Phil Babb’s side have made moves to try and save themselves from the drop.
Documentation was sent to the FA regarding their demotion and the governing body received the official documentation relating to the case at the weekend.
There is a 21-day response time for such matters, however given the pressing need to ratify the league structure with pre-season looming it’s anticipated a decision will be made sooner.
A verdict could be even given by the end of this week or at the start of next week as the calendar flips over into June.
But every day United are still waiting for that verdict is setting them back in their plans for the forthcoming campaign.
They are struggling to find suitable opposition for pre-season friendlies and prospective transfer targets are also waiting to learn United’s fate before committing.
However, they were boosted by popular striker Pat Cox signing on for 2014-15.
United’s appeal centres around Vauxhall Motors, who tendered their resignation from the Conference North last March, thus freeing up an extra space at step two for next season.
As it stands, Oxford City are set to benefit and would remain in the division despite finishing third-from-bottom on 37 points.
Hayes & Yeading, who also play at step two and finished third-from-bottom in the Conference South, believe that they should be the ones spared.
United ended the campaign on 45 points, eight more than City, and the club reckons that superior points total should see them safe.
Rule 5.4 (i) of the regulations for the operation of the National League System, published by the FA, states: “Where a vacancy occurs in a particular division prior to the end of a playing season, the club creating the vacancy is taken to be the club in the bottom position in that division.”
