THE identity of the 12th team in the Sports Direct NI Premiership next season won't be known for another month after the NI Football League decided to allow the appeals process to run its course.
Warrenpoint Town, runners-up in the Championship, were due to face the Premiership's 11th-placed team, Dungannon Swifts in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off.
However, the Irish Football Association declined to issue a licence to the Point for either the Premiership or the Championship, potentially sending them down into the amateur ranks.
Annagh United were next in line to take on the Swifts for a place in the top flight, but all parties involved have met and agreed to postpone any play-off games until the Warrenpoint's appeal has concluded.
Provisional dates of Tuesday May 30 and Saturday June 3 have been agreed for the promotion-relegation play-offs.
The hearing for Warrenpoint Town's appeal has been scheduled for next Wednesday, May 10, and NIFL will review the play-off dates in the week commencing Monday May 15 - but can confirm that no matches will take place earlier than the provisional dates outlined.
Gerard Lawlor, NI Football League Chief Executive stated: "We as an organisation find ourselves caught up in a situation that we have no control over or involvement in.
"We envisage this situation will continue for a number of weeks and it will have an impact on the league at all levels, so we have worked to provide a provisional clear pathway for clubs to complete their seasons. It is imperative we continue to engage and communicate with member clubs as best we can.
"I have total sympathy with all sides in a very unfortunate situation, and we will continue to support where possible and hopefully the correct outcome will emerge at the end of the process."
The European play-off series will continue as planned, with confirmation of fixtures and dates to be announced following the Irish Cup Final.
Provisional dates for play-offs:
Tuesday May 30:
Premiership promotion-relegation play-off, first leg;
Championship promotion-relegation play-off, first leg.
Saturday June 3:
Premiership promotion-relegation play-off, second leg;
Championship promotion-relegation play-off, second leg.
