Ballinamallard boss Whitey Anderson has urged the Irish FA and NIFL to take swift action as the end of the season has been thrown into chaos.
Anderson and his players should have finished their season on Tuesday night but situations involving Carrick Rangers and Portadown have left a number of clubs in limbo.
The Mallards were due to play Institute in the second leg of their Relegation/Promotion Play-Off on Tuesday night at Ferney Park having secured a 2-1 advantage in the first leg at Drumahoe.
However, the game was postponed as NIFL sought guidance from the IFA regarding whether or not Carrick manager Gary Haveron had properly served a three game suspension. He was to serve a three game ban but it is understood that while he served three games, he did not serve the right three games and the one that he was in the dug-out when he was meant to be banned saw them defeat Dungannon Swifts. The punishment for such an offence is a fine of at least £350 and the game recorded as a 3-0 defeat.
If that was the case then Carrick would be relegated, the Mallards would be safe and Warrenpoint Town would be involved in the play-off. The Irish FA have asked Carrick to respond to the allegations by Friday.
To muddy waters further, there is the on-going situation regarding Portadown and the eligibility of some of their players which could change the table again.
“For all the teams that have been left in limbo it is an absolute fiasco, it’s a shambolic end to the season and has left everybody high and dry,” said Anderson. “We had been planning to play on Tuesday night in the second leg of the game and we were confident that we would get a win and retain our status but now the players have got to keep training until we know what is happening.”
Anderson also feels that there needs to be stronger leadership from the the powers that be in dealing with these matters.
“In relation to the Carrick incident, you can’t blame the Irish FA or NIFL because they have done nothing wrong in many respects although once again it does highlight the problems that exist in the lines of communication between the Irish FA Disciplinary Committee and the football clubs. 
“The Portadown situation is something that should have been dealt with a long time ago, it has been on-going I believe since before Christmas yet it is still not cleared up. 
“I would seriously question the relevant leadership within the Irish FA and NIFL. When you take on a position of authority there comes with it a responsibility where you have got to make hard decisions. I just wish they would clear it up one way or the other,” he said.
And he has urged the authorities to make a quick decision.
“The authorities have to take firm action on this as soon as possible and don’t dilly dally over it. Make the decision and let people know exactly where they stand. I was due to head to Spain on Wednesday morning but at this stage I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just hoping that we will soon have an indication of what is going on.” he stated.
As Anderson has stated, the situation has left them in limbo when the season should have been over. Instead of the players going into pre-season they have to train for a game that may or may not go ahead while the club are unable to plan ahead for next season until the matter is resolved.
“You have players who have maybe plans made from before and we are asking them to train and irrespective of the carrot of what lies in front of us in retaining Premier League football, it is a big ask of players. They should be going into a six to seven week break before pre-season and for the clubs involved they are left in limbo with regards signing players and re-signing players. It is an incredibly farcical situation.”
He stresses though that they will continue to prepare for the game until a decision is reached. 
“We will train and we will plan training for Thursday night and we will keep going to we get the game played or don’t have it played, whatever may be the case.”