Ballinamallard United boss Whitey Anderson states that it is the Mallards players that are suffering the most as the end of the season looks set to drag on for some time yet.
The decision of the IFA Disciplinary Committee to find Carrick guilty of having their manager not serve a suspension properly but not apply any sanctions on them has led to both Ballinamallard and Warrenpoint Town lodging appeals.
Indeed, Warrenpoint have indicated that they will take the matter further if the appeal is unsuccessful.
It all leaves the Mallards squad in a state of limbo though. 
They returned to training on Tuesday night to prepare for a second leg promotion/relegation play off against Institute at Ferney Park. 
The Mallards won the first leg 2-1 but the club still don’t know when, or even if, the second leg will be played.
“The players started back training on Tuesday night and we know that this could turn over very quickly and we could be told there is a game in 72 hours, you just don’t know. 
"I feel very sorry for the players in particular. 
"It has put their lives on hold. 
"They maybe had plans to do other things and get a break away from football because it has been a long season so it is very hard on them.
"Also it is very hard on the chairman and office bearers of the club who are also looking a break and they are working very diligently behind the scenes and obviously in the middle of it they have got to try and appoint a new manager. 
"It is unsatisfactory for everybody concerned,” stated Whitey.
Indeed, Anderson highlighted the fact that this time last year the players were getting fitness tested ahead of pre-season.
“We started fitness testing players last year on May 21 and that is a year gone by and the players are still involved in a league campaign that hasn’t been concluded. That is far too long,” he added.
The Mallards boss, who will step down at the end of the season, whenever that comes, was disappointed with the ruling of the IFA Disciplinary Committee and feels that organisations like this need to simply deal in facts.
Some people would say that the Irish Football Association and NIFL are unfit for purpose but there is a lot of good work that goes in local football. "However, let’s deal with the facts, the reasoning that was behind the decision is what has baffled everybody.
" I’ve already said that if there had been some legal argument or a slip up in the process  then you could understand that. 
"However, that was not the case and it is just a lack of consistency.
 The rule is black and white and there is other clubs that have been punished accordingly at junior level and intermediate level. 
"Now you are talking about the top league in the country and how can you use discretion is a case like this. 
"Whenever you use discretion in Carrick’s favour there is other clubs being punished for it. 
"Like many people I simply can’t understand the statement made by the Irish Football Association and when you study it, I believe it is cringeworthy,” he said.
And he says that the decision to appeal by Ballinamallard was the right one in his eyes.
“The club have taken the decision to appeal it and I would agree with it because the decision is so ludicrous,” he added.
Anderson is currently on holiday but the he admits that his mind is elsewhere.
“On a personal level, I’m away on holiday with my wife and I had planned to go away after the season had ended but this is something that has been on our minds every day. 
"There is different phone calls to be made and discussions on going. It is disappointing but we just want to see the end of it.”
He stresses though that if the second leg is fixed to be played, his players will be ready for it.
“The reality is that the stakes haven’t changed and our aim is to win the game and retain Ballinamallard’s status in the Premier League for next season. 
"I know that there is enough senior players in the squad with the right mental strength to get the result that is required if the game is played,” he added.