ANGRY Northern League officials have issued a 'hands off' warning to the Football Association as the cherry-picking row rumbles on.

League and club officials are fuming that the FA has said it will cherry pick clubs for the new UniBond First Division, only weeks after telling clubs that it wouldn't do so at a meeting.

Three ANL clubs, Consett, Durham and Newcastle Blue Star, have already told the league they would like to play in the new UniBond division, which they did by the deadline of November 30.

But the league says they are not in the mood to let any more go, whether it is in their power to stop them or not.

League chairman Mike Amos said: "After the FA announcement a few weeks ago, almost all of the clubs who have written to the league have said they are dismayed by the FA's actions, and that they are also upset at FA official Mike Appleby being allowed to dig a hole for himself at the meeting by saying that promotion should be earned on the field, and not around a table, when that turned out to be different altogether.

"Therefore, if the FA ask for more than the three clubs, then the league has decided that it will turn the request down.

"We will only allow clubs who applied by the recognised deadline of November 30, which is the deadline in the FA rule book, to go up.

"The FA might move the goalposts, but I don't think anyone of a fair mind will agree that what the FA has done is fair."

The FA has not responded to questions about their decision.

NORTHALLERTON manager Paul Burton is mystified at his side's inconsistent form.

They have done better away from home this season, with 15 points out of 22 gained on their travels, but last Saturday they were hammered 8-3 at Shildon.

Burton said: "I can't remember ever conceding eight goals as a player or a manager so obviously I'm very disappointed but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We've got to pick ourselves up and start again. It just about sums us up this season, certain games we do very well while other we let ourselves down badly.

"I thought at 5-3 last Saturday we might have made the score more respectable, but we conceded three goals in the last ten minutes.

"Fair play to Shildon, they're very hard-working and took just about every chance that came along"

ESH Winning boss Ray Gowan admits he is going to miss Northern League management "tremendously".

Esh announced that Gowan, who has managed several Northern League clubs, is quitting for undisclosed personal reasons, but will stay in charge of the team until a replacement is appointed.

Gowan took over near the end of last season when relegation was almost a certainty, but after topping the table early in the season, the club is now in the bottom half of the table.

Gowan said: "I inherited a demotivated, disorganised but surprisingly talented squad, who were not used to working hard enough.

"These issues were addressed before the season's end, I added a few floaters who were available and everyone worthwhile was re-signed for this season.

"I have been extremely surprised how difficult it has been to attract established players to join Esh.

" We are possibly more out on a limb than I anticipated. But we have managed to put together a solid squad with a lot of highly-promising younger players.

"We have played well this season but have under achieved. I feel that we should be fifth top rather than fifth bottom. I admire and support the standards that are achieved and back one 100 per-cent Mike Amos's views on foul and abusive language. I will miss it tremendously."

CROOK'S new boss Richie Hill says his side has still got a battle against relegation on their hands.

They pulled off one of the surprises of last Saturday when they won 4-1 at Team Northumbria in officially only his second game in charge, and Hill said: "The win was a good response on the back of a drubbing we received against Penrith in our last game.

"Some of our football in the final third of the field was very good, and we could have scored more goals. The lads showed a good attitude, and the players we brought in before the game were outstanding.

"We're still too close to the bottom of the table for comfort, and we need some consistent performances, so we're on the lookout to strengthen the squad."

Meanwhile, Crook have been successful with a complaint to the league about an incident before the penalty shootout in their league cup tie at Team Northumbria in November.

The teams drew 2-2 after extra-time, but just as the penalty shootout was about to start, the match referee instructed the Crook fans, who were standing behind the goal encouraging the players, should move.

Crook protested, but the referee wouldn't start the shootout until they moved, which they did reluctantly. The league has announced that the "action taken by the referee on this occasion was an incorrect one and he would be advised accordingly."

DURHAM City manager Dickie Ord has defended the club's new artificial surface.

The third generation pitch was laid during the summer, and there has been mixed reaction to the surface which can be used in all weathers.

Ord said: "The pitch is superb, because it helps to provide a quick game. When matches were called off because of the bad weather last midweek, our game went ahead because it can be used in all weathers.

"There's lots of people been to see it, and they've all been impressed."

Ord was caretaker-manager following the departure of Andy Gowens, and during his caretaker spell, the club only lost twice.

He added: "I changed my mind because I got a buzz from doing the job.

"There was a bit of tension in the squad when I took over, but I've lightened the mood a little, and that's been a big help."

BRANDON manager Colin Myers believes his team is learning more with every game.

They started the season with a youthful team and have been looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone in the Second Division.

But an excellent 3-3 draw at Marske last Saturday, ten days after winning there in the Ernest Armstrong Trophy, has given everybody a lift.

"I've been able to field the same side now for three weeks because the injuries have gone, and the players have more belief,said Myers".

"They are competitive now, whereas at the start of the season they weren't. They did well at Marske on Saturday, and were unlucky not to get something out of the game at league leaders South Shields the game before that."

Brandon are at Spennymoor tomorrow then at Esh Winning on Boxing Day, kick off 1pm.

STOKESLEY manager Ted Watts says he was much happier with his players after their 5-3 win at Hebburn on Saturday.

Watts criticised their attitude in a 3-1 home victory over Esh Winning last week, but he was in a much better mood last Saturday, and said: "The players were much better than last week, and I told them afterwards that they seem to be making the transition from park to Northern League players. whereas the week before, they didn't."

BILLINGHAM Town manager Richie Watson said last Saturday's shock home defeat by Ashington was not connected with recent speculation surrounding the club.

Town recently suggested a merger with their neighbours Billingham Synthonia, but they have now decided to keep their identity and stay at Bedford Terrace. There have also been rumours of financial problems, but Watson said: "It was just one of those days when nothing went right for us.

"Ashington scored in the first minute, and they didn't look a bad side. It certainly wasn't a fluke result, and at this standard of football, shock defeats come along regularly.

"We didn't play badly in the second half, and had 13 shots on goal, but their keeper did very well. But the players weren't affected at all by what's been going on off the field."

THORNABY coach Steve Todd has resigned for personal reasons.

He was manager at the start of the season and stayed on after Alan Robinson was appointed in September, but has now decided to quit Teesdale Park.

MICHAEL Mackay's four goals in Consett's win over West Auckland last Saturday took his tally to a remarkable 66 goals in 60 league games for the Belle Vue club.

Mackay's goalscoring exploits have attracted attention from Football League clubs, and Consett have agreed to him going on a week's trial at Stockport, along with full-back Gary Ormston in the middle of January.

SECOND Division Prudhoe have announced they have submitted their resignation to the league - but they could withdraw it before the AGM in June.

Chris Lowther, who combines the roles of chairman, secretary and treasurer, says the move is precautionary, and said: "I'm not prepared to take the chance of being fined £1,000 by the league if we find that we can't continue.

The resignation is purely a precautionary measure if we find we can't carry on."

THE local derby between Bishop Auckland and West Auckland has been switched from Saturday, February 3 to the night before, kick off 7.30pm at Dean Street.

WEST Allotment's 2-1 home win over Jarrow Roofing last Saturday was their first home league win for a year. Their previous home win was by 5-1 against Ashington on December 17 last season.