Northern League chairman Mike Amos has defended the league's decision to recommend that Murton should be relegated to the Wearside League.

The league's management committee will recommend to the AGM on June 6 that Murton should be relegated from the Northern League at the end of the season because their ground doesn't reach league standards, which means that Easington, who finished next to bottom in the Second Division, will be saved.

Amos said: "In July last year, Murton were given a long list of jobs which needed to be done by March 31 this year. Unfortunately, nothing whatsoever has been done.

"We must be fair to all the clubs in the league, because some have made substantial efforts to comply with what we've asked of them, and we couldn't turn a blind eye to a club which appeared to have done nothing.

"If Murton were to go, we must remember that their chairman, Tommy Torrence, has made tremendous efforts to keep football alive there."

It is understood that the hospitality room and perimeter fencing, amongst other aspects, failed to reach the required standard.

Murton, who have been members for 16 years, played their 600th league match last month, and won what could be their last match in the league, 3-1 against Prudhoe last Saturday.

However, for several years they have had serious vandalism problems, with floodlights, dressing rooms and their main stand all wrecked in recent years, while they had to groundshare for one season because an old pit shaft opened up underneath their pitch.

Some clubs provided written evidence to the league that they have improvements in hand, and Amos said: "Clubs such as Willington showed us letters stating that they have grants from the Football Foundation for ground improvements."

The league has issued warnings for three years about the need for clubs to improve their grounds, and spelt out the requirements at last year's AGM. The league could have suspended Murton, but clearly felt that their ground was well below standard, and couldn't leave the door open.

The demise of Murton - they will probably go into the Wearside League if they decide to continue - means a reprieve under league rules for Easington, who finished second bottom of the table.

However, Torrence is going to appeal to the rest of the clubs in the league at the AGM to keep his club in the league.

Torrence, who has spent £2,000 of his own money on ground improvements, said: "Our Parish Council told the league last month that they will do the work asked of us, plus we have other people ready to help also.

"We have been told that we will be relegated as per rule eight, but what exactly does that cover? What does the league define as ground and dressing rooms?

"It was only last year when we were told that our dressing rooms were OK. We have been told the hospitality room isn't up to standard, but that is easily repaired.

"We are hoping to finish the work before the AGM, when we'll speak to the other clubs."

Shotton, meanwhile, will be relegated to the Wearside League in bottom place.

Shotton were hoping to take advantage of one of the other clubs failing a ground inspection and in turn being handed a reprieve, but their hopes have been dashed.

There has been some debate over whether Shotton asked for an inspection of their facilities, and Amos said: "We offered them an inspection, but they declined.

"They will be relegated."

Shotton have been members of the league for over 22 years, and were in the First Division only four years ago.

The top three clubs in the Second Division, Consett, Benfield Saints and Ashington, have all been told that their grounds are up to First Division standard, and will replace Penrith, Marske and Washington in the First Division next season.

The committee also inspected the grounds of three clubs from the feeder leagues.

Wearside League club North Shields, who failed to gain entry to the league two years ago, have been passed and will be promoted, along with West Allotment from the Northern Alliance.

Another Alliance club, Ryton, was also inspected, but failed on several aspects - their pitch was found to be five yards below the minimum.

Willington manager Alan Shoulder is delighted that he has been cleared of all misconduct charges relating to the abandoned game at Benfield Saints back in October.

Referee Ian Kavanagh abandoned the game five minutes into the second half after an incident involving Shoulder, and after being found guilty of misconduct by Durham FA, Shoulder's appeal to the FA was upheld on Wednesday.

"The FA decided that all charges against me should quashed and expunged from the records, and obviously I am delighted about that. I always denied that I used foul and abusive language in the first place, and I had witnesses to back me up, including the Benfield manager.

"I am now wondering what will happen to the two match officials."

Shoulder will also not have to pay the costs of the appeal, for which FA representatives travelled from London, Cumberland and Rutland.

The outcome of the Second Division title will be decided tonight.

Ashington need just a point to make sure of the title, but defeat will mean Newcastle Benfield Saints are champions.

Saints had an emotional last week of the season. Last Tuesday, Ashington lost 3-1 at Nissan in the original game, and the following night Saints beat Seaham Red Star 5-0 to go level on points with a marginally worse goal difference.

On Friday, Saints learned about Nissan's suspended player and the replay with Ashington, and on Saturday they thumped Willington 9-0 while Ashington could only beat Kennek Ryhope 3-1.

Benfield Saints general manager Bob Morton said: "We were devastated on Saturday night because we'd have won the league on goal difference if the Washington Nissan result stood."

Meanwhile, Saints have received a grant of £75,000 from the Football Foundation towards ground improvements.

Tonight's fixture

Division Two: Washington Nissan v Ashington