GALWAY UNITED HAVE won their appeal against demotion to the A Championship and will now take their place in the 2011 Premier Division.

United pleaded their case this morning in the Football Association of Ireland headquarters in Abbotstown. An FAI statement released in the last hour confirms the club have managed to secure their top-flight status.

The statement reads: “The Appeals Body noted that it is essential to good governance in football that all required documentation is supplied by its due date and in this particular case, they  recognise that the onus was on the club to produce the appropriate evidence to the Club Licensing Committee.

“The Appeals Body acknowledge that the tax affairs of the club were and are in order and it was clear that the club had made attempts to secure the appropriate documentation but due to exceptional events  were unable to provide it on the date required.

Given the full circumstances that pertain to this case, the Appeals Body overturned the decision of the Club Licensing Committee and awarded a League Licence – Premier Division to Galway United FC.

Proceedings began at Abbotstown this morning at 8am. Monaghan United will stay in the First Division as a result of the decision.