NIALL MCGUINNESS won’t be dreaming of leading Flint Town United into the Cymru Premier after yesterday’s domestic licence announcement.

The Silkmen boss instead focused on praising those volunteers at the Cymru North high-flyers, who have worked tirelessly to earn the Tier One domestic licence.

Flint were confident of winning their appeal after the First Instance Body rejected the initial application, and so it proved as they joined Airbus and Cefn Druids in being granted a Tier One licence.

The licence is needed to play in the top-flight, and with current Cymru North leaders Prestatyn Town losing their appeal, Flint have a chance of taking a spot at the top table next season.

“Massive credit must go to everyone at the club,” said McGuinness. “The chairman, Darryl Williams, pictured below, general manager Keith Roberts and the committee, who are volunteers, deserve huge credit for doing what they’ve done.

“It shows that there is a lot of good work going on behind the scenes at Flint.

“We were not in this position when I arrived at the club, but people have bought into the vision and worked extremely hard.

“It’s not possible to do what we’ve done if people don’t buy into things, so it’s great news and everyone deserves to be acknowledged for putting the club in the position it is in.”

McGuinness has previously revealed doubts over whether the current campaign will resume. All of the domestic senior leagues in Wales are currently suspended until at least Friday, May 15 due to the coronavirus.

But if the season does resume, Flint need to be ready to try and secure a second successive runners up finish.

“We need to be ready if the season does resume,” continued McGuinness. “Guilsfield and Colwyn Bay are challenging us for second place, which we need to get.

“It would be a great achievement if we were to get second place again. We were second last season and if we managed to get second again it would show how well we’ve done to gradually get ourselves challenging at the top end of the table.”

While Flint were celebrating, the appeal announcement was tough to take for Prestatyn Town.

Neil Gibson’s men are currently 16 points clear at the top of the Cymru North, but their chances of promotion have been ended after failing to obtain the Tier One licence.

A statement from Prestatyn said: “The club are disappointed not to have been granted our Tier One licence on appeal at today’s FAW panel meeting.

“We are waiting on the official letter from the FAW to explain why the club’s appeal was not successful and then the board will discuss the next steps.”

Airbus and Cefn Druids, meanwhile, have both won their appeals to be granted Tier One licences, with the Wingmakers also earning the Uefa licence.

A statement on the Airbus Twitter feed said: “We are pleased with the outcome from the body, and are looking forward to the return of football to the @hollingsworthgroup stadium, whenever it is safe to do so.”

Druids said it was “good news” that they had been granted a Tier One licence, while Chris Hughes’ Newtown won their appeal to be awarded a Uefa licence.

The Ancients’ failure to win their appeal for a Uefa licence means any potential play-off glory wouldn’t lead to Europa League qualification.

Swansea University’s bid to win promotion from Cymru South is over after they were denied a Tier One licence on appeal.

It leaves Haverfordwest County as the only side capable of winning promotion from Cymru South.

The Welsh Premier Women’s League appeals were also heard yesterday.

Aberystwyth, Caldicot and Cardiff City all appealed initial rejection with the trio granted Tier One licences as a result. Cardiff were also granted a Uefa licence.