TIVIDALE manager Ian Long has welcomed a decision by the Football Association to grant the club an independent ground inspection.

Tivi are facing demotion from the Northern Premier League Division One South after initial findings deemed that The Beeches didn't make grade D status.

However, the club sent a delegation to the FA's headquarters at Wembley today to appeal the decision.

Secretary Leon Murray, head of communications Steve Beech and former chairman Chris Dudley made their way to London for an hour-long appeal to contest the findings.

It was eventually decided that the club would be granted another inspection within the next seven days.

Long said: "I think this is the best we could have hoped for. It is good news for the club because it could have been a very dark day.

"Hopefully the independent inspectors find in our favour and see all the work we have carried out. I really don't think we could have done any more.

"Our future is still up in the air but there is now light at the end of the tunnel.

"The three that went to Wembley have done the club proud. I know that on-the-field matters don't come into it, but this decision is the least the players deserve after how well they have done this season."

Tivi could still be forced to drop a level if the initial report findings are backed up by the second inspection team.