THE leaders of St Helens and Knowsley Councils have written a letter to the English Schools FA asking pleading for a "change of heart" from a decision to axe the districts' newly merged team.

The Star reported last week that schoolboys were left "devastated" after the Knowsley & St Helens team, which has played under the same banner this season, was axed.

Players and coaches have been dismayed as they were told on Friday, January 4 that the English Schools FA does not recognise Knowsley and St Helens as an "affiliated county".

Team organisers say the proposed merger had been ratified by the Merseyside County Schools FA but representations to the English Schools FA were ignored.

The team had been due to face a last 16 tie in the National Cup after enjoying a run in the competition.

Mike Hayman, parent of one player from Rainhill High, said: "This should have been a very exciting time for the children and for Knowsley & St Helens as a community, but instead children are left devastated".

In a joint-letter addressed to the chief executive of the ESFA Andrea Chilton, leaders of the two boroughs' local authorities Cllrs Graham Morgan and Derek Long called on the organisation to look at the issue "from the perspective of those young people who have been affected so negatively".

The letter said: "We share a number of concerns with regard to this outcome" and say the purpose of the letter is to "set out those concerns and invite your explanation, comments and - ideally - a change of heart".

It added both councils "are very keen to support grassroots football" and said in recent years the school age population of Knowsley "has reduced" meaning it is "not practically possible to generate a large enough pool of players to generate a competitive team".

They said the merger of the Knowsley and St Helens sides "adhered to the relevant mechanisms" and led to a team "capable of playing matches at a competitive level" which has had "the benefit of maintaining participation rates".

The letter says the axing of the side in the middle of a season has left Knowsley with nine players, with the "obvious outcome" that they will "cease to participate" and good efforts of players and coaches being "wasted".

It said: "We do not believe that the aims of your organisation are to discourage participation. On the contrary, we would anticipate that your aim is to foster participation and also to ensure that competition is fair".

The letter concluded: "With that in mind, we request that you explain the decision which has been made, and, in particular its timing" adding "we very much hope that you will step back from the position which has been taken".

When contacted by the Star after the decision, the English Schools FA said: "Representation from the Associations has been considered in line with all ESFA and FA regulatory processes (including a hearing by an independent panel giving the complainants opportunity to raise issues directly) and there is no further action the ESFA can take in this regard."

The Star contacted the ESFA for further comment in the wake of the letter being received. A spokesperson said there was nothing further to add at this stage.