A HEARING is set to take place next month as The New Saints look to pursue an alternative end to the football season in the JD Cymru Premier.

Saints owner Mike Harris has initiated legal action against FA Wales over the curtailment of the 2019/2020 Welsh Premier League season, which will be heard in court on July 8.

The campaign was brought to an early end last month, with the league being decided using an unweighted points-per-game system.

This meant for the first time in nine seasons, the title was not won by Saints, and was instead awarded to Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Mr Harris previously stated that he hoped the league would follow suit of leagues in other countries, where the season has been resumed following the enforced break caused by the pandemic.

He also suggested a fairer ending to the season would have been to organise a tournament involving the teams in the league to determine who deserved to win the title on sporting merit.

He added: “Sporting merit is one of the most important things, and as you can see now, a lot of leagues have already returned and got their competitions back underway.

“When you have something as important as the Champions League to be played for, it shouldn’t be cancelled months early.

“Even if it was to be played behind closed doors, sporting merit should have been honoured.”

When the decision was made to curtail the season, TNS sat in second place with just four points separating them and league leaders Nomads, with six games still left to play.

With the title being handed to Connah’s Quay Nomads, the Deeside club also took the league’s only Champions League qualification spot for the upcoming season, while TNS finished second, in a Europa League qualification spot. Saints still had to face Nomads again in the league.