United won WA’s State League Division One title and earned the right to promotion to the NPL in September.

However the game’s governing body in WA, Football West, announced on Saturday they wouldn’t be promoted.

That decision came in light of a legal challenge from Subiaco, who was set to be relegated from the NPL after finishing last.

Subiaco claimed Joondalup hadn’t achieved Football West’s eligibility criteria for promotion, as it didn’t have “a venue that complies with the NPLWA compliance by-law”.

Joondalup only had an in-principle agreement with the City of Joondalup and Sorrento Football Club to play their 2017 NPL games at Percy Doyle Reserve, not a legal-binding contract between all three parties and have missed the deadline.

The Football West competition rules read: “Should the club that finishes in first place in State League One meet the NPL Eligibility criteria at the end of the State League One season, the twelfth placed NPL club will be relegated to State League One.”

Subiaco president Mark Cheveralls is a lawyer by trade and in this context threatened legal action with Football West.

Football West declined to formally comment on the situation but FourFourTwo understands the body is not willing to fight the claim given the costs associated for a not-for-profit organisation whose priority is to develop the game.

Subsequently the decision was made by Football West not to promote Joondalup, creating widespread animosity, with United believing they had been promoted since winning the title in September.

The club has spent thousands of dollars under the assumption it had been promoted although Football West said it never made their promotion ‘official’.

Senior Joondalup officials met on Tuesday evening, deciding they would “go down the legal path”.

Joondalup officials will sit down with Football West on Monday for a meeting where it will table all options, including potential expansion of the NPLWA.

United executive board member and assistant coach Rudy Proctor argued the league could be expanded from 12 teams to 13, to include Joondalup, or potentially 14 to also include runners-up Mandurah City, without Subiaco having to be relegated.

“There’s a few different options, such as extending the league to create more teams,” Proctor told FourFourTwo.

“There’s ways around it, we’re hoping we don’t have to enter into a legal battle with our governing body. We don’t want this to get nasty.”

Subiaco has been criticized for their role, with Proctor labeling it “shallow” but Cheveralls defended their decision.

“There’s no malice towards Joondalup United. It’s about protecting Subiaco AFC and our members,” Cheveralls told FourFourTwo.

“We are in this to benefit youth, development and the people. I don’t care what club they play at, our desire to develop the game remains.”

Cheveralls acknowledged Joondalup were the unfortunate party in an situation where they defended their own interests and said Subiaco was open to expanding the league, allowing United’s promotion.

“It might be timely under all the circumstances for Football West to think about a resolution that also took into consideration expansion,” he said.

“That’s something we wouldn’t object to. We’d support it.”

It’s understood all 12 current NPLWA club presidents and Football West board members met on Monday night to discuss the options.

The additional costs associated with a potential extra four rounds is a major roadblock against expansion.

It is understood Football West is concerned such a decision may get the other 11 clubs offside, not just United.

However, Proctor argued club presidents were open to the idea and suggested a one-off Football West fee reduction of $5,000 could cover the club’s additional costs.

“It would be a lot cheaper for Football West than going to court,” Proctor argued.

Meanwhile, Football West confirmed it would review its bylaws and rules at their upcoming November 29 board meeting to avoid similar situations happening in the future.