The Shropshire Challenge Cup controversy involving Wem and Market Drayton Town looks set to rumble on.

Competition favourites Drayton have been handed a bye into the semi-final by Shropshire FA chiefs after Wem refused to play their re-arranged quarter-final last night.

But Wem are planning to dispute the decision to effectively kick them out of the competition, citing rules which state any postponed game must be played on a Saturday, Sunday or a mutually agreed date.

“I understand our committee are having a meeting to see what options are open to us,” revealed manager Dave Richards.

The quarter-final tie involving the two north Shropshire sides has developed into a real saga.

Drayton – who felt they should have been included in the Shropshire Senior Cup – first withdrew from the competition in November, when learning that playing the game on the original conference date would have required them to travel to Grantham in the UniBond League division one south in midweek.

They then staged a U-turn and were re-instated – but there were fresh problems when the tie was then called off on January 9 because of bad weather.

Shropshire FA officials then agreed the tie would be played last night, but Wem refused.

It is the second time in successive seasons that Wem have been thrown out of the competition.

They suffered the same fate in the last 16 in 2008-9 when they fielded an ineligible player – Daniel Balla – in their last 16 victory over Shifnal United ’97.

“We accepted last year’s decision because we broke the rules, but we have abided by the rules this season and have still been kicked out,” added Richards.

“It really saddens me because I have lost all faith in what is going on in Shropshire football.”