MJSL chiefs believe Oakhill Lions could yet perform a U-turn and defend their league crown.

The student team are believed to have folded, citing their failure to replace last season’s title-winning boss Daniel Rabinowitz as their reason behind their exile.

But co vice-chairman Paul Rose is refusing to count Oakhill out of the reckoning from the current eight-team league following Heaton Park Rovers also winding up.

He said: “We hope a resolution can still be met. But the door is still open. We have not finalised their fixtures yet, that is not done until October, so we hope there is a reconsideration on their part.

"The more clubs the merrier is our thinking. I’m hoping when the students recommence that someone will step forward to lead the club. Clearly some players will have already been snapped up by other teams.

"I'd like to think there is enough out there for them to continue. Oakhill have been with us for almost 30 years. It’s about someone taking control."

Meanwhile, the MJSL will be fielding a representative team in the Peter Morrison Trophy.

The MJSL team will join Manchester Maccabi 2nd, South Manchester 1st and a team from Glasgow in the last-16 automatically. Fixtures will take place from December.