It's official - Devonshire Cougars are out and Prospect are in.

Any hopes Cougars' players held of an about-turn in the near two-week saga regarding their team's expulsion from the FA Cup have been dashed by Devonshire Recreation Club's decision not to contest the issue any further.

Devonshire Rec's Secretary Ellsworth Christopher confirmed yesterday that they would not pursue the matter to the Ministry of Sports' Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) council in a bid to have the Bermuda Football Association's ruling overturned.

Therefore First Division club Prospect will have one more match on their calendar as they oppose North Village for the FA Cup on April 6. On March 9, Prospect were beaten 5-2 by Cougars in the semifinal but the latter were ousted from the final by the BFA Executive for fielding an ineligible player, Kori Goddard, who had racked up three cautions. The BFA's Appeals Committee also upheld the decision after Cougars' appealed.

"In the long run I don't think we'll achieve anything by it so I'm just backing down," said Christopher, announcing a change of heart in Devonshire Rec's earlier vow to carry the matter to the ADR. "We have decided not to pursue it."

Both Director of Youth and Sports Tony Roberts and the ADR's Chairman Judy Simmons said they had not been contacted by any Devonshire Rec officials wishing to make an application to the arbitration panel.

Reacting to the news that Cougars, who also lost their Friendship Trophy semifinal this week, had thrown in the towel, BFA General Secretary David Sabir said the association understood "the difficulty in this decision, however, we believe the process has been exercised".

"We're hoping that in all of this we come out strong in regards to our regulations . . . we must reiterate that - despite what we may feel about various outcomes - the rules of the association's competitions are there for all and we are duty-bound to administer those rules accordingly."

He also underlined Devonshire Rec's place in local football, saying he expects to see the club's return to prominence next season.

"We want to say to Devonshire Recreation Club and its players and fans that they are very important to football and, at the end of the day, we look forward to them returning to the playing field and performing at a very high level as they have done this season."

First Division action continues tomorrow with title contenders Hamilton Parish in position to regain the top spot they relinquished to fellow promotion rivals Southampton Rangers last week when they take on FA Cup finalists Prospect at Police Field.

Rangers, meanwhile, have had their final league fixture of the season against Prospect put back to next Wednesday night at BAA Field. Parish will also close out the season on that same night at St.John's Field against St.George's as the race for the league championship goes down to the wire.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Young Men's Social Club host Ireland Rangers at Bernard Park while Paget welcome Wolves to White Hill Field.

Tomorrow will also see the Women's FA Cup semifinal replay between Dandy Stars and PHC finally get underway at Bernard Park at 12.30 p.m. All First Division fixtures begin at 3 p.m..