THE ERREA South West Challenge Cup will return next year with plans in place to avoid a repeat of the weekend's farcical conclusion.

Royal Racing FC Montegnee collected runners-up medals at the Sports Ground in Bideford on Sunday night despite having lost all three games they played in the tournament and only scoring one goal.

It wasn't their fault, the Belgian club's cosmopolitan squad of young footballers were the only ones available when Grimsby Town pulled out of the tournament late the night before. They put on a decent display but Luton Town, impressive throughout the week, ran out comfortable 3-1 winners — the right result achieved the wrong way.

In 2010 organisers, who saw Crystal Palace pull out before last year's semi-finals because of an injury crisis, are likely to have a team on standby.

Tournament director Mike Bradshaw said: "You work on the premise that perhaps lightning doesn't strike twice.

"You can never definitively plan for all the teams to be kept back.

"But it is something we are looking at for next year to ensure we have a procedure in place that allows one team to be held in reserve for such a situation.

"There could be a situation where the best qualifier of our three local teams (Barnstaple Town, Bideford and Ilfracombe Town) could be put on permanent standby to be invited back in. That would also provide local colour to put in front of an audience."

Grimsby withdrew having failed to get the 6pm kick-off moved to the afternoon.

The Mariners insist the request was based on a police recommendation amid fears for the safety of their manager, Mike Newell, who left Luton on bad terms when he was sacked as their boss in 2007.

Bideford police, however, deny being involved in the decision making and Bradshaw is adamant Grimsby were simply concerned with returning home earlier to prepare for Monday night's Lincolnshire Cup game against Scunthorpe United, which the Mariners lost 3-0.

Bradshaw said: "At 12.05am (on Sunday) we failed to get Grimsby and Luton to agree on a compromise.

"Paul Morrison (chief executive of the Devon Football Association) did everything he knew to get that game on. If he couldn't get them to agree, no one else was going to."

Exeter City were still at the Saunton Sands Hotel but, having lost to Luton in the semi-finals, they were immediately ruled out as a potential replacement.

Bradshaw said: "With the three local teams, there was no way they could gather their scattered squads from around the county in that time.

"Yeovil Town had already headed home and Rushden and Diamonds were halfway back.

"Royal Racing FC Montegnee were still here, match fit and ready to play a game on Sunday (they were due to meet Tavistock).

"It gave everyone a game, ensured Luton won the cup competitively and we didn't have 300 people left holding tickets and asking for compensation.

"An offer of compensation has been accepted by Tavistock — we have done the honourable thing."

Once Bradshaw has tied up the loose ends of this year's tournament, including helping to decide who should receive the award for best host club, he will turn his attention to the 2010 version.

"A top Spanish side and a top Italian side are asking to come next year, so we must be doing something right," he said.

"Is the tournament good for North Devon and football in general? Yes, I'm sure of it.

"But it is open to improvement, it is only in its second year."