'But then the Union brought in a new rule which deprived us of the title on a mere technicality,' said Windram, whose side had finished tied with Kowloon Beavers at the end of the league season on January 14.

The trouble all started after the Union decided late in January that the league rules which cater to decide a winner - if two teams are tied at the top of the standings at the end of the season - would be amended because there had been a spate of walkovers in all divisions this season.

In a letter to all the clubs dated January 27, the Union's director of fixtures Morgan Chubb said: 'The positive ratio of for and against points would decide the victor.

'This is so that teams obtaining wins by walkover are not disadvantaged by those teams refusing to play them.' So although Typhoons had had a better for and against ratio on the old rules (240 to Kowloon Beavers 221), they lost the title simply because the Beavers positive ratio saw their total being divided by nine (they had got one walkover from Causeway Bay Rams) while the Typhoons ratio was divided by 10 (they had played their full complement of games).

This meant the Beavers edged Typhoons by 0.5 points.

'It is not our intention to question the Kowloon Beavers' worth as Fourth Division champions.

'But we want to highlight a problem with the current league set-up which has cost us the title this season,' said Windram.

'To say we are disappointed is a gross understatement. We are wholly disillusioned with the league set-up and the Union's administration.

'How do I explain to my 30-odd players that we are no longer Fourth Division champions.

'Should I say 'sorry lads, but contrary to popular belief and the rules of the game as we understood them, we've been pipped at the post by Kowloon?',' asked a disappointed Windram.

Chubb was unavailable for comment yesterday as he is out of the territory.

The Union brought in the rule change, apparently to protect the cause of Hong Kong Football Club's First Division side who had been at the receiving end of a spate of walkovers.

Club, who had at least three games conceded in the league, had a poorer points differential compared to rivals Valley, going into the crunch game on February 18.

If that match (won in the end by Valley who took the First Division title) had ended in a draw, the title would have been then decided under the new rule of positive points ratio.

Windram said the Union would have been wiser to have introduced a playoff if two teams had tied at the top of the standings.

'In the end we were pipped at the post by the Union and not by the Beavers,' Windram said.

'It is very frustrating and sad,' he added.