BANGOR City can now finally turn their attention to on-the-pitch matters after their long-running saga with the Football Association of Wales came to an end.

The Citizens’ had their 21-point deduction and subsequent charge quashed at an arbitration hearing last week, allowing them to resume their JD Cymru North fixtures this weekend following a brief suspension.

This represents a significant result for Stephen Vaughan Jr and other club officials, who always remained confident of overthrowing the charges to pave their way for a possible tilt at the second tier title.

There are plenty of questions to answer if they are to achieve their lofty goals, and how well their many continental players settled into the rigours of the league season will go a long way to determining their overall fortunes at the end of the season.

The likes of Francesco Serafino, Emmanuel Agyemang and Aldair Neto have looked extremely good during their pre-season fixtures, but competitive games are a completely different beast and it will be imperative that they hit the ground running for their own personal confidence and for City to build some momentum after a difficult summer.

Vaughan Jr has also acquired the services of some experienced domestic players that have achieved a considerable amount, with Ashley Ruane sure to provide a considerable presence up-front and he is guaranteed to score goals at this level providing he gets the right service.

Combative midfielder Yalany Baio is another superb addition to the squad after impressing considerably during his first spell at the EuroGold Stadium, and experience figures such as Paul Cliff and David Thompson will be relied upon heavily during the initial stages of the season whilst the European faces adjust to the pace and demands of second tier football.

While the majority of their fan base has shunned the set-up in favour of newly formed Bangor 1876, there is nothing to suggest that Vaughan Jr is going to walk away from the club anytime soon despite a sale of the club nearing completion, and if he can use this “us against the world” mentality to good effect it would be foolish for any Cymru North side to underestimate them.

This is something they would most likely do to their peril such is the talent within the squad, but if there was ever a club crying out for stability after a turbulent time in their recent history it is the Citizens.

The club has gone from JD Cymru Premier runners-up to almost dropping to the third tier in the space of 12 months, in addition to HMRC winding up orders, rows over unpaid wages to former players and a plethora of squad changes and high-profile departures.

If they don’t secure the title this season, it is not the worst thing. What is important is that they suffer no more off-the-field issues, build with the squad they have and restore some respectability to a set-up that has undoubtedly lost its way of late.

They finally open their season against a Conwy Borough side who have the potential to do very well this season and will be further buoyed by their impressive victory at Porthmadog.

This will be a good yardstick for the Citizens’ and should provide the North Wales footballing community with a greater understanding of what we can expect from them now their tier status has been confirmed, but it would not be a surprise to see them really give a good account of themselves as the season progresses.

Whether you agree with the way the club is being run or not is now mute, supporters have gone their separate ways and now both Bangor sides can concentrate on what could be a very profitable season on the pitch for both outfits.