Oh no Harry, you are right. They were not FORCED.

The Coaches came in and politely asked, "Would any of you like to play in 3 Leagues?"

"Would it be OK if we play in 3 Leagues?"

"We promise you want have to do but whatever it is you want".

"And we'll get some sponsors to underwrite the cost, err, no, that's what we said 2 years ago that never came to fruition, err, ahh, errr..."