Crusaders FC and Derry City FC have decided to join forces to challenge the exclusion of both clubs from Stage 2 of the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The decision was made after an extraordinary general meeting of Crusaders FC members on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. The clubs believe they were left with no other option after being omitted from the next round of the process. The Department for Communities announced 20 clubs from across Northern Ireland would progress to the next round of the process with three different tiers of funding available. Of the 41 clubs eligible to apply, 38 submitted bids, leaving those who missed out bitterly disappointed. The big winners were NIFL Premiership clubs Glentoran and Cliftonville who progressed in the third and most expensive tier of over £6m. The middle bracket of applications between £1.5m to £6m saw 13 successful applications, while five of less than £1.5m also progressed. A Department for Communities spokesperson said: 'The Department will consider its response to any action being brought as and when it has been formally notified.'