CE Alaior look increasingly likely to be returning to the Regional Preferente Menorca next season as they face a cruel relegation from Tercera Division.

Despite avoiding the bottom three relegation places, their future in Tercera has been thrown in to doubt by the relegation of Penya Independent from RFEF Segunda, which means a fourth team needs to drop out back to the regional divisions.

That fourth team looks set to be Alaior, who finished off their season with a goalless draw at home to Portmany, while nearest rivals Felanitx thumped already relegated Inter Manacor 5-0.

It now means that the only way Alaior can remain in Tercera is if Formentera win in their RFEF Segunda relegation play-off against Izarra, and one of the Balearic teams wins promotion from Tercera.

Mallorca B and UD Poblense are both tipped to do well in the promotion play-offs, but Formentera lost the first-leg of their play-off 1-0 at home at the weekend.

If Formentera are beaten in the tie, with the second leg played this weekend, then Alaior will be relegated.

Otherwise, Alaior would then have to cheer on either Mallorca B or Poblense to successful make the jump to RFEF Segunda.

Should Formentera lose and neither Mallorca B or Poblense earn promotion, then Felanitx will also be relegated from Tercera Division from fifth bottom.

Alaior president Toni Alzina told the local press: “It hurts to go down and even more so when all year you have been outside the three relegation places. It was something that could happen and has happened but, on the other hand, we are sure that we did well not to go crazy on the economic issue.”

Alzina also confirmed that even if Alaior have to wait until June to find out what division they are playing in, which would naturally put them behind the eight-ball in terms of recruitment, they would still continue in Tercera Division.