During December, a 10-match stadium ban that had been given to Ashcroft was upheld on appeal, and so he was replaced as manager by Jim Gannon.[45] In 2014–15, Northwich finished fourth and qualified for the promotion playoffs but was defeated in extra time. However, for 2015–16, Witton Albion were relegated to the same division, and Northwich was able to re-establish a three-year ground-sharing arrangement with them permitting Northwich to play at Wincham Park. In the 2015–16 FA Cup, Northwich advanced through six rounds of competition to become the last team from Level 8 still competing, and Northwich finished third in Division One North despite a 9-point penalty for using an ineligible player in four matches, reaching the finals in the playoffs for promotion.