The great and the good, I am told, were all set to expel the side from the Federation (which would create a big problem for the side as they need public liability insurance to dance, and it is hard to get on a one-off basis, but each of the Federation and the Ring has a blanket policy) for "bringing morris into disrepute".
Not all that big a problem Richard, the Open Morris also offers public liability insurance of £10,000.