FOREST Green's top brass are set to appeal against a pending three-point deduction after playing an ineligible player in their opening Vanarama Conference match of the season against Southport.
Club secretary Mark Giaquinto and lawyer Tom Cowling attended a hearing n Birmingham on Friday, when the club accepted the charge and presented circumstances preceding the offence, in mitigation.
Media speculation linking the ineligiible player as Danny Coles, signed four days before the start of the season, is understood to be untrue.
They have now requested a personal hearing to consider an alleged breach of Football Conference membership rule 6.9.
The club also asked the Conference panel to consider exercising the discretionary element in the Rule that permitted the competition to order a replay of the match.
Forest Green statement
Forest Green Rovers statement in regards to the outcome of a Football Conference hearing into an alleged breach of Membership Rule 6.9 for fielding an ineligible (unregistered) player in its match at Southport FC on August 9, 2014.
"Forest Green Rovers is disappointed at the outcome of the hearing and have indicated to the Football Conference that they will most likely appeal.
"FGR looks forward to receiving the Panel’s detailed explanation of how it exercised its discretion in refusing the club’s request for a re-match.
"FGR notes that the Conference has, in its history, never exercised its discretion in favour of a re-match and is concerned that it may have been deprived of an opportunity to to have its rights under rule 6.9 properly and fully considered."
A statement from the Football Conference said:
The Panel carefully considered all the written evidence submitted prior to the Hearing and considered the Club’s verbal submission presented today. It also considered the discretionary power available to it within Rule 6.9 before finding as follows:-
1. Forest Green Rovers was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player on 9 August 2014 in its match at Southport.
2. The Club was fined £500 and had the three points it gained in the match , deducted from its League Table score.
3. The Panel considered but declined the Club’s request to have the match replayed.
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