Forest Green chairman Dale Vince believes the club is innocent of the administration error which may, pending appeal, result in Rovers being deducted three points.

The Vanarama Conference outfit have been docked three points and fined £500 fine, imposed after defender Luke Oliver played in the opening-day win at Southport when not properly registered.

At a hearing in Birmingham, they accepted the charge and offered to replay the game, a request that was rejected by the Conference panel.

The decision is subject to their right of appeal to the Football Association.

Vince told the Forest Green Fans’ Forum: “The basis of our appeal is not that we think the player was registered (he clearly was not) - it's about how this occurred.

“There being reasonable evidence (in our view) that it was not a club mistake.

“Hence we are asking for a rematch as a fair outcome.”