Linnets undecided if they will contest points deduction
LINNETS chairman Buster Chapman has said the club are undecided if they will contest the United Counties League’s decision to deduct them three points and replay the game against Boston Town for playing midfielder Rob Hughes.
Chapman said that club officials will meet with solicitors tomorrow before making a final decision on the matter.
Lynn have been given 14 days to appeal following the UCL’s decision after it turned out that Hughes should have served a one-game suspension against the Poachers in October.
The full ruling is as follows:
Last night, the King’s Lynn Town faced the UCL management committee at Raunds - a meeting which was attended by manager Gary Setchell, chairman Buster Chapman and a club solicitor.
After full consideration of the facts the committee decided that:
1) King’s Lynn Town had breached rule 6.9 in that they played Robert Hughes in a Premier Division fixture against Boston Town on 25 October, 2011 when he should have been serving a one-match suspension. In reaching this decision the committee took account the fact that:
(a) The FA disciplinary guidelines state that suspensions for players who receive five cautions are automatic, irrespective of whether or not notification has been received from the County FA.
(b) The FA disciplinary guidelines state that the main responsibility for ensuring that clubs are informed of a players disciplinary record following a transfer rests with the player himself.
(c) The club pleaded guilty to playing an ineligible player in this fixture when charged by the County FA.
2) That although the club were in breach of rule 6.9, there were significant mitigating circumstances that the committee decided should be taken in to account, namely:
(a) All five cautions were received by Robert Hughes when playing for his previous club, prior to his transfer to King’s Lynn Town.
(b) The club took all reasonable steps to clarify if Robert Hughes was suspended by contacting his previous club and the Lincolnshire Football Association prior to the match with Boston Town, which has been confirmed by the respective organisations concerned.
(c) That the County FA recognised the significance of these mitigating factors when reaching their decision with regard to this matter.
Due to the decision that the club were in breach of rule 6.9, there is an automatic requirement to deduct the points gained in the fixture, as ineligibility was not due to the players’ status or International Clearance.
However the committee do have certain discretions and so concluded that:
(a) The three points gained by King’s Lynn Town in this fixture should be deducted from the league table.
(b) The League table should also be adjusted in respect of the goal difference for both King’s Lynn Town (1 goal scored removed from the League table) and Boston Town (1 goal conceded removed from the League table).
(c) That King’s Lynn Town should not receive a fine for this breach of rule 6.9.
(d) That the match should be replayed at Boston Town on a date to be arranged by the fixture secretary of the league.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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