RYMAN SOUTH side Leatherhead have been deducted six points and will now host Guernsey in the play-off semi-finals on Tuesday.
The Tanners, who were set to finish second behind runaway champions Peacehaven & Telscombe, will now end the season in third and host the Channel Islands side at Fetcham Grove instead of the fifth place team.
The club were found guilty under league rule 6.9 of playing an ineligible player, Joe Oberstellar, because of a registration irregularity.
Oberstellar played in four games for the Tanners – away against Eastbourne Town, Hastings United and Corinthian-Casuals and also at home against Herne Bay – and the six points gained have been chalked off.
Leatherhead chairman Peter Ashdown said: “We were unable to announce the decision until today, due to a Ryman League directive, preventing any clubs from gaining any perceived advantage as a result of the points deduction.
“We considered an appeal to the FA, but after careful consideration have decided to accept the decision, and focus our energy on beating Guernsey on Tuesday.
“We have suffered a terrible few months following the floods at Christmas, which in many ways has brought the club closer together.
“This was the very last thing we expected or needed but I urge you all to get behind the team, at the end of an extraordinarily long and tiring season, for one last effort, to help Richard Brady and the players into the Premier Division.”
