GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY have failed in their appeal against expulsion from the FA Cup.
Trinity were booted out of the competition on Monday after it was found that one of the players who featured in their Second Round Qualifying victory over Rushall Olympic was ineligible.
The player in question, Jordan Thomas, had not been registered correctly in accordance with FA Cup Rule 15 and Gainsborough were subsequently removed from the Cup, with Rushall being reinstated.
The Skrill North outfit had hoped to have the FA sub committee’s decision overturned but their appeal was thrown out on Thursday meaning the initial stands.
A statement on the club’s website said: “The sub committee and appeals board have based their decision on saying that an email with loan forms for Jordan Thomas was not sent, or received, before the 12 noon deadline on Friday, September 27, 2013.
“Although we acknowledge that certain procedures were not followed after forms were submitted, we do have evidence to support our claim that the correct forms were sent to the Football Association and Football Conference before the 12 noon deadline on September 27 by Lincoln City FC.
“Gainsborough Trinity are proud to part of the FA Cup and being removed from the FA Cup in this manner really hurts, not just only for our supporters but for players and all the people that work hard as volunteers helping the club to be a big part of the town and non league football.
“Regrettably, the club has to stand by the appeal boards decision and no other appeals can be made. As a club we now have to look forward and investigate the circumstances around these events. We will start a full case review on events leading up to and after the FA cup game and these findings and recommendations will be released in due course.
“To conclude, Gainsborough Trinity FC directors would like to apologise to it’s supporters, players and volunteers for the removal from this years FA Cup in this manner and to ensure that everything will be done to ensure nothing like this happens again. Now we all have to move on and look forward to the next game and continue to move up the league.”
As a result, it will be the Pics who will travel to Stockport County’s Edgeley Park ground for a Third Qualifying Round tie on Saturday afternoon.
