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Conference release Mansfield statement

General Manager of The Football Conference, Dennis Strudwick, has released a statement following the decision to penalise Mansfield Town for fielding ineligible players.

Following a hearing at the Birmingham Offices of the Football Conference on Monday, the Stags have been hit by a four-point deduction and fined fined £1,000 for fielding ineligible players.

The Stags admitted to six charges relating to the first two matches of the season and the club's three new owners - Andy Perry, Andy Saunders and Steve Middleton were asked to explain why the Conference did not receive players' registrations before the start of the season.

Conference general manager Dennis Strudwick told the Mansfield Chad: "Mansfield have been extremely helpful.

"The panel listened and took on board everything that was said and took into consideration the circumstances at the club at that time, but the matter had to be dealt with."

The Conference statement reads:

"MANSFIELD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYER REGISTRATIONS:-

MEMBERSHIP RULE 6.8 - FIELDING AN INELIGIBLE (UNREGISTERED) PLAYER(S)

MEMBERSHIP RULE 6.7 - NOMINATING AN UNREGISTERED PLAYER AS A SUBSTITUTE

At a Hearing held today (Monday) at the Birmingham Offices of the Football Conference, Mansfield Town Football Club was found guilty, upon its own admission of three breaches of fielding an ineligible (unregistered) player(s) (Membership Rule 6.8) and three breaches of nominating ineligible (unregistered) player(s) on the substitutes' bench (Membership Rule 6.7). Two breaches of each rule occurred during the match against Ebbsfleet United on Saturday 9 August 2008 and one breach of each rule occurred during the Club's match against Histon on Tuesday 12 August 2008.

The Board's decision has been conveyed to the Club as follows:-

·Having heard the evidence provided by the Club, upon its own admission, Mansfield Town FC was found guilty of the six charges listed in the Football Conference's letter to the Club dated 28 August.

·In relation to the fixture on 9 August, no penalty has been imposed for the two breaches of Membership Rule 6.7 for nominating two ineligible (unregistered) players on the Substitutes bench who were not used. For two breaches of Membership Rule 6.8, for fielding two ineligible (unregistered) players the Club has had the point gained in that fixture deducted and has been fined £500.00.

·In relation to the fixture on 12 August, no penalty has been imposed for the breach of Membership Rule 6.7 for nominating an ineligible (unregistered) player on the Substitutes bench who was not used. For the breach of Membership Rule 6.8, for fielding an ineligible (unregistered) player the Club has had the three points gained in that fixture deducted and has been fined £500.00.

The Club has the right of Appeal against the above decision of the Board. An Appeal must be lodged with, and received by, the Football Association within 14 days of the notification of the decision. Consequently, the Football Conference will not adjust its League Tables, to reflect the above decision, until the Appeal procedure is exhausted."