Gornal Athletic face drop over loss of points
Gornal Athletic were today facing the prospect of relegation from the Midland Alliance after being docked 14 points for fielding ineligible players.
The Peacocks have appealed to the FA against the league's decision to take away the points after they signed 14 players from Dudley Town – players they were later told were ineligible. The loss would see the club drop to the bottom of the final Alliance table and almost certainly relegated to the West Midlands League.
Gornal signed the Dudley players on dual registrations shortly before manager Andy Wyton moved from the Robins to take over at Garden Walk.
But Dudley then complained that the players had been signed without their permission and Gornal were fined £100 by the Birmingham County FA and told that the players were ineligible.
Gornal appealed to the FA at Wembley and later lost, but the Midland Alliance has now docked them the 14 points they gained while fielding the players while they waited for the outcome of the appeal.
They have lodged a fresh appeal to the FA over the loss of the points.
Gornal secretary Kevin Williams said: "The reason we are appealing is that I spoke to the Birmingham County FA and was told we could use these players while the appeal was going on.
"If somebody tells you something like that then you believe it."
Alliance chairman Mick Joiner said: "The league aren't in a position to make a statement because of the ongoing appeal.
"But we are not in the business of losing clubs. We want to keep Midlands clubs in the league but there are certain things that have to be done correctly."
