A FOOTBALL club has been deducted nine points and fined £6,000 by the UniBond League, but it has not been expelled from the league.

Many expected County Durham club Spennymoor to be expelled at the weekend for failing to fulfil recent fixtures and it may come to that when the side fails to play Prescot Cables at its Brewery Field ground tonight.

A league statement said: "Spennymoor have been fined the sum of £1,000 on each of the charges for failing to fulfil league fixtures against Leek, Bridlington and Radcliffe Borough.

"The club has also had three points deducted from their record for each of the three offences. In addition, the club were ordered to pay £200 in costs to Bridlington and the league.

"The club were not expelled from the league and have been informed that they are expected to fulfil their fixture against Prescot Cables."

The Moors have also been fined £2,500 by the league for failing to carry out ten ground improvements. A suspended fine of £500 has also been triggered.

That is on top of previous fines of £1,000 for not playing at Witton Albion and Leek.

The latest punishments do not include last Saturday's no show at Marine, which is due to be discussed by the league on April 24, and could mean a further three points being deducted and a £1,000 fine.

Owner Benny Mottram said: "We've had problems finding a goalkeeper, plus we're not happy with some clubs for failing to put in seven days' notice of approach for our players.

"We've also asked the league again if we can sign a keeper, but again they've refused us permission. I'm considering an appeal.

"We won't be able to raise a team for the game tonight. The match won't take place.

"I know that the league will probably fine us and deduct points again, but we're not going to resign from the league."