Ashington have appealed to the FA about being kicked out of the Northern League Cup – but Newton Aycliffe have revealed that if the FA orders a replay, then they’ll struggle to raise a team.

Ashington beat Aycliffe 3-1 in their League Cup semi final a fortnight ago, but they learned soon after the final whistle that their striker, Dylan Armstrong, was ineligible having been signed only four days before the game, instead of the fourteen required by rule. Ashington reported themselves to the league, who removed them from the competition for breaking the rules.

However, Ashington, who were represented at the league hearing by MP Ian Lavery, have now appealed to the FA, apparently on the grounds that Aycliffe knew of the ineligible player before the game, and in the interests of fair play, should have informed them.

The FA has yet to set a date for the appeal, but the final is scheduled to take place at Bishop Auckland on Tuesday May 5th. Shildon are the other finalists.

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “Out of our team that played at Ashington in the semi final – and bearing in mind that we only had the bare eleven – we might struggle to field a team if the FA instruct that the game is replayed.

“Three of the players who appeared that night are now suspended, and will miss the final. We have no more league games for them to be suspended for.

“Two players are injured, and another is on holiday, because he believed that we had no more games to play from our final league game last Saturday, until the day of the final. Some players we have registered can’t play because they’ve played for other clubs earlier in the competition.

“If the appeal is successful, what is the point of abiding by the rules? It’s like robbing a bank, getting caught, being told to hand the money back and not going to prison. You’ll keep on doing it on the off chance that you won’t get caught.”