IPSWICH Wanderers face a bill higher than Whitton United's fine for withdrawing from the league after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in six games.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Wanderers face a bill higher than Whitton United's fine for withdrawing from the league after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in six games.

And manager Steve Buckle said it was all because of an oversight.

The Humber Doucy Lane-based Ridgeons League Division One club took 18-year-old John Sargent on loan from Wivenhoe Town in the autumn and all the paper work was passed by the league.

But Wanderers failed to send a slip to the Football Association for their ratification and, because of this breaking of the rules, the Ridgeons League has deducted eight points and four matches will have to be replayed.

In Sargent's six matches, Wanderers won two, drew two and lost two and they have to pay the expenses for Downham and March to re-visit Ipswich. And Wanderers will have to pay for the officials when they travel to Debenham and Long Melford in games that were drawn.

As Wanderers were beaten against Halstead and Gorleston, with Sargent in the team, these games are not affected.

It cost Whitton �1,000 to withdraw from the league but Buckle says it will cost Wanderers more to 'replay' the games.

“It is sickening for us,” said Buckle. “We had a new secretary and there was a misunderstanding over paperwork.

“Losing the points and dropping down the table to second bottom is not our main worry as we are not in line for promotion and there is no relegation.

“But when we are striving to improve facilities and build new changing rooms, the extra expenditure certainly is.”

Wanderers must pay both Downham and Wisbech �2.50 per coach mile for their trip back to Ipswich and, with the referee for the Downham game coming from Hunstanton, the bill for the three officials will be around �150.

“With the cost of the referee and his two assistants for the two away matches we have to play again as well, our bill will top the �1,000 it cost Whitton to resign,” added Buckle.

“We took on John to give him experience and he played at the back, but it has backfired, with the authorities coming down heavily on us.” Sergeant is now playing for Woodbridge Town.

Wanderers can expect a good turn out of supporters tonight when they entertain FC Clacton with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Having not had a league game since January 31, Wanderers played a friendly against Felixstowe and Walton United on Tuesday at Humber Doucy Lane.

“We were beaten 5-2 by the Premier Division side, but it blew the cobwebs away,” said Buckle, who has brought Danny Carnell back to the club from Felixstowe.

On the down side, James Buckle is now working most weekends and Danny Hyam is suspended for tonight's game.