We put a very good argument forward - Ramsgate chairman

The Southwood Stadium outfit lost their appeal at The Football Association yesterday, having been adjudged to have fielded three on-loan players by the Ryman Football League over Christmas.

A statement issued by the club late last night, posted on their official website www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk, said: “The club’s appeal to the FA against the League’s decision to deduct four points owing to an alleged breach of League Rule 6.8 was heard at Soho Square today.

“Whilst the formal notice, including reasons for the decision, has yet to be received, the club representatives and barrister were shocked when the tribunal decided in favour of the League and dismissed the appeal.”

The Ryman Football League issued a statement on the matter earlier today, confirming, “The appeal by Ramsgate Football Club against the decision of the Ryman Football League to deduct four points from their playing record for playing more than the permitted number of short term loan players in three matches was heard by an Appeal Board of the Football Association on Monday, 16^th March.

“The decision of the Appeal Board was to dismiss the appeal by the club, a decision that is final and binding.

“The four points have now been deducted from the record of the club.”

The player in question, goalkeeper Jamie Turner, made his Ramsgate debut against Thanet rivals Margate on 27^th December 2009, and went on to sign permanently from Blue Square South side Welling United.

But Ramsgate were adjudged by the football authorities to have played three on-loan players during a three-match spell, something that the club hotly disputed.

Jim Ward’s side now face an uphill struggle to maintain their Ryman Premier League status, and now have seven games to beat the drop, meaning Saturday’s home game against fifth-from-bottom side Hastings United is now a must-win clash.

Taking goal-difference into account, the Rams are seven points from safety.

Mr Lawton, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this lunchtime, expressed his views on the matter, insisting the club fought their corner to re-instate the four points.

“We put our case to The Football Association, the Ryman League gave their views and the FA, after a lot of deliberation, sided with the Ryman League,” he said.

“I don’t think we really could have done much more. I think that in hindsight if the FA had sided with us I think that could have opened the floodgates for a lot of manipulation of other Leagues and other rules towards the end of the season that could have affected relegation and promotion positions and quite possibly it might have opened a can of worms.

“I still think now, after the original heading and the appeal, listening to everything that the Ryman League have said about the rules, and I still read the rule and I still read the rules as we read it originally, and our barrister, who put up a very good argument for us, after hearing the decision, was dumfounded.

“He cannot believe that they’re going against us, maybe there was a bigger picture.”

Despite losing their appeal, Mr Lawson admitted it was worth fighting for the points, to ensure piece of mind.

He said: “It’s cost us a few bob, but at the end of the day if we hadn’t done it or exhausted all the league possibilities to us, I think we may have been open to criticism from the fans and maybe even ourselves in view to saying we wished we done it.

“Now there can be no recriminations, we’ve done what we’ve done, we’ve given it our very, very best shot, put a very good argument up, maybe better than the Ryman League ever thought was going to be put up.”

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Ramsgate v Hastings United
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21^st March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN