Eircom League: Shels threaten to withdraw

Shelbourne FC are threatening to withdraw from the rest of this season's Eircom League after St Patrick's Athletic were given back the nine points they lost in 2001.

The punishment was imposed on St Pat's after the Dublin club fielded an unregistered player, Paul Marney, in their opening three games of the current season against Galway United, Shelbourne and Derry City.

The club was also fined €1,200. Yesterday, independent arbitrator Liam Reidy, SC, ruled that the nine-point deduction should be revoked, but the fine should stand.

The move means St Pat’s jump from fourth place to first in the Eircom League table, two points clear of previous leaders Shelbourne.

This has angered Shels, whose board of directors met for three hours last night to consider the implications of the news.

Shels manager Dermot Keely has said the arbitrator’s ruling is incomprehensible. "The rule says the club will forfeit three points per match in which a non-registered player plays," he said.

"There is no room for judgement on this. There are very few rules in the book that are as clear as this."