Bexhill set to be booted out

Bexhill United are highly likely to be thrown out of a county football competition after unwittingly fielding an ineligible player.

The splendid 2-1 win away to Hailsham Town in round two of the Sussex County League Division Two Challenge Cup on Saturday looks like counting for nothing.

Jamie Morgan, who came on for the final 12 minutes to make his Bexhill debut, was cup-tied having played for Seaford Town in the same competition last month.

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Bexhill chairman Robin Powell said: “It was a very honest admin error. It was an oversight that we didn’t check his availability. I’m not going to lay any blame here, but there are lessons to be learnt.”

Hailsham were “well aware” of Morgan’s ineligibility according to Powell, who was contacted by league registrations secretary Tim Dawes on Sunday evening having received Bexhill’s match return card, which had Morgan’s name on it.

League secretary Paul Beard sent Powell the charge of fielding an ineligible player via email on Monday and Bexhill were required to respond within seven days, which they have done. Although it hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, Dawes told Powell the game will go to Hailsham.

Morgan, whose transfer was completed last Thursday, played for Seaford against Bexhill’s cross-town rivals Little Common in round one on September 17, scoring twice in a 5-1 victory.

See today’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.

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