It is most unusual that our football club finds itself in this situation and charged with playing an ineligible player namely Sean Doherty, in the league fixture at Nantwich Town on the Tuesday 26 February 2013, who had not received international clearance from the FA of Wales following his departure from Colwyn Bay in 2011 and his subsequent transfers to AFC Liverpool and Droylsden before joining Marine.

Marine Football Club has an excellent reputation for the quality of its football administration and Richard Cross, unbelievably, only our fourth Club secretary since 1934, continues with that strong tradition.

We are very fortunate indeed to have someone of Richard’s calibre as our secretary and at Marine, despite his younger years, he leads by example.

He and I are extremely disappointed that the failings of others have resulted in our Club receiving these charges from the NPL and the Football Association.

Sean Doherty last played for Colwyn Bay in 2011 and having been injured for the remainder of that season following surgery he joined Step 5 club AFC Liverpool in November 2012. As the first English club signing Sean since leaving Colwyn Bay, AFC Liverpool should have applied for the issue of the international release certificate from the FA Wales. For some reason they chose not to and Sean made 3 appearances for them.

Sean then moved on to Step 2 Club Droylsden in January this year and they failed to check that the player had received international clearance previously and he made 6 appearances for them.

In the knowledge that Sean Doherty had played for two English clubs since leaving Wales some Clubs, possibly most, would not have made an enquiry about clearance but Richard still wanted to check to make sure.

We are really disappointed that Richard’s email to the FA of Wales remained in the enquiries inbox from Monday 25 February at 13.09 until Wednesday 27 February at 09.26 the morning after our game against Nantwich in which Sean played coming on as sub. From receiving the email from the enquiries inbox it took only 9 minutes for the officer at the FA of Wales to advise Richard that international clearance should be applied for. Had that response been received before our game against Nantwich, the day before, we would not have played him.

Recognising the failings of AFC Liverpool, Conference Club Droylsden and the unacceptable delay at the FA of Wales we are disappointed to have been found guilty by the FA with a £100 fine and then to be deducted the 3 points won in the hard fought victory at Nantwich Town by the Northern Premier League.

It is expected that the league table will be amended within the next few days.

Paul Leary
Chairman
Marine FC