Longford Town manager Stephen Kenny has admitted his dismay and disappointment following the FAI Appeals Board's decision to deduct St Patrick's Athletic nine points for fielding an unregistered player. The former Saints player has offered his support to the Inchicore club who plan to seek legal advice following the move, which sees the club slip into the bottom four having led the eircom Premier Division yesterday morning.
Kenny, who guided Longford to mid-table security and an FAI Cup Final appearance during a surprising debut season in the top flight, revealed: "To be honest with you I'm disappointed and it's nothing to do with the fact that it's my old club. I'm a firm believer that football should be won on the field. I don't think it was intentional on St Pat's part, but there are a lot of self righteous people saying that rules are rules etc, etc, which is just not in the spirit of sport. I feel that a very basic error was made accidentally, it's not like the club tried to pull a stroke over anyone or try to do anything untoward."
The controversy surrounds the registration of summer signing Paul Marney, and despite being fined an initial £1,000, an appeal by Dublin rivals Shelbourne saw the decision go the FAI's Appeals Board on Monday evening. Kenny, speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, added: "I feel it's all very unnecessary. I think it's going to go to the courts now and throw a shadow over the whole season. It will be the major talking point of the season because it will go right to the end. I hope they win their appeal because whoever does the business on the pitch deserved to be crowned champions in March."
Filed by Shane Murray
