MUIRKIRK Junior FC have been disqualified from the South Challenge Cup after fielding an ineligible player.

The West of Scotland Football League Conference A side faced Kello Rovers in the first round of the tournament on Saturday, August 20 and won 2-1.

However a committee meeting was then called after the match after Muirkirk realised they had accidentally fielded a player who was not eligible to play the game.

In a statement issued on Monday night, a club spokesperson said: "Due to an administrative oversight we unfortunately fielded a player on Saturday who was under suspensions from the South Region Challenge Cup after being sent off in the completion last year at his previous club.

"We were made aware of this at around 8pm on Saturday evening and immediately alerted the Scottish Football Association of our error and called Kello Rovers FC to firstly apologise for the error and assure them that we would assist any SFA disciplinary panel in any way we could.

 

"This evening the SRCC Competition Committee met to discuss the case and with our agreement, have deemed the club to have breached rules 9.1 and 9.3. As a result we have been disqualified from the competition and kello Rovers will progress to Round 2 to face Royal Albert.

"Again we wish to reiterate our apologies to everyone concerned and wish Kello Rovers good luck moving forward in the competition."

A Kello Rovers spokesperson added: "We understand mistakes happen and would like to thank Muirkirk for their honesty and wish them all the best for the season ahead."

Kello will now face Royal Albert in the second round of the competition on September 10.

Read more: Plans for eight new homes in Lugar are lodged with East Ayrshire officials