MANSFIELD Town chairman Andy Perry has said he does not believe the Stags will lose points in the investigation into the signing of striker Aaron O'Connor.
BSP rivals Grays Athletic claim they had taken up a one-year option on the striker's contract when he signed and played for Mansfield Town this season.
But Stags, the player and his agent all believed he was a free agent - and were stunned when late in September the FA revealed that it was investigating his signing
The FA said that the Stags have been 'charged with an an alleged breach of FA Rule C.1(i(i)) which states that a player under written contract may only play for the club for which he is registered.
- Stags' O'Connor hearing to be held before Christmas?
Earlier this week the FA told Chad: "It looks like there will probably be a hearing down here between now and Christmas."
On Thursday Stags chairman Perry told the club's official website
mansfieldtown.net: "I spoke to the FA yesterday (Wednesday) and I had a good half hour with the gentleman dealing with it.
"What has held things up is that a few weeks ago we received a P45 from Grays for Aaron O'Connor, showing they terminated his employment on 31st May this year. That has added a bit more spice to the proceedings.
"He says it is not in their rules to deduct points from the football club. They are looking into it. There is no intimation that there would be any hearing in the next few weeks or next few months . . . if it does go to a hearing we have obviously pleaded not guilty to the charge of signing the player knowing that he was signed (registered) with the FA for Grays Athletic.
- Click here for full audio interview with Andy Perry at the club's website
"The other side of the coin is that Aaron was signed solely for Mansfield Town under the Blue Square rules, we have his signing on form. It is only in the gift of the league you are playing in to deduct points, under their banner (BSP) he is signed solely for Mansfield Town not Grays.
"But his registration was still retained with the FA because they (Grays) said he had signed an option. But it does seem strange that they say he had signed an option when they released him with his P45 on 31st May. His two agents have put in statements saying they were not aware he was still with Grays Athletic."
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