MANSFIELD Town's owners and manager Billy McEwan hope a four points deduction for transfer irregularities - announced at a hearing at Blue Square Premier headquarters in Birmingham on Monday morning - will 'galvanise us all'.
The hearing followed BSP bosses not receiving a fax from Field Mill containing the registrations details of four new players on the Friday afternoon before the season kicked off.
- Ineligible players: Stags facing 2 investigations and points deduction?
The four points equate to the points gained in the first two matches covered by the Conference charge - the draw at Ebbsfleet and home win over Histon.
The 'missing' registrations were then received by post, it is believed.
The Conference deducted the Stags four points for the irregularities and also imposed a relatively small fine of £1,000 - way below the maximum available - after the club admitted six charges.
On Monday afternoon the club confirmed that an appeal was under consideration, but it would not make a decision until all the relevant documentation from the hearing and the verdict had been received.
Stags chairman Andy Perry said the club had not set out to 'cheat' and the problems were a 'technical error'.
"We have let the fans down with what has happened; but the frustration is that we feel we have not done anything wrong and just been caught by a technicality - a rule which is black and white.
"Yes there has been some naievety . . . but we have put procedures in place and appointed a new chief executive."
Stags, backed by specialist company Football Factors, put their case forward in person today with all three of the club's new owners - Andy Perry, Andy Saunders and Steve Middleton - there, and they felt they had a very strong case.
However, the decision went against them - the points deduction dropping them to 14th in the table - and a club statement immediately after the decision said: "Mansfield Town Football Club are extremely disappointed with the decision of the Football Conference today.
"Following the decision to deduct four points, the club will take time to consider our available options. A further statement will be made in due course."
Later on Monday afternoon the club added: "Mansfield Town Football Club can announce that a full and fair hearing took place at the Football Conference headquarters in Birmingham today regarding the registration of players at the club."The club are disappointed to have had four points deducted as a result of the hearing.
"However, the club recognise that the discretion available to the disciplinary panel has been used in minimising the fine of £1,000 due to the mitigating circumstances surrounding the case.
"It is the club's belief that points should be won and lost on the pitch.
"There are 90+ points available to play for and there is time to win them this season. Our resolve to do so has been strengthened.
"The club share the disappointment with our fans and are determined that the situation should galvanise us all and strengthen our determination to improve and reap the reward at the end of the season."
Boss Billy McEwan told Chad: "There is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves."
- McEwan rallies club after points deduction
A second charge against the Stags by the FA over the signing of Aaron O'Connor is still ongoing and the Stags have until this week to submit any relevant information.
It is thought that O'Connor signed for the Stags while already being registered with the FA with Grays - though the club did not know his registration was held elsewhere until three weeks into the season.
Following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Woking, the club head for Stevenage Borough tomorrow night for a game live on Setanta TV.
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