Scottish Championship club Ayr United have confirmed a rule breach in their recent SPFL Trust Trophy match against Rangers B, with Ibrox side reinstated to the competition.
Kinlay Bilham and Alex Jeanes entered the park as substitutes in the cup tie earlier this month, which the Championship side won 3-0. But they shouldn’t have been in the matchday squad against Rangers’ youngsters, as the pair were on temporary transfers to Irvine Meadow and Girvan at the time they faced the Ibrox club.
Duffy’s side beat Rangers B but could still be eliminated from the tournament after fielding players not available for selection against the Ibrox side. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Now Ayr – who have won three consecutive matches under interim manager Jim Duffy following the departure of boss David Hopkin – are eliminated from the tournament.
A statement reads: “Ayr United have confirmed to the SPFL that they included Kinlay Bilham and Alex Jeanes in Tuesday’s SPFL Trust Trophy second-round tie against Rangers B at the C&G Systems Stadium when they were on temporary transfers to West of Scotland League clubs Irvine Meadow XI and Girvan respectively.
“Both players entered the field as 81st-minute substitutes in a match Ayr United won 3-0. As a result, Ayr United have been charged with breaching SPFL Rules and Regulations.
“At a disciplinary hearing today (Monday 20 September 2021) a Committee of the Board of the SPFL acting as a Tribunal considered a complaint that Ayr United FC in Playing Kinlay Bilham and Alex Jeanes in their SPFL Trust Trophy match against Rangers B on Tuesday 14 September 2021 were in breach of the Regulations.
The Tribunal imposed the following sanctions:
(i) the Club was reprimanded and warned as to future conduct; and
(ii) the result of the match was annulled and instead recorded as a 3-0 victory for Rangers B.
“No financial penalty was imposed on Ayr United.”
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