Bury have been chucked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 second-round replay win over Chester City on 12 December.
Chester, who are surely buzzing their tits off, have now been reinstated and will play Ipswich in the third round as well as receiving all the cash that comes with being in the second round.
Bury can appeal against the decision, and any hearing will take place
on Thursday 28 December… but you fear that it would be unlikely.
The player in question is Stephen Turnbull, who is a loan signing from
Hartlepool.
An FA statement said: "Bury selected Turnbull without receiving the
required permission from Hartlepool United and lodging that permission
with The FA.
Bury also failed to comply with the required timescales for
registration of players for the FA Cup." This could be disastrous for
the club currently just outside a promotion place in Division Two. [Mof Gimmers]