Bury thrown out of FA Cup for breaking player rules

Bury have been expelled from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player. The League Two club have been penalised after Stephen Turnbull, who is on loan at Gigg Lane from Hartlepool, was included in their side for the second-round replay at Chester on 12 December - a match which Bury won 3-1.

Bury selected Turnbull without receiving the required permission from Hartlepool and lodging that with the Football Association. They also failed to comply with the required timescales for registration of players for the FA Cup.

Chester have been reinstated and are scheduled to face the Championship side Ipswich in January's third round, subject to an appeal by the Shakers.

City will also receive the prize-fund payment due to second-round winners. Bury's appeal hearing will be held on 28 December.

"We're all absolutely gutted with the decision," said Chris Casper, Bury's manager, who revealed the board had turned down his offer to resign over the matter. "I hope the FA see sense and change their mind. We feel we have acted in an appropriate manner by admitting at an early stage to the FA, there was a problem with the paperwork.

"We always thought he was available to play for us. The reality is that I was under the impression I had a verbal agreement with Danny [Wilson] at Hartlepool but the paperwork wasn't done."