HULL UNITED'S play-off hopes have received a huge blow after the club were given another points deduction that could leave them with 15 taken off their total.
The Citizens were docked three points earlier in the season for fielding the suspended Nicky McNarama in their 2-0 win at Hallam in October.
And the club have been rocked by news that they have received another deduction – this time 12 points – for fielding two players “registered under the wrong status”.
United boss Curtis Woodhouse, the former Sheffield United and Birmingham City midfielder, says the club will appeal the decision as they fight to stay in the play-off places.
They are currently fifth in the Northern Counties East League Division One with seven games left to play but if any appeal is unsuccessful, they would drop down to tenth as the table currently stands.
It's been a tumultuous season for the club and they have been forced to play their remaining home games away after falling out with the landlords of former home Dene Park before a brief spell at Rugby League side Hull KR's KC Lightstream Stadium proved too costly.
Following the 3-0 win at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic on Wednesday, Woodhouse told the club's website: “We're still aiming for the play-offs.
“We've got 12 points deducted and the club's appealed that. It's not really my department, my department is what goes on on the pitch and I think with everything that's gone on this season the one constant has been the lads and the team continuing to churn out performance after performance.
“I think the lads can take a lot of credit from that. So our job is just to continue, I've said to the lads we've got seven games to go and I think if we win all seven we'll be in the play-offs.”
A Northern Counties East League statement added: “The board carefully considered the club's comments, noting their acceptance of guilt and pleas of non-intention of breaking the rules.
“However, the board found the club guilty of these offences and advised the club of a 12 point deduction advising them of their right of appeal to The FA under League Rule 17.4.”
