Chippenham Town have assured fans the registration error that has effectively ended their season will not happen again.

The club were docked three points and fined £300 for playing Aaron Wilson as a substitute in the league game at Yate Town on March 31.

He made his debut for the club in the 3-1 win when a registration form had not been submitted to the league, the league decided at a hearing yesterday.

The points loss almost certainly ends Chippenham's play-off hopes. The punishment drops them down to tenth place on 55 points, below Evesham on goal difference and eight points behind Cambridge City in the final play-off spot.

Cambridge have also played a game less than Chippenham, who face fifth bottom Rugby Town at home tomorrow.

The club has the right of appeal to the Football Association.

Director Chris Blake said: "This comes as a major blow to the club. There is a right of appeal however in this case the offence has been committed and all we are left with is to challenge the size of the associated fine."

The club has begun an internal investigation into how such the error was made.

Blake said: "Unfortunately we will not be able to complete our investigation until our football secretary George McCaffrey returns from holiday next week.

"Supporters can be assured that lessons have been learned from this mistake and we have put in place procedures to ensure it can never happen again."

Wilson, 22, who provided an assist for David Pratt’s goal against Yate, did not feature in the subsequent game against Mangotsfield United and will be unable to play until the matter is resolved.

Blake and football secretary George McCaffrey were both on holiday when the player’s registration was being filed and so neither were able to oversee the paperwork.

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