4:29pm Wednesday 7th February 2007
By Sami Mokbel
Dejected AFC Wimbledon boss Dave Anderson has branded the 18-point deduction handed to the Dons for fielding an ineligible player as "a joke".
A Ryman League hearing today found the Dons guilty of fielding a player without the necessary international clearance for fielding.
The charges relates to Jermaine Darlington who played in 11 league games before gaining the clearance from the Welsh FA after Darlington left Cardiff City last year.
The points deduction, which is subject to an appeal, has seen the club drop from fourth to 13th in the table, leaving their promising season in shreds.
And Dons boss Anderson has spoken of his anger at today's decision.
"I have not had a chance to speak to the players yet and I will be doing that tomorrow, but they will undoubtedly be as upset as I am," he told the Wimbledon Guardian.
"But I come from Belfast and I learnt at an early age that when you're knocked over you get straight back onto your feet and don't let the people know that they've hurt you.
"But we are bitterly disappointment with the verdict and with the people on the committee - but they won't stop me being a football manager and won't stop this club being successful. I just hope that they see sense when they appeal."
The manager has also spoken of his anger at the FA's decision to throw his side out of the FA Trophy after fielding Darlington in the victory over Gravesend & Northfleet, a decision that has led to today's events.
"We are answerable to the FA all the time and I hope the time will come when they become answerable to us for some of the decision's they have made.
He joked: "What are they going to do next, take away my golf trophy from the summer."
"Until the appeal is heard I believe we keep our points and what I have to do is focus on Saturday's game against Bromley and maintain our form."
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