Carshalton Athletic face a wait of up to two weeks to discover if they will be handed a reprieve from relegation to Ryman Division One South.

Last week, the FA found rivals Thurrock guilty of fielding an ineligible player and, as a consequence, the Ryman League docked the Essex club three points.

Having only survived in the Ryman Premier last season by one point, the deduction sees Thurrock relegated, and the Robins reinstated.

However, Thurrock club secretary Mark Southgate said they will appeal and are confident of a reversal.

He said: “We are waiting on the paperwork from the FA, which should be with us by the end of this week, and then we have two weeks to make our appeal.”

The case surrounds Joel Barnett, who played for Thurrock, Tilbury and Bishops Stortford – who have also been deducted points – while being the subject of a West Riding FA sine die ban (meaning no date has been set for a hearing).

Barnett had been suspended because of a non-payment of a fine levelled against all the players of the now defunct Wakefield Sunday League side Wilton.

Southgate said: “We are gathering evidence that says Barnett was not registered with Wilton at the time and so is not liable to the fine.

“We’re positive of an outcome to suit us as there was a case when Bradford’s ejection from the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in December was over-turned, and they paid a fine instead. It’s happened before.”

Carshalton Athletic boss Tommy Williams said: “It would be great news for us.

“We had a never say die attitude towards the end of last season and put a really good run together, and if we do stay up then it would have all been worthwhile.

“I did say to the boys it is important you give yourself every opportunity to take advantage of a reprieve, because every year there is always a club that ends up going out of business or something along those lines.

“And we did that, because if we didn’t it would have been Hastings getting the reprieve and not us.

“Rules are rules and apparently they have been broken.”