Bury manager Chris Casper has launched a stinging attack on the Football Association after they upheld their decision to throw the club out of the FA Cup.
The Coca-Cola League Two outfit were expelled from the competition after admitting fielding an ineligible player, on-loan Hartlepool midfielder Stephen Turnbull, in the 3-1 second-round replay win over Chester.
Bury's appeal against the decision was rejected after a hearing with an FA sub-committee yesterday and City will face Ipswich in the third round.
Casper said: "We're disappointed, angry and frustrated. We had a strong case and we've been treated the same as a team that didn't own up to it and tried to hide their mistake.
"If that's justice, the FA can keep their justice as far as I'm concerned. It's a weak decision. I think there have been more ineligible players played because it's only come out when teams have won the game.
"When teams lose, fielding an ineligible player, nothing happens basically. Is that right?
"We also got the same punishment as people that don't come clean."
Despite the penalty, which has cost the Shakers £24,000 in prize-money for beating Chester and 45 per cent of the gate receipts for the Ipswich tie, Casper says he would own up in similar circumstances in future.
* Stuart Pearce has insisted he will have the final say over whether Micah Richards leaves Manchester City next month.
Richards has been the subject of speculation over the past 24 hours, with many pundits claiming the teenage England star is the man Jose Mourinho will turn to in an effort to cure Chelsea's central defensive problems.
* Manchester United fullback Phil Bardsley has cut short his loan spell at Rangers. The 21-year-old, who has made 17 first-team appearances for United, is poised to join Sunderland.
* Leicester have signed 27-year-old former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri.
