Dundonald Bluebell have said they are “taking advice as to what our next potential step may be” after they were expelled from the SFA South Region Challenge Cup.

Jason Dair’s side cruised to a 5-0 win at Eyemouth United last weekend but, following an allegation that they fielded an ineligible player, their opponents have been awarded the tie.

A club statement, released on Friday, said: “The player in question had a one-game suspension from last year’s tournament that carried over into this season.

“No Dundonald Bluebell player appeared on the list of players issued by the SFA on September 13 to advise suspension to be served, despite the player being a registered Bluebell player from mid-August this year.

“The player was listed as an ex-player of his previous club. The spelling of his name was also incorrect on the notification.

“Despite club officials of Dundonald Bluebell emailing the association board advising of the above mitigating circumstances, a decision was made to eliminate us from this year’s competition, without us being asked to attend any type of hearing.

“The club, in its first year as a member of the EoS (East of Scotland Football League), accept that the player in question had a suspension to serve, but firmly believe the route of notification of this to our club was, and is not, acceptable, and the failure to allow us to state our case in person was also not undertaken.

“Currently, the club is taking advice as to what our next potential step may be.”

Meanwhile Hill of Beath Hawthorn boss Kevin Fotheringham is hopeful that league officials will “come to the right decision” after their match on Saturday suffered a late postponement.

The Keirs Park club had been due to travel to play Tweedmouth Rangers in their third match in the East of Scotland Football League’s Conference A, only for the game to be called off on Friday night.

The Berwick-upon-Tweed side claimed that they were unable to raise a team for the fixture, ahead of which they had lost all four of their league matches so far.

One of those came at the hands of the Haws last month, who racked up a club record 16-0 victory, and Fotheringham confirmed that they had lodged an appeal to be awarded the victory as a consequence.

He said:”It’s not ideal. We had a bus booked and some of the guys had to take time off work and things like that.

“There’s nothing in the constitution about what the outcome should be, but we have put an appeal letter in to claim the three points, which we feel is fair.

“We’ll leave it to the committee. They’re a well-run organisation and I’m sure they’ll come to the right decision.”

The call-off further frustrated Fotheringham has he had hoped to give some players much needed game-time ahead of a packed schedule that will see them play midweek matches both tonight (Wednesday) and next Tuesday.

Haddington Athletic visit this evening (7.30pm) in the quarter-finals of the Alex Jack Cup ahead of Saturday’s league trip to Dunbar, with Easthouses Lily then travelling to Keirs on Tuesday.

He added: “It would have been a good opportunity to get two or three players who haven’t played many games some game time, as we’ve got a heavy programme coming up with two midweek games in a row.

“Last year we never got a cup run, so to get through to a semi-final at home to Bo’ness, with a realistic chance of getting to a final, would be great.”