THE NORTHERN Counties East League have confirmed that their League Cup final – originally due to feature Liversedge against AFC Mansfield back in May – has been scrapped.

Allegations that the Clayborn club had fielded an ineligible player in their semi-final win over Handsworth Parramore led to the Bramall Lane showpiece being postponed while the matter was investigated.

Some two months later, the management board of the NCEL released a statement confirming that Sedge had been expelled from the competition but due to the amount of time which has since elapsed, the final would not be played.

The board also accepted that Sedge's breach had been "a genuine mistake on the part of the club borne out of extraordinary circumstances."

Their statement read: "Following the conclusion of an investigation by the FA and the Toolstation Northern Counties East League, the League can confirm that Liversedge have been expelled from the 2017/18 NCE League Cup competition after playing an ineligible player in the semi final versus Handsworth Parramore.

"The League panel were unanimous in their verdict that, whilst an ineligible player had participated in the semi final, there was a genuine mistake on the part of the club borne out of extraordinary circumstances, specifically the late abandonment of a game due to a player illness.

"This does not mitigate the offence but it led the panel to conclude that the error should not incur a financial penalty that could have been levied in accordance with FA rules.

"In view of the length of time the process has taken and the fact that the season ended several weeks ago, the Board has had no choice but to abandon the 2017-18 Final."