GCA SET TO QUIZ PLAYER IN CAP BREACH CLAIM

NEWTOWN & Chilwell has survived a GCA probe and will retain its place in the Geelong Advertiser T20 Cup final, despite fielding two ineligible players.

GCA president Barry McFarlane confirmed the Two Blues had been the subject of an investigation after imports Graham Clark and Feroze Khushi played in the opening round of the tournament even though they had not played enough games to qualify.

But the club has been cleared of any wrongdoing, with McFarlane admitting both Clark and Khushi had received the green light from a GCA official — albeit incorrectly — to play.

Clark and Khushi had only played one club match for the Two Blues since crossing from England, meaning they were ineligible to play in Round 1 of the Geelong Advertiser T20 Cup clash against Grovedale.

“You must play two games before you qualify for the T20 and they (Clark and Khushi) didn’t,” McFarlane explained. “But they were given permission from the GCA, not me, to play and that’s that.

“They still finished a game clear on top, so even if they were stripped of points for that game they still would’ve qualified for the final.”

McFarlane also said rules had been amended to allow clubs to play more than one professional player in each game.

“The rule was changed prior to last season and the rule book was supposed to be updated, but for some reason it wasn’t,” McFarlane said.

“The clubs were advised in writing about what the rule was 18 months ago, and when the issue was brought to my attention, I said they were entitled to play two imports in the T20.

“It was an oversight that we didn’t get that changed, but it’s been part of the rules for last season and this current season.”

Newtown & Chilwell coach Dev Royce stressed that his club had played within the rules.

“What’s ineligible? I thought if you asked for permission, and were granted permission, that makes them eligible,” he said. “We’ve done everything right as far as I’m concerned.”

Royce said his club should not be blamed for the GCA’s administrative error. “We asked for permission and were granted permission,” he said.

“What more can we do?”