Blues chair Eric takes blame for cup removal

Chairman Eric Coleborn apologised to all associated with the club for the 'administrative error' which resulted in Pompey Women's removal from the Women's FA Cup.

The Blues were yesterday kicked out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player in Sunday’s second round 2-0 extra-time victory over Cheltenham at Westleigh Park.

Coleborn admitted everyone associated with Pompey Women has been left ‘gutted’ by the decision.

However, he stressed the blame for the ‘administrative mistake’ should sit with him.

Coleborn insisted additional measures put in place to get the second round tie on, while adhering to Covid-19 guidelines, were a contributing factor to the error.

He told The News: ‘I apologise to everybody for this.

‘It’s an administrative error. ‘Unfortunately, it’s probably the reason why the administrative error occurred, it’s the fact we were working on so many different things.

‘I’m the chair and it’s my responsibility and I can only apologise to the players, staff, management team, my supporters - everybody.

‘I’m afraid it’s one of those unfortunate things. It was done totally unintentionally, nobody has tried to cover it up or anything like that, we didn’t do it deliberately.

‘I’m disappointed and saddened by the decision but I’m not going to blame anybody other than myself.

‘I’m the only person that I would blame here, it’s down to me, I chair this football club and I’m proud to chair this football club.

Manager Jay Sadler told his players himself after learning of the news.

Coleborn, pictured, says that showed a measure of the man who is at the Blues helm.

And the chairman told how action is now being taken to ensure there is no repeat.

Coleborn added: ‘I talked to Jay and he’s been very understanding, he’s obviously gutted at the situation, he wanted to tell the players himself which shows what a fantastic manager he is.

‘We all make mistakes but you’ve got to learn from them.

‘That’s what we’re doing, we’re putting into place actions to make certain it doesn’t happen again, then you move on.

‘It’s one of these things, it’s just a shame it happened as it did.

‘We wish Cheltenham Town the best; obviously, it’s nothing to do with them and we wish them the best going forward.’

Pompey were due to host

Southern Premier rivals Gillingham at Westleigh Park in the third round this coming Sunday.

Had they won, they would have booked a dream trip to Super League giants Arsenal at Boreham Wood FC on Sunday, April 18.

- LEWIS MASON