I won't bore non-Clyde fans with specifics but this is far from the first time that the club's officials have been guilty of monumental incompetence.....and I am talking about events including going back before most current Clyde fans were born!
For this latest episode I say that we can't plead no sporting advantage was gained just because the player in question is ironically not good enough to hold down a place in the team under normal circumstances. If the alternative was, say, being forced to play the reserve goalie as a striker then yes, playing Fitzpatrick is technically an advantage we were apparently not entitled to. While I don't think for one minute there was any intention whatsoever to cheat by playing the guy it doesn't alter the fact that rules were broken, regardless of whether it was down to admin incompetence. Why should Berwick Rangers be punished here as a direct result of 2 Clyde directors being unable to complete a simple form correctly?
Docking points from Clyde and awarding points to other teams hurt and offend everyone but those responsible for the debacle. The game's integrity would be better preserved by hitting the club with a fine of a size that would (as things stand) hurt more than losing 4 points and would not affect the status quo at the other clubs concerned - if all parties are in agreement that the player's inclusion was not a deliberate attempt to deceive or gain advantage. Alternatively, perhaps the directors concerned have indemnity insurance against which a civil claim might be made for professional negligence.
Also, just a thought: presumably this mean Clyde's 16 match unbeaten run (up to today) is now invalid?
