FA verdict keeps Boston in League

Boston United, the non-League football club which last season won a last-gasp promotion to the Third Division, yesterday escaped being demoted despite admitting six charges of providing false information to the Football Association.

A three-man FA disciplinary panel fined the Lincolnshire side £100,000 and deducted four points for the forthcoming season but stopped short of the ultimate sanction of ordering the club to be returned to the Nationwide Conference.

Boston, who pipped Dagenham & Redbridge to the Conference title on goal difference on the last day of the season, have said they will appeal against the punishment, calling it "excessive".

Speaking after a two-day hearing at Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground, the Boston chairman, Des Wood, said: "We did not expect to find what was found. We have pleaded guilty to all the charges, but believe the fine and points deduction are excessive."

The club, which will now play in the Football League for the first time in its history, had admitted breaking FA rules by supplying false details on the salaries of six players during the 2001-2002 season. Yesterday's ruling ended the first stage of two months of upheaval at the club during which the manager, Steve Evans, was suspended after he was charged with eight allegations of wrong-doing, including offering an unnamed player £8,000 to mislead the FA inquiry.

Evans last night remained suspended after he admitted four charges of supplying false contractual information, but denied four more serious claims, including that of trying to impede FA investigators.

The charges stemmed from a visit to Boston's York Street ground by the FA Compliance Unit in May to investigate its administration. The inquiry came after the club faced two winding-up petitions in three months by two creditors over alleged unpaid accounts.

The case against Evans, and the former Boston United chairman Pat Malkinson, who faced two allegations relating to false contracts and the alleged £8,000 payment, will now be decided at a later date.

The punishment was not well received by Dagenham & Redbridge, who stood to be promoted in Boston's place. "This decision makes a mockery of the game and I think the whole country should be surprised by it," their manager, Garry Hill, said.

"I find it hard to believe a club can seek an unfair advantage, be found guilty and still be a Football League club."