Number 9 Derby

[piearce9]

I'm allowed to start this thread as it's only a week away, right?

Stour losing 2-0 at home to Ashton tonight and starting to lose their grip on a playoff berth. Also, our old friend Pier-pier-pier-point has seen red tonight. Anyone know enough about the league rules to tell us whether or not that means he'll be spectating next week?

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

I may be wrong but I reckon Pierpoint will be suspended for 1 game, which will be Stamford at home on Monday 4th April.

From Gasboys Twitter

[piearce9]

I saw that....but that's two weeks away, and there are three games for them in between? I know suspensions don't kick in immediately, but two weeks seems longer than usual.....

[theloudgingerkid]

dont get me wrong id love to see them get in the play offs ..... who am i kidding hope they finish outide it by a goal 7 days till the best day of the year so far !

[andy]

Thankfully the suspensions don't kick in that quick because I believe Asa can play.

[The Reasonable Man]

All suspensions at this level start 14 days from the "trigger" offence.

[RaidenYeltz]

All suspensions at this level start 14 days from the "trigger" offence.

What's the reason for the delay? Always wondered why it takes so long to kick in!

[The Reasonable Man]

All suspensions at this level start 14 days from the "trigger" offence.

What's the reason for the delay? Always wondered why it takes so long to kick in!

I suppose the flippant answer is - because that's how it's always been!

I think there are several reasons, mainly the sheer number of referees reports that the FA and County FAs have to deal with (including Sunday football, don't forget) and the time it probably takes with limited staff numbers to check and double check everything, and then notify clubs, the FA etc, even in this electronic age.

At this stage of the season in particular it's far from uncommon for clubs to play games on consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday, for instance) and it wouldn't be practical to start suspensions from the next game. There has to be a sensible period for them to kick-in. Two weeks is possibly too long these days, but so what. As long as we're all playing by the same rules...

[KenR]

That all sounds very plausible , Mr Reasonable Man, and also it has to allow time for any appeals , and the correspondence that would involve.