BURY could be thrown out of the FA Cup and fined é5,000 when the FA committee meets to decide their fate on Wednesday.

The Shakers are being investigated after an administrative error made on-loan Stephen Turnbull ineligible to play in last week's second round replay win at Chester.

The club should have had written permission from Turnbull's club Hartlepool in order to play him in the tie but fielded him after the north-east side had only given a verbal go-ahead.

That leaves Bury, scheduled to face Ipswich at Gigg Lane in the third round on January 6, open to ejection from the competition with Chester sure to press for re-instatement.

And if the Shakers are found guilty, not only will it deny them a big pay-day from the third round tie, the FA could also activate a é5,000 suspended fine which is hanging over the club after a similar mistake last season.

In April, Bury fielded Sheffield United player Colin Morrison when his loan had expired and had a point deducted and the suspended financial penalty imposed. Manager Chris Casper will attend the hearing.

Meanwhile, Casper expressed his delight at the win over Stockport.

He said: "It was the lads' best performance since I have been here - we were magnificent. I firmly believed this could be a defining moment in our season."

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