KENDAL Town FC could be dragged into a relegation dog-fight after the club was discovered to be in breach of FA rules.

It has emerged that the contract for former star striker Jordan Connerton was not submitted to the Football Association, who had no record of him being classed as a professional footballer.

This means the club has fielded an ineligible player and puts the Mintcakes in breach of Rule 6.9 of the Football Association's Standardised Rules, which states that the club could be docked 12 points and suffer a financial penalty.

As the Division One North table currently stands, any such points deduction would leave Kendal, currently sitting on 30 points after 23 games, just four points above the relegation places, with 21st placed Harrogate Railway Athletic snapping at their heels.

Connerton originally signed a one year deal on May 2, 2015, but the administrative error only came to light in December when the Mintcakes looked to offload him to Chorley FC due to his £200-a-week wage bill.

While Kendal Town FC had a copy of his contract, as did the Evo-Stik League officials, the FA informed the club on December 27 that they had no record of Jordan Connerton signing for the Mintcakes in a professional capacity, according to emails seen by The Gazette.

Club chairman George Gudgeon, then acting chairman following the surprise resignation of Haydon Munslow in December 2015, said that when he learnt of the error he reported it to the league's officials.

On Monday Evo-Stik officials wrote to Mr Gudgeon informing him that they had conducted an investigation and they found the club to be in breach of Rule 6.9.

The club has seven days from receiving that letter to submit any evidence to refute this finding.

Mr Gudgeon will now have to attend a hearing at an as yet undecided date.

According to the rulebook: "Any club found to have played an ineligible player in a match or matches shall have any point gained from that match or matches deducted from its record, up to a maximum of 12 points, and imposed upon it a fine.

"The league may order matches to be replayed as such terms are decided by the board which may also levy penalty points against the club in default.

"The company may vary this decision in respect of the points gained only in circumstances where the ineligibility is due to the failure to obtain an international transfer certificate or where the ineligibility is related to the player's status only."

Mr Gudgeon said: "This is a serious issue for Kendal Town and one we are not taking lightly. We will be doing what we can to ensure the best possible outcome for the club."

The revelation comes after a question and answer session between fans and Mr Gudgeon on Saturday.

When questioned about comments made at that meeting, Mr Gudgeon said that the club's current membership system 'needs total revision', volunteers who previously left the club are 'always welcome' and that the playing budget for next season will be reviewed during the summer.

He also said that his 'new, fresh management committee' would be looking to further its links with Kendal businesses, Kendal College and the Westmorland FA.