Bulls up before the League

ROB Purdie is the subject of a Football League charge.

The former Athletic midfielder — who didn't make a single first-team appearance for the Boundary Park club after signing before the start of last season — is at the centre of what his new club Hereford United have described as a "genuine administrative oversight in the very hectic hours leading up to the transfer deadline".

But the Bulls have nonetheless been charged with fielding Purdie while ineligible in an npower League Two clash against Torquay on February 1.

The 28-year-old had been at Edgar Street on loan since October but, having had his contract terminated by Athletic by mutual consent on January 31, signed a permanent deal with Hereford as a free agent the same day.

Registration for such a deal should have been completed by noon to enable Purdie to feature against Torquay the next day, whereas loan extensions and loan signings had until two different deadlines later that Monday.

This deadline–day confusion led to Hereford's error as Purdie was registered after 12pm, yet still played against the Gulls.

The club reported the mistake as soon as it was discovered and have submitted a detailed explanation to the League.

The case will now be heard by a disciplinary commission and the club will be asking for a personal hearing.