RMI boss Phil Starbuck said he was 'disappointed' with the way Stalybridge Celtic have handled the FA Trophy dispute which could see the Railwaymen booted out of the competition if found guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

RMI were due to have played at Stalybridge on Tuesday night in an FA Trophy Third Round replay, but the tie was sensationally cancelled at the eleventh hour after the Tameside outfit complained to the FA that RMI goalkeeper Seb Rowe had been ineligible for the original tie.

RMI officials now face an anxious wait to hear from the FA whether they will be booted out of the competition.

But Starbuck said the club had gone through all the correct channels when they signed Rowe from Atherton Collieries.

Rowe, a former Bury reserve, played in the USA in the summer and needed international clearance to play in this country again.

But the 19-year-old had already played 16 matches for Atherton Collieries in the North West Counties League this season without any problem being discovered.

RMI signed Rowe just before the seven-day deadline for the Trophy third round because Gary Kelly was out with a broken thumb and Ian Martin cup-tied.

Starbuck said: "I am just really disappointed with the way Stalybridge have handled the situation. We have put our point across to the FA and said that we had gone through all the correct channels when we signed Rowe. We put seven days notice on Rowe which was in time for him to have played Stalybridge last Saturday. I don't know what Stalybridge quite saw really."

The team that goes through will face Marine at home on January 31.

Starbuck now has to get his players focused for their important relegation clash with fellow strugglers Farnborough Town at Hilton Park on Saturday (KO 3pm).

A win for the Railwaymen would see them leapfrog over their visitors in the league.

But despite the 'must win' situation, Starbuck was quick to take the pressure off his squad.

He said: "Everyone is saying how important the game against Farnborough is, but we're treating it like any other game. Every game is a cup final for us, and I'm not thinking about what Farnborough Town are doing. I'm more concerned with our preparation. I want to get the players playing with a smile on their faces in training."

RMI's squad will be bolstered by new forwards Chris McHale and Carl Alford, who will add much needed competition up front -- and take the pressure off 16 goal top goalscorer David McNiven. Neil Durkin and assistant player boss Steve Redmond also return, and will be available for selection.

RMI, meanwhile, have been drawn at Chorley in the quarter-final of the Lancashire Marsden Trophy. The Victory Park outfit are now managed by Mark Patterson, who left Leigh in October. The tie is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27.