ROSSENDALE United have been found guilty of poaching Mike Smith from neighbours Ramsbottom.

At an LFA hearing last night, which lasted just two minutes, Dale's assistant manager Andy Grimshaw admitted that he had spoken to Smith on May 4 and May 23, when the centre half was still registered to Ramsbottom.

North West Counties League rules state that a club must put 'seven days' on any player they wish to sign. Rossendale, who were promoted to the UniBond League last season, should have informed Ramsbottom that they were going to speak to Smith seven days before talks began.

In mitigation, Rossendale claimed that it was Smith who approached them about a move, not the other way round, but the LFA ruled that the talks were illegal regardless of who approached whom.

The LFA ruled that Rossendale had made an illegal approach and fined them £50.

Smith's registration, which could have been revoked, remains with Rossendale.

Ramsbottom manager Mike Kelly said: "We didn't want Smith's registration ripped up, we just wanted certain officials to realise that there are rules in place that they have to follow.

"It is not that we are happy they've been fined but we are happy that we have shown that they can't get away with making illegal approaches to players."

Kelly said his only regret was that he didn't get Smith on a contract before the approach.

Clubs can command a fee for their contracted players but non-contracted players can go for nothing after the seven days' notice period has elapsed.

"We didn't get him on a contract down to my own naivety I suppose," said Kelly, who took the reins at the Riverside, his first managerial job, following the sudden death of Ken Bridge in February.

"I sat down with him at the end of the season to offer him improved terms and put him on a contract but his eyes had already been opened to the possibility of playing in a higher league."

He said the door will remain open for Smith to return to the Riverside if things didn't work out at Dark Lane.

Dale manager Jim McCluskie said there was not much the club could do when a player rings to talk about a move.

"My number's in the phone book, Andy Grimshaw's is and the club's is so there is not much we can do to stop players ringing up," said McCluskie, who led Rossendale to the NWCL First Division title in his first season in charge.

"We have to abide by the LFA's decision but I think it sends a warning to other clubs to be careful when players do make contact.

"There's a lot of local rivalry and I don't know whether it was a bit of jealousy that made Ramsbottom bring this charge.

"We are in close proximity and I don't know whether that had a bearing on it.

Maybe it is because we got promoted last season and they didn't. It certainly upset them."