LANCASHIRE Cricket Board Development Officer Rudra Singh will not be able to play in the Vaux Northern League until the final game of the season after an appeal panel upheld his three-match ban.

Singh's club Blackpool say they are disgusted with the result of the appeal lodged after Singh was suspended for disputing an umpire's decision.

Blackpool secretary Steve Kennedy confirmed: "We considered the punishment to be extremely severe for the act committed and are digusted with the result of the appeal. We support Rudra Singh."

But league secretary John Cooper believes the appeal hearing had no alternative but to uphold the ban.

He said: "We considered all the points and the way the original panel arrived at their decision, bearing in mind there was no bad language and Rudra Singh had apologised.

"All this was taken into account in the original decision and we felt there was nothing we could do other than confirm that judgement."

Former Burnley and Blackburn Northern professional Singh, who refused to comment, was expected to be spoken to about the matter by the LCB, but his job isn't thought to be on the line.

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