Steve Whitton today confessed to being 'gobsmacked' at the Football Association's decision to order Colchester United to answer charges of misbehaviour by their players.
U's boss Whitton said angrily: "I can't believe we have suddenly been hit by this three months after it was alleged to have happened."
Seeing red - Referee Grant Hegley sends-off Mark Warren Picture: NIGEL BROWN
The U's were yesterday charged with failing to control their players during the incident-packed 1-0 home defeat to Oldham Athletic in late September.
U's captain Mark Warren was given his marching orders by referee Grant Hegley after a skirmish broke-out following the sending-off of Oldham's Clint Hill for a reckless tackle on Micky Stockwell.
Warren and Hill both served suspensions, but the FA yesterday ordered the U's and Oldham to answer more charges.
Whitton is particularly angered that the FA can suddenly spring these charges almost 12 weeks later.
The U's boss said: "The incidents concerned were no more than handbags at ten yards.
"The whole affair is both very disappointing and annoying because an FA committee has already watched a video and decreed there was no evidence of any wrong doing.
"Mark Warren still had to serve a four match suspension because the referee refused to change his mind."
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Published Thursday, December 12, 2002
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