MANAGER Mo Osman has admitted his Wivenhoe Town side threatened to pull out of the League Challenge Cup after being ordered to replay tonight’s first-round tie at home to Woodbridge Town.

The sides originally met at the Maple Tree Cars Stadium on October 28 and it was the Dragons who prevailed 2-1, after extra-time had been played by the match officials.

However, the additional 30 minutes were contrary to competition rules and the league ordered that the game should be replayed and the original result expunged from the records.

“Initially, we were going to refuse to play the game,” said Osman.

“I didn’t think we should have to replay it because it wasn’t our mistake and the official has admitted his error.

“To try and prove a point, we told the league we’d pull out.

“To be honest, if I knew we could do that and not be fined, or suffer any other repercussions, I’d still forfeit the game.

“However, we don’t want to be punished and now the anger has gone, to some extent, we’ve decided to play the game and use it to our advantage.

“We’re going to turn a negative into a positive, by giving a run-out to some of the lads who have been on the bench recently.

“We’re going to give them an opportunity to step up and show what they can do.

"We’ll field a side to try and win the game, but there’s no pressure on the players.

“I’ll tell them to enjoy it and do their best. If we win, great. If we lose, so be it.

“To be honest, I’ve lost interest in the competition, to some extent.

“It ’s so wrong and I don’t feel it’s been handled very well at all.”