York City chairman Douglas Craig believes the disciplinary panel that proposed a nine-point deduction and £20,000 fine on promotion-chasing Chesterfield has no option but to resign and the process started again.

If not, Craig has warned the saga which the Football League are desperate to bring to a swift conclusion before the end of the season could face being settled in the courts.

It was announced yesterday that the Football League board have asked the panel to reconvene after expressing their dissatisfaction with the proposed level of penalty.

A nine-point deduction looks unlikely to prevent Chesterfield from winning promotion.

The board were also concerned it would set a dangerous precedent as it would appear the Spireites have not been punished despite breaching regulations relating to the transfer of Luke Beckett from Chester and the under reporting of gate receipts.

According to Craig the Football League board's decision not to ratify their disciplinary panel's recommendation has put the panel in an impossible situation.

He said: "The only sensible way forward would be to start the whole process again with a new panel.

"But that can only come about if the original panel decide they have been compromised and resign."

Craig added: "The matter is being bedevilled by the fact the Football League and the FA wish the matter to be concluded before the end of the season.

"Be that as it may all the parties in this matter are entitled to see that justice is done. Speed will not necessarily give justice in this particular case.

"The panel will have to meet and decide whether to change their decision.

"But they have been put in what I would describe as an impossible situation.

"If they decide to increase the nine-point penalty, Chesterfield could say they were coerced into making that decision.

"If they do not, the whole of the third division are affected.

"The situation now is that the original panel have been hopelessly compromised.

"Regardless of what decision they come to there is a situation possibly that one or other of the parties involved may take the matter to court and ask for a judicial review.

"Courts will not normally interfere in regulations that the Football League have, however they will interfere if these regulations have not been adhered to.

"They will also interfere if there has been a miscarriage of justice."

The City chairman said the whole process had been "badly handled".

He maintains the Football League board committed an "error of judgement" when they were prepared to let the appeal by Chesterfield go straight to the FA appeal board.

Updated: 11:49 Wednesday, April 25, 2001