Neil Critchley: Blackpool boss labels FA as 'incompetent' after FA Cup tie postponement
- Published
Neil Critchley's Blackpool will play seven games in all competitions during December
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley has branded the Football Association "incompetent" after his team's FA Cup second-round tie against Forest Green Rovers was postponed at short notice.
Forest Green fielded an ineligible player in their first-round win over Scarborough Athletic.
They now have to replay the game against Scarborough on Tuesday.
Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire that, in his opinion, the FA had shown the club a lack of respect.
After a 1-1 draw, Forest Green beat Scarborough 5-2 in a first-round replay on 14 November, seemingly setting up a match against Blackpool on 2 December.
That was called off, though, and Critchley said: "We feel really aggrieved by it all. It was 4 November the first game when apparently the ineligible player played.
"We didn't find out until 1 December. That strikes us as incompetence. They've investigated Forest Green. Maybe someone needs to investigate themselves.
"We've not had an apology. There's been a lack of transparency in the reasoning for what's taken place. I feel as though as a football club, we've been disrespected."
The winner of Forest Green against National League North Scarborough will now face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 19 December - 17 days after the original second-round tie was scheduled.
Critchley is unfazed about the fixture being moved but is unhappy with the way in which the situation was handled.
"We'll play whenever, we'll be ready. It's not when we're going to play, I just feel wrong as a football club," he added.
"We've got certain values at this football club that we try to instil in the people, staff, players and how we behave and conduct ourselves.
"I think we've been shown a lack of respect. When you feel wronged then you come out and stand up for yourself and you fight your case and that's what we'll do."
In a statement, the FA said Forest Green had breached FA Cup rule 109 and had subsequently admitted the charge, meaning they now had to play Scarborough again in a one-off match.