Accrington Stanley can confirm that the club has been fined £20 000, with £15 000 of this amount suspended, for breaching Football League regulations regarding manager coaching qualifications.

This is a regrettable situation and measures have been put in place to ensure that James Beattie has gained the required qualifications by the deadline of 1^st May.

The club do not intend to appeal against the charge.

Accrington Stanley will make no further comment on this subject.