Marlow manager Mark Bartley has given his view over the ineligible player row that is causing confusion after Slough protested last week that the Blues did this in their Berks & Bucks semi-final clash.

Marlow won 1-0 to reach the final against Reading U23s but Slough joint-manager Jon Underwood expects Marlow to be removed from the competition.

Underwood commented: "It’s not how we want to get into the final, but we weakened ourselves by respecting the rules and, if Marlow have not, then we would expect to go through instead.”

The possible ineligible Marlow player was Marcus Mealing, who it is believed featured for Walton Casuals in the Surrey Senior Cup.

However, Bartley waded into the row on Twitter to defend what had gone on over the bewildering rules given out by the FA.

He said: "The club did receive correspondence from the Berks & Bucks in relation to our semi final against Slough and we have gone back to them as is necessary for them to complete their investigation. We await further news from the Berks & Bucks.

"The rules are not necessarily clear, and there is a lot of ambiguity in how they're worded. For example reading thE excerpt from the rules (5H) it appears fine for Reading FC and MK Dons to enter a team in the competition.

"However, reading further rule (9Bi) would lead you to believe that neither Reading nor MK Dons could enter the cup if they play any players that are contracted to them. Just to clarify the National League System is non-league football. Confused, yeah you're not alone.

"Also, I don't want to say too much but there is more, a lot more to this particular case. Once the case is finished I'll put all the information out there for you to judge for yourselves."