Paget Lions? promotion hopes suffered a major setback yesterday while their FA Cup dream was completely shattered.

Bermuda Football Association?s executive committee found the First Division club guilty of fielding an ineligible player in league matches against Prospect and Hamilton Parish and also during an FA Cup first round clash against Wolves last month.

It was discovered Jerome Knights? registration card had expired and, as such, he was not eligible to represent Lions.

Lions were due to take on Somerset on December 19 in the second round of the FA Cup competition but have now been eliminated and docked points after their victories over Prospect and Parish.

The latest revelation follows on the heels of last month?s BFA decision to hand lifetime bans to two Paget players alleged to have taken part in a melee at Wellington Oval which caused the abandonment of last April?s Friendship Trophy Final featuring Somerset Eagles and eventual champions North Village.

Prior to yesterday?s announcement, Lions were third in the First Division and in contention for a berth in the inaugural Champions Cup tournament to be played over the Christmas break.

However, they have now dropped five places to third from bottom.

Wolves will now meet Trojans in the next round of the FA Cup.