Fight to clear Constable name

Kidderminster manager Mark Yates says the fight will go on to save James Constable's name – despite giving up on the battle to overturn the striker's three-match ban.

Constable remains furious that his reputation has been blighted by his red card for an alleged elbow on Oxford defender James Clarke last week.

And he was angered even further by the result of an appeal, which was rejected by the FA despite what Harriers saw as clear video evidence clearing Constable.

Yates went into today's FA Cup trip to Dagenham and Redbridge without his leading goalscorer and he is resigned to having Constable missing for the next two matches as well.

But chairman Barry Norgrove is determined to carry a fresh fight to the FA, and Yates is backing him all the way.

Yates said: "We were told on Thursday that James couldn't be available so we have prepared for the weekend without him. So as far as we are concerned the matter is closed from a football point of view, but we are

disappointed for James and his family because we feel that nothing happened in the slightest.

"The club are pursuing it with the FA again and hopefully they can get James cleared, even though it won't mean his ban is overturned.

"It is just important to us that James is cleared."

Harriers were confident that their video evidence would see Constable's sending-off overturned and clear the striker to play today.

So the club were stunned when the FA hearing ruled that the red card should stand.

"It's an absolute disgrace that James's appeal wasn't upheld," said Norgrove.

"I would have put my house on it that he would have the red card rescinded but the FA believed that the video evidence was inconclusive, which is totally ridiculous.

"You can clearly see from the video that James did not raise his hands to the Oxford player.

"If James had been guilty, I would have put my hands up and not gone on any further.

"If we prove that that he is innocent, then surely the FA will have to act and tear up his red card.

"We know we are 100 per cent right and are determined to fight the FA every step of the way and go right to the top to prove our case."

Constable himself said: "I am baffled as to why the FA did not allow my appeal to go through, because it is obvious to me on the video that I am innocent.

"I am happy to sit down with anyone at the FA and explain to them why I did not deserve to be sent off.

"I was supporting Michael McGrath when I felt something hit me.

"I turned around to discover the Oxford player lying on the floor holding his head.

"I know I am a not dirty player and to have my reputation affected is damaging. I am prepared to take my fight to the very top of the FA to clear my name."

There was some good news this week for Yates with the return to action of experienced defender Jeff Kenna after around two months out with an ankle injury.

Kenna played for an hour in the reserves' 5-0 win over a strong

Tamworth side in midweek – a game that also saw Simon Russell have another 45-minute outing.