Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas vowed to consider an appeal to the Football Association after seeing the club docked five points at a disciplinary hearing in Birmingham on Monday.

The U’s were found guilty of failing to register a player correctly – Eddie Hutchinson – and looked set to lose the 11 points they collected when he played.

But a three-man panel decided that United should not lose the full amount, just the points they gained when Hutchinson started matches, not appeared as a substitute.

The club were also fined £500 with £3,500 suspended until May 2010.

However, while most fans were expressing their relief that United were not sent plummeting into the relegation zone, Thomas expressed his dismay at the verdict.

“We are very disappointed with the panel’s decision,” United’s chairman said on leaving the offices after a two-hour hearing, followed by a 15-minute summing-up and verdict.

“We will consider an appeal, but will wait to get all the information from the hearing before deciding on our next step.

“We will receive a letter from the panel with their explanation of the decison and we will consider out position after that “We feel there are major issues surrounding the administrative procedures of the league that need addressing.

“We had a fair hearing, but are deeply disappointed with the outcome.”

When asked about the future of secretary Mick Brown, the man responsible for the registration of players, Thomas declined to comment, other than to say: “We have obviously held an internal investigation, but I do not want to discuss the details of that.”

Thomas refused to allow the media to question Brown.

The deduction looks to have ended United’s slim hopes of a play-off place, and leaves them only five points above the relegation zone.

“Obviously any points lost at any time are crucial, but now especially,” Thomas said.

Crawley Town were charged with the same offence, and picked up a four-point deduction.

Crawley chairman Vic Marley said: "This decision is extremely hard to take given the flawed registration procedures that the Football Conference had in place in the early part of the season.

"I also have sympathy for Oxford United who like ourselves are a victim of this flawed process."