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NARWAN coach Barry Vale's playing future remains in limbo after it was ruled the appeal against his two-year suspension could not be heard by the Group 19 appeals committee at a meeting on Wednesday night in Armidale.
Vale was given a two-year sentence for "bringing the game into disrepute", after being ruled as one of the main culprits in the brawling that tainted the Guyra-Narwan grand final in September.
Group 19 appeals committee chairman Alan Hollebrandse said Vale's case could not be heard because the committee only had the power to rule against a decision made by the group judiciary, not the general committee which imposed Vale's suspension.
"The case was not heard, and the reason was because according to the Group 19 constitution there were irregularities which appeared,' Hollebrandse said.
"The main irregularity was in clause 45(b) relating to the duties of the appeals committee, (which) is only allowed to hear appeals against decisions of the Group judiciary committee.
"And Mr Vale was actually cited before the general committee, so it was ineligible for the appeals board to hear him."
Hollebrandse said Vale's next course of action could be to lodge an appeal against the sentence with the general manager of the Country Rugby League.
Speaking to The Leader yesterday, Vale was clearly frustrated with the decision and said he was currently in discussions with his lawyer to judge his options.
"I don't know what to do now. I might have to go to another appeal," he said.
"I just want it all over and done with so I can get on with what I want to do."
Vale was given a two-year sentence for "bringing the game into disrepute", after being ruled as one of the main culprits in the brawling that tainted the Guyra-Narwan grand final in September.
Group 19 appeals committee chairman Alan Hollebrandse said Vale's case could not be heard because the committee only had the power to rule against a decision made by the group judiciary, not the general committee which imposed Vale's suspension.
"The case was not heard, and the reason was because according to the Group 19 constitution there were irregularities which appeared,' Hollebrandse said.
"The main irregularity was in clause 45(b) relating to the duties of the appeals committee, (which) is only allowed to hear appeals against decisions of the Group judiciary committee.
"And Mr Vale was actually cited before the general committee, so it was ineligible for the appeals board to hear him."
Hollebrandse said Vale's next course of action could be to lodge an appeal against the sentence with the general manager of the Country Rugby League.
Speaking to The Leader yesterday, Vale was clearly frustrated with the decision and said he was currently in discussions with his lawyer to judge his options.
"I don't know what to do now. I might have to go to another appeal," he said.
"I just want it all over and done with so I can get on with what I want to do."
