\n<\/p>\n
Stranraer face losing out on \u00a3200,000 which could “keep the club running for three or four years” if they are expelled from the Scottish Cup and miss out on a visit to Rangers.<\/b><\/p>\n
The League Two club fielded an ineligible player in Tuesday’s win over Queen’s Park, with a Scottish FA disciplinary hearing set for 28 January to examine the circumstances.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Lyndon Tas was signed on loan from Hearts on the day of the game and saved a penalty in the shootout after a 1-1 draw at Stair Park.<\/p>\n
The game had been scheduled of Saturday but was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.<\/p>\n
Cup rules state that only players registered for the original date can play in the event of postponements, abandonments or replays.<\/p>\n
The governing body can sanction emergency loans but say the move for 17-year-old Tas did not get such approval.<\/p>\n
The League Two club say they “acted quickly in good faith” to sign Tas, explaining that a bid to extend a previous loan agreement for Josh Lane was refused by Hamilton Academical. <\/p>\n
Manager Chris Aitken later told BBC Scotland: “It seems it’s because we didn’t use the word ’emergency’. If the circumstances of the loan don’t count as an emergency we don’t know what is!<\/p>\n
“It would be nonsense for anyone to think it gave us an advantage. It was a great achievement and what’s happened since then is like a whirlwind.<\/p>\n
“We know what we’d be missing out on, potentially \u00a3200,000. We are a club that relies on volunteers to run. That money would keep Stranraer going for three or four years.”<\/p>\n
If Stranraer are ejected, Queen’s Park would take their place in the fifth round, with the Championship side having stunned Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox in last year’s competition.<\/p>\n