Margate manager Mark Stimson calls for club representatives to sit with FA bosses for appeal review meetings after appeal against playmaker Ben Greenhalgh’s suspension rejected

Margate manager Mark Stimson has called for club representatives to be allowed to sit with FA bosses for appeal review meetings.

Influential midfielder Ben Greenhalgh is serving a three-match suspension after he was controversially red-carded in Gate’s 3-2 loss at Whitehawk earlier this month.

Struggling Isthmian Premier side Margate appealed but revealed the decision had been upheld last Thursday.

Stimson said: “After watching it many times and deciding to appeal, it’s mind-boggling.

“I would love - somehow one day - for them to let a club representative be on these panels to understand why it’s not overturned.

“If you look at the incident and look at the lad’s career, is he the sort of lad to be sent off for violent conduct? Probably not.

“Hopefully, somebody will be able to sit in on these discussions one day.

“It has cost us badly.”

Greenhalgh’s ban, at least, will be over fairly quickly.

He missed the 1-1 home draw against basement boys Concord last weekend but, with their scheduled trip to fellow relegation rivals Cheshunt last night postponed due to a frozen pitch, Greenhalgh will now not yet complete his suspension when Margate host improving Bognor this Saturday.

Gate, who gave debut starts to Colchester loanee midfielder Ryan Lowe and winger Francis Mampolo - on dual registration from Tonbridge - felt they did enough to beat Concord.

They had to come from behind but almost won it at the death after former Margate midfielder Montrell Deslandes, who had earlier found the net for Rangers, was sent off. Former Dover winger Ricky Modeste was dismissed for his protests, too, having already been substituted off.

Stimson reflected: “Unfortunately, it was another weekend of frustration.

“The previous weekend, we