Lewes boss Garry Wilson has hit out at the anomalies of the suspension system as he finally prepares to welcome back skipper Jack Walder.

Walder has been suspended for SEVEN Lewes first team matches after picking up a straight red card.

Crawley skipper Joe Walsh, meantime, may not miss a single game for a similar offence.

The final match Walder missed for Lewes was Tuesday’s Sussex Senior Cup win over an Eastbourne Borough side missing their skipper, Ian Simpemba, who was forced to sit out through suspension even though the game does not count towards his two-match ban.

The issues are quirks of a suspension system whereby County League division one downwards are dealt with by the Sussex County Football Association while the Football Association deal with Ryman division one south upwards.

And then the waters are muddied by the Sussex Senior Cup in that it is not considered a first team game by all clubs competing.

Walder’s case relates to a red card picked up while dual-signed for County League division one side Ringmer.

Having recovered from a long spell out with a fractured ankle, Lewes asked for Walder to play for Ringmer to build up match fitness before being pitched back into the Rooks’ first team. However, Walder’s involvement lasted just 20 minutes before being sent off for a mistimed tackle.

The midfielder was banned for three games for the offence, with the suspension starting on December 16, and rules say he cannot play for Lewes until the suspension has been served.

Ringmer played on December 16 but then not again until January 10 after one match was abandoned due to floodlight failure and the following two games were postponed.

After playing Shoreham two weeks ago, Ringmer suffered another postponement and then a second match abandoned due to floodlight failure last Saturday.

All the while, Walder has not been allowed to play for Lewes – meaning he has missed seven first team games for a three-match ban.

Crawley captain Walsh, meanwhile, was handed a three-match ban after being sent off in the Reds’ Sussex Senior Cup defeat at Whitehawk. However, the competition is not recognised as a first team game for Crawley, even though they have no reserve team.

It means Walsh can only be suspended for Senior Cup games and if the sought-after Wales under-21 international moves on before next season he may never miss a match for the offence.

Lewes accept Walder had to serve a ban for the red card but do not feel the system is right.

Wilson said: “Jack Walder, our captain, who has been out for a year, mistimes a tackle and he misses seven Lewes first team games for a three-match ban.

“We don’t want to see the Crawley boy banned for first team games but he gets let off for the same offence as he will only miss Senior Cup games.

“It is ridiculous, an absolute disgrace.”

As for Simpemba, his two-match ban for an accumulation of bookings was due to start on January 11 but he is not allowed to play for the first team in any other fixture – such as the Senior Cup – until the two qualifying games (such as league, FA Trophy, FA Cup) are played.

Borough, meanwhile, are waiting to hear what games Marvin Hamilton, who was sent off against Lewes in the Senior Cup on Tuesday, will miss.

They are hoping the same rules applied to Walsh will be applied to them and Hamilton will only be suspended for the Senior Cup but yesterday the club were waiting for clarification.