HANWELL TOWN YOUTH FC  

Club Disciplinary and Complaints Procedure

In the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way, or in the event of the Club Policies, Club Rules or Code of Conduct being broken, the following procedures will apply:

1.      Any complaint should be reported in writing to the  Club Secretary.

The report should include:

i)      Details of what, when and where the occurrence took place;

ii)      Any witness statements and names;

iii)      Names of any others known to the Complainant who claim to have been treated in a similar way;

iv)      Details of any similar previous complaints ( if known)  about the same person(s) including details of incidents, dates, when and to whom made;

v)      A preference for a solution to the incident.

2.      In the event of a report being received under the preceding paragraph OR in the event of the Club Secretary receiving a written complaint from any source outside the club, including the League, F.A., or any other club secretary , the Executive Committee will consider the complaint and decide what if any action should be taken. The Executive Committee may delegate its responsibilities under this procedure to a Disciplinary Sub-Committee consisting of the Chair; the Club Secretary; and the Director of Football or any other Executive Committee members as the Committee may appoint for the purpose from time to time. Alternatively, the Executive Committee may decide to exercise its powers under this procedure by the full committee.

3.      The Executive Committee will, unless impracticable or if the matter is extremely urgent,  put the gist of the allegations in writing to the person(s) accused of breaching the club rules etc. and will allow not less than 5 working days from the date of posting of such letter for a response. The Committee may decide at its discretion to request either a written response or to hold a hearing, in which case the letter setting out the allegations will include a date; time ; and place for the hearing of the complaint which will be not less than 7 working days after posting of the letter., unless the matter is of extreme urgency when these time limits may be abridged at the discretion of the Committee.

4.      Any person required to attend a hearing may request a postponement for good reason, on one occasion only, and the Committee may decide either to allow the request or may proceed as planned in the absence of the accused person; and/or any witnesses. The Committee will be at liberty to call any witnesses or other persons who the Committee feels may assist the deliberations of the Committee to give evidence at the hearing, or  may admit their written statement  of evidence at the hearing, provided a brief statement containing the evidence to be put before the committee, or at least the gist thereof, is provided to the accused person not less than 24hrs prior to the hearing.

5.      The Executive Committee will have the power to:

i)           Warn as to future conduct;

ii)           Suspend from membership

iii)           Remove from membership

iv)      Impose a fine not exceeding £25 (which shall take effect as a debt owed to the club)

any person found to have broken the Club's Policies ; Club Rules or Codes of Conduct.  

Appeals

1.      Any appeal against a decision of the Disciplinary Sub-Committee must be made in writing within 5 working days of posting of the Sub-Committees' written decision. In the event of an appeal being received within that time, it will be heard by the Executive Committee in the absence of those Committee members who constituted the Disciplinary Sub-Committee making the original decision. However, the Executive Committee may take written or oral submissions from the members of the Sub-Committee, before making its decision. The Executive Committee will notify its decision in writing, but no further hearing shall take place before a decision is reached, unless the Executive Committee in its discretion decides that a hearing is necessary.

2.      The Executive Committee shall have full powers as set out in clause 5 to revoke, alter, or impose fresh penalties on appeal, and may increase the penalty imposed by the Disciplinary Sub- Committee if it sees fit.

3.      No appeal will lie against an original decision taken by the full Executive Committee as opposed to the Disciplinary Sub-Committee.