K Sports manager Kris Browning considers his side champions even though a points deduction is set to cost them the title.

Sports have been charged by the Southern Counties East League after the Kent FA found them guilty of playing an ineligible player.

They top the final Division 1 standings with 91 points, one ahead of Punjab, but are facing a three-point deduction.

Caine Smith, who scored in Sports' 1-0 win over Elmstead on March 20, should have been serving a suspension for 10 bookings.

The game had already started by the time Sports learned Smith was suspended but the Kent FA rejected their appeal and the matter is now in the hands of the league's disciplinary committee.

Boss Kris Browning said: "We didn't get any confirmation Caine was suspended until ten past eight, when we'd already kicked off.

"The Kent FA had a glitch in the system so all the emails went out late to the clubs - it should have come out Monday.

"We've appealed and appealed.

"The Kent FA said they can understand they've made a mistake as they've had a problem with their computers but at this national level clubs should be totting up their own bookings so they know themselves who's suspended.

"We usually rely on the FA, which we shouldn't do.

"I think the football community will see us as champions, won't they?

"It will only be very cynical people who'll say we haven't won anything but people make mistakes.

"We've scored over 100 goals and in my mind the lads are champions."

Matt Gething (2) and Bailey Pearce gave the Paperboys a 3-0 home win over Erith & Belvedere on Saturday and the pair scored again in a 2-0 success at Stansfeld on Monday night.

The title was up for grabs after Punjab conceded an 89th-minute equaliser against Holmesdale but Sports' fate will be decided in a committee room.