Carlisle United Football Club have spoken to the Football League to register their concern following the announcement that Stockport County had entered into administration.

The Hatters were handed an immediate 10-point deduction on the eve of their visit to relegation-haunted Brighton, dropping them from 13th to 18th spot in League One, having been placed into the hands of the administrators on Thursday afternoon.

Discussion points raised by the Cumbrians' directors included the timing of the announcement and the impact it would have on the Stockport County playing staff, whether or not they would be able to field a full-strength squad on the day, the willingness of the administrators to allow an overnight stay ahead of the final game of the season at the Withdean Stadium, and any subsequent action to be taken should County emerge from this period of administration under the same operational banner.

The 10-point deduction for Football League clubs entering administration was introduced in 2004, with Wrexham the first League team to suffer from the rule that season.

In 2007, the rule was amended so that clubs going into administration after the fourth Thursday in March would have the 10-point deduction suspended, but only if they are in the relegation zone.

If they are outside the relegation zone, the points are taken off straight away, even if it means they then drop into the bottom four.

Stockport have been fighting against entering into administration recently but their level of debt, with one creditor owed £300,000, appears to have made the decision unavoidable.