Calland suspended as Halifax kicked out of Challenge Cup

He selected Michael Ostick for their fourth-round win over Swinton but the prop had already played for Rochdale in an earlier round, prompting the decision of the RFL's board of directors to throw them out of the competition yesterday.

Batley Bulldogs – whose fifth-round fixture with Halifax was postponed just hours before kick-off on Sunday when the fiasco came to light – will now face re-instated Swinton in a week's time at Mount Pleasant with the reward a home quarter-final tie against Super League strugglers Catalans Dragons.

Embarrassed Halifax chairman Michael Steele accepted their punishment and offered an "unreserved" apology to the West Yorkshire club's fans.

The Championship outfit could yet suffer further action with the RFL's compliance manager investigating whether they should also face a misconduct charge.

However, Calland was the man immediately in the firing line after a club statement read: "Halifax have suspended coach Matt Calland, pending the outcome of their own investigation into the club's Challenge Cup disqualification."

The 36-year-old had already come under pressure this season with reports of player unrest but Halifax, whose hopes of earning a Super League licence from 2012 suffered a crushing blow, had turned their form around recently.

Former Bradford Bulls centre Calland joined as an assistant in June 2006 before being promoted to head coach four months later when Martin Hall was made director of football.

Last night, he said: "I am devastated by today's news and I am going to defend myself vigorously."

The club's board were meeting players at training last night as they tried to steady the ship ahead of Sunday's home game with Barrow, a repeat of last year's Championship Grand Final.

Batley, meanwhile, are favourites to overcome Swinton but first they travel to Sheffield Eagles tonight in a rearranged Championship game and their fixture backlog – Karl Harrison's side face four matches in 12 days – could hurt their hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.

However, general manager Paul Harrison admitted: "We feel we would have a chance of turning Catalans over."

Batley's Gareth Moore (hip) and Mark Toohey (ankle and dead leg) are both doubtful for the trip to Bramall Lane.