Dave Craven: Halifax's unusual Cup exit could prove blessing in disguise

He tendered his resignation yesterday after an investigation by the West Yorkshire club ruled the long-serving former Wigan hooker was at fault for fielding an ineligible player in their fourth-round win over Swinton, a gross oversight which led to the RFL dumping them out of the competition earlier this week.

Hall accepted the blame and Halifax immediately lifted the suspension they had imposed on head coach Matt Calland. He is now back in charge ahead of Sunday's Championship Grand Final re-match with Barrow.

But were Hall– and, let's face it, Halifax – the only ones to blame for the fiasco?

If you recall, the RFL postponed Sunday's fifth-round game with Batley Bulldogs just three-and-a-half hours before the scheduled kick-off after they became aware of the player registration gaffe.

Prop Michael Ostick had played in the 56-4 win over Swinton last month despite having featured for previous club Rochdale in their third-round tie with Lezignan.

You would have thought Ostick would have alerted Calland to this when he was named in the squad to face Swinton and, apparently, is understandably red-faced given the club's severe punishment.

But, in Ostick's defence, it is not necessarily his duty to inform them and many players are blissfully unaware of registration protocols.

But the governing body themselves should have been privy. However, apparently, the RFL were only alerted to the misdemeanour following a fan's posting on an internet message board.

Yet the Swinton game had taken place three weeks previously and, in the intervening period, no one at Red Hall, of their own accord, had realised an ineligible player had featured.

The RFL have been quick to mete out punishment, unsurprisingly given the furore that came their way when they did not expel Hull two years ago.

Back then, the Airlie Birds had failed to register Jamie Thackray and were effectively fined 60,000 but were allowed to go on and reach the final as there was no rule saying they could be kicked out of the competition.

The governing body have tightened up regulations since but are blatantly still lacking in other departments, notably the one which should see some form of checking process for line-ups.

We are told they have safeguards but they failed – a computer glitch or a delay in the installation of new but complicated software. It begs the question how many other clubs over the years could have fielded ineligible players without anyone knowing.

In the meantime, they have relied on an eagle-eyed fan to do their work. How annoying for the RFL.

Being kicked out of the Challenge Cup is immediately painful for Halifax, who had confidence in beating Batley and potentially seeing off Catalans for a place in the semi-finals.

But, in the long-run, this could be a real blessing in disguise. Just last week, departing chief executive Graham Clay said the administrative side of the club must improve if they were to gain a Super League licence.

This alarming episode only serves to enforce that view and may give Halifax the wake-up call they need.

The club's directors decided a breakdown in procedures, largely caused by Hall's absence on occasions, led to the mistake. You would hope steps will now be made to employ someone who would not only ensure such errors do not happen again in the future but would also bolster that Super League application.