FA fine Sunderland for "inducing" Thornton transfer

The Football Association has decided to fine SAFC £1,500 for "inducing" Sean Thornton to leave Tranmere Rovers for the Stadium of Light, it has been announced.

Thornton joined Sunderland in summer 2002 and his former club lodged a complaint with the FA that the Black Cats had made an illegal approach for the player, but it has taken the FA until now to finally make a judgement.

But Tranmere are unhappy with the FA's decision, and have slated the fine as "paltry" - and attacked the FA's stance. The club's chairman Lorraine Rogers said today, "The time it has take the FA to reach a decision and the paltry fine show that our regulatory system isn't working - this level of penalty won't be a deterrant.

"Small clubs with successful youth development programmes are not being adequately protected. Good young players can simply be picked off by bigger clubs and football's governing body will let it happen. There should be meaningful guideline penalties in place to stop clubs manipulating the contract system.

"We will be asking the FA and the Football League to give this further consideration."