Workington Town have appealed to the RFL for special dispensation to bring in players ahead of Sunday’s do-or-die clash with Swinton Lions.

So far the appeal has been denied.

Town travel to face the Lions with a place in next year’s Championship up for grabs. But Workington are seriously low on player numbers – with the game being added to the calendar at a late stage.

Some players had already booked holidays and then skipper Ollie Wilkes pulled up injured in last weekend’s loss to Bradford, with Sean Penkywicz also rated as just 50/50.

The club was also due to attend a disciplinary tribunal last night with Fuifui Moimoi where they hoped to get his ban reduced.

Moimoi was red-carded against Bradford but Town assistant coach Craig McDowell said they were hoping to get any sentence overturned.

“We are hoping to get a verdict of sending off sufficient, that would be the best outcome,” said McDowell.

“We don’t feel it was worthy of a three-game ban and don’t feel that it warranted a red card after viewing the video footage.”

McDowell said that Town only had 12 or 13 fully fit players to take to the field for a crucial game.

And they were hoping to bring in some players who had previously featured for them this season on loan.

“We have only asked for people that have already played a part in our season, playing on loan for us,” added McDowell.

“We do have people with long- standing injuries who have said they will strap themselves up and do what they can. But we have to look after their welfare.

“We are going into a difficult game, with a lot riding on it. And effectively this game was forced on us by the RFL late in the season.

“We have three or four lads away on pre-booked family holidays as the season was due to finish last week.

“And our coach was due to fly out on holiday on Wednesday and has had to rearrange his flight due to this fixture. So we are in a very difficult position and we just want some help from the RFL to get a team out on the pitch.”

The RFL did give Featherstone Rovers and Leigh Centurions dispensation to sign additional players ahead of last Sunday’s Championship Shield final.

But a spokesman for the governing body said the circumstances were different for Workington.

He said: “It all goes back to the meeting that was held with the Championship and League One clubs last month regarding the structur of the leagues.

“The RL board consulted with the clubs and agreed to go to a 14 team Championship and this play off will determine the last place in that league for next season.

“The difference between this and the Leigh and Featherstone situation is that both those clubs asked for dispensation.

“Both clubs were in agreement and they were supported by the other Championship and League One clubs.

“There was no promotion or relegation issues with that match. In that same discussion clubs were asked if dispensation should be granted for a play-off game and it was stated that no it shouldn’t because Championship status was at stake.”