Lymington & New Milton's FA hearing against racial abuse charges has been pencilled in for July 2 - almost eight months after the alleged event.

The charges relate back to the Linnets' ill-tempered FA Vase third round tie against Buckingham Town on December 16, which was abandoned on 88 minutes with the Sydenhams Wessex League side leading 2-1.

Buckingham had four players sent off in the match but claimed afterwards that they had been a victim of racial comments from the Lymington side.

Their allegations were then referred to the FA's compliance unit who subsequently charged Lymington with failing to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and refrain from abusive and/or provocative behaviour and/or language.

In addition, four Lymington players - Jimmy Sheppard, Alan Walker-Harris, Chris Smith and ex-AFC Bournemouth star John Bailey - face individual charges relating to abusive and/or insulting words aggravated by a racial element.

Linnets chairman John Mills said: "The FA have told me by phone that the hearing will be on July 2 at Oxford United's ground and they will confirm it in writing next week.

"I find it amazing that it's been left this long to bring it to a hearing.

"The more it drags on, the more people's memories get clouded, but I'm still confident we'll be found not guilty. We've got loads of witness statements and, as I understand it, Buckingham have no corroborating evidence whatsoever."