Glentoran say they will "take the necessary time" to weigh up their options after losing their appeal against being thrown out of the Irish Cup.
The Irish FA confirmed on Friday that its appeal board had dismissed the Glens' appeal against their expulsion over the Joe Crowe eligibility affair.
Glentoran had lodged an appeal after being thrown out of the cup after it was found Crowe was ineligible to play Newry City in a quarter-final tie on March 5.
Read more: Glentoran lose appeal against Irish Cup dismissal for fielding ineligible player
In a statement posted on their website, the Oval club said: "Glentoran note the ruling from the IFA Appeals Committee.
"Under the IFA Articles and UEFA statutes, further judicial avenues remain open and the club will take the necessary time to determine the next appropriate step in the best interests of Glentoran."
Crowe was hit with a three-game suspension while playing for Glentoran's reserves against Linfield Swifts on February 14.
The reserves had played three games before the 23-year-old featured in a 1-0 win over Newry in the last-eight, but one was an Intermediate Cup tie, a competition Crowe isn't eligible to play in.
And according to the IFA’s disciplinary code, a player not eligible to participate in a particular match due to the competition rules may not use that match to serve his suspension.
Newry lodged an appeal on March 7 and subsequently upheld the Championship club’s protest at an initial hearing on March 10.
Read more: Glentoran legend Elliott Morris hails former teammate nicknamed 'The Devil'
Read more: That's What I Call Football podcast Season 4 Episode 28
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
