SOUTHEND United will finish the League One season in 14th place after opponents Bury were penalised for using an ineligible player.

Youngster Callum Styles played for Bury in their 3-2 win against Blues on May 8, the final game of the season, coming on as a 75th minute substitute.

Styles, 16, became the first player born in the 21st century to play in English league football.

But the teenager, who signed for the club after a successful trial spell, had not been signed before the Football League's registration deadline of March 25.

Bury have been deducted three points and drop from 14th to 16th in the 2015/16 table.

It means Southend, who had finished 15th, jump a place to 14th in the standings.

A Bury club statement said: "A disciplinary commission has ruled that Bury are to be deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player, Callum Styles, in the Sky Bet League 1 fixture against Southend United.

“The club has accepted that Styles was not registered in accordance with League regulations and the points deduction will be applied retrospectively to Bury’s 2015/16 season total."