DERRY City will appeal the £1,000 fine imposed by the National League's disciplinary commission to the FAI's senior clubs' appeal committee and manager Felix Healy will do likewise regarding his 12-month dugout ban and £500 fine.

The Northern club's board of directors met last night to discuss Monday's disciplinary action which was imposed following incidents which took place during Derry's top-of-the-table clash with Bohemians at the Brandywell on December 22nd.

After last night's meeting an angry Derry secretary, Kevin Friel, said his club was "shocked, dismayed and amazed," at the severity of the fines meted out by the commission.

"A 12-month ban, plus a £500 fine imposed on our manager, was bad enough, but to impose a £1,000 fine on the club itself for inadequate security was outrageous as far as we are concerned," said Friel.

"The Brandywell is one of the most secure stadiums in the National League and this fine is ludicrous. We will lodge an immediate appeal and we will be asking the FAI appeals committee to study video evidence of the game as that appears to have been totally ignored by the commission during their deliberations on Monday morning last."

Friel also lashed out at "certain sections of the Dublin press" who claimed that Healy would be forced to resign as a result of the ban.

"Felix Healy, dugout ban or not, will remain as manager of Derry City football club for the remainder of the current season at least.

"Reports of him being forced to step down are ludicrous. He is committed to his home town club and considering the fact that he is leading a team which is currently three-points clear, at the top of the premier division table, one can only wonder where these reporters are getting their information from," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Healy is hard at work attempting to strengthen his injury-hit strike force. In fact last night he was given permission to speak to Sligo striker James Mulligan regarding a possible move to the Brandywell.

Current strikers Liam Coyle, Gary Beckett and Sean Hargan are all on the treatment table as Derry prepare for next weekend's FAI Cup clash with junior side Crumlin United.