I’ve long been angry with teams screwing around financially. Man City got away with it a year ago. Shef Wed were eventually deducted 6 points. Derby got away with it twice in 12 months. They’ll probably get their comeuppance shortly- I hope so for the future and integrity of the game, but sympathise with their fans.
However on this point, I have some sympathy. Had they not fielded a youth team in the cup against Chorley for Covid reasons, they’d be able to sign players on short term deals. However that team of youngsters are now counted as potential squad players, stopping them from singing players on short term deals during an embargo.
In the league, you could postpone games due to Covid, not the cup.
Covid has shafted them here, which is a little unfair.
That’s my take. I’m not up together on all the rules, so will not argue with those more “in the know”.