Shaun Dillon hopes Kilbirnie Ladeside can appeal Alan Frizzel's controversial red card in Saturday's 1-0 win over Irvine Meadow.
The midfielder was sent off for an alleged headbutt in the 75th minute of the West of Scotland League Premier Division clash at Meadow Park after both sets of players got involved in a minor fracas near the touchline.
The decision was met with a mixture of anger and disbelief in the Blasties' ranks and co-boss Dillon insisted afterwards that the player had done nothing wrong.
And he insists losing a player to suspension is the last thing he needs ahead of a crucial league run-in that will make or break Kilbirnie's survival hopes.
Dillon told Ayrshire Football News: "It's a shocker from the ref and I feel so sorry for Alan Frizzell who has worked his tail off.
"Now he's potentially going to miss two or three games when we're in a relegation dogfight and we need all of our players.
"We're down to the bare bones as it is today with injuries and illness so we need our players and Alan is a top player for us.
"He got sent off for absolute nothing - the linesman didn't get involved at all all game and then got involved in something so silly like that.
"Even their skipper said 'I'll speak to the ref' because it was nothing - nothing happened.
"Hopefully we can appeal it and we don't lose Alan."
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here