CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Three staff members at West Charlotte High School are suspended with pay while Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials conduct a personnel investigation.

Masanori Toguchi, the school’s athletic director, Maurice Flowers, the school’s head football coach, and Hazel Richardson, the school’s assistant football coach were all put on suspension starting Monday, CMS officials said.

Eyewitness News has learned the suspensions are related to athletic eligibility questions raised last week. A West Charlotte football player was deemed ineligible to play based on his address just hours before the team faced Independence High School in a playoff game. The team lost, so West Charlotte’s football season is now over.

But now CMS investigators want to know whether the employees knew or helped the player, Nicholas Mata, fake a home address to make him eligible to play.

“It is very disappointing. We had felt confident we had the investigation wrapped up dealing with ineligibility issues only to have new information come to light,” said CMS spokeswoman Nora Carr. “The ramifications are broad. It’s deeply disappointing and very frustrating for everyone involved.”

It’s also frustrating for fans like Gary Boyce. He said the questions whether the three employees are involved doesn't send a good message.

“The kids like to play football; it’s unfortunate they are brought into this being they are just in high school,” he said.

Mata was the third football player kicked off a team this season. Two players at Independence High School were also found ineligible, and South Mecklenburg High School’s team had to forfeit its season when a player was found ineligible and the district discovered the school knew about it.

All three West Charlotte employees will remain suspended until the investigation is complete.