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Post by pikeygull on Jul 17, 2008 11:57:42 GMT
I have only just noticed that Luton Town are facing a 30pt deduction for the start of next season. I knew that it was -10pts because of administration but an extra -20pts to be added if they want to start the season. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/7500435.stmThere is only one loser here and that is the fans. This is the 3rd time in 10yrs that they have gone into administration, and I agree something must be done to stop clubs repeatedly doing this and it looks like Luton are going to be made an example of. I can think of a few clubs who have escaped such a harsh penalty. Swindon would be included in that despite their demotion in the 90's. It looks like Mike Newell was right about the bungs being paid to agents. To think when they romped to the title in League 1 that season the club sold £9m worth of talent and they still end up like this  RIP Luton Town I can't see them coming out of this alive. Relegation is a certainty and BSP won't be letting them in either if Boston and Halifax is anything to go by. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Jul 17, 2008 15:44:58 GMT
.........it looks like Luton are going to be made an example of. Relegation is a certainty and BSP won't be letting them in either if Boston and Halifax is anything to go by.  They are not being made an example of, they are simply the worst serial offenders against operating professionally as a football club and a business in the Football League. If the fans feel so hard done by, they should have been more pro-active in sorting their club out in the past. I too feel hard done by for the way they were disgracefully run by the fascist David Evans two decades ago when he excluded " non members" which includes me from their tin pot grubby little ground. Prior to that, the idiot had the nerve to reply to my letter complaining that a seat I purchased from the ticket office had no leg room and no view of the pitch save for the two goal mouths at either end due to the close proximity of a stanchion and concluded it with the comment "I note your address and suggest you support your local club Plymouth Argyle in the future" - buffoon!  So I will be delighted when the BSP refuse them membership in the same way they denied it to Boston and Halifax Town...............then my revenge will have been eaten as it should be - cold! |
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Post by pikeygull on Jul 17, 2008 16:04:40 GMT
I would say that they are being made an example of. I think Swindon have been in dire straights quite a few times ( correct me if I'm wrong ( I'm sure you will ;D)).
Too many times clubs have been allowed to get away with it and I for one is glad the FL are clamping down on it.
As I said the only loser is the fans regardless of any previous owners. The two cannot be compared we should know after our brush with he who shall not be named.
Yes maybe the fans should have stepped forward earlier to take control but it's not that easy is it. Fans only seem to step in in times of crisis. That is what they now have with Nick Owen but I feel the efforts are futile
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merse
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Post by merse on Jul 17, 2008 17:12:02 GMT
I would say that they are being made an example of. I think Swindon have been in dire straights quite a few times ( correct me if I'm wrong ( I'm sure you will ;D)). You're not wrong, but under the present legislation; Swindon would have been dealt with the same way. The legislation has been necessary precisely because of clubs like Swindon; and Luton HAVE done this TWICE before! Something had to be done about the problem and the authorities have acted responsibly and in the interests of the majority of fans of the majority of clubs. What's the point of bringing in legislation if they then renege on that out of sympathy for a serial offender? There is no point it would be futile and before we know it there would be another offender and it might well be Luton Ruddy Town again! Don't feel sorry for them, they never acted with anything but selfishness and disregard for other fans before................now their chickens have come home to roost - just as they did for Boston United! |
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Post by stuartB on Jul 17, 2008 20:29:02 GMT
So, well done Football League, NOT. They are bullies to the little boys, who, yes have broken the rules BUT where were you when the big boys break the rules?
Answer: NO WHERE!!! West Ham did what they like and bet your bottom dollar if one of their precious premiershite teams broke insolvency rules etc they would not have the guts to do a thing.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jul 17, 2008 20:50:46 GMT
So, well done Football League, NOT. They are bullies to the little boys, who, yes have broken the rules BUT where were you when the big boys break the rules? Answer: NO WHERE!!! West Ham did what they like and bet your bottom dollar if one of their precious premiershite teams broke insolvency rules etc they would not have the guts to do a thing. Stu, perhaps the Football League was not in a position to punish West Ham because West Ham were not in the Football League - they were in the so-called "Premiership". The other punishment-dodgers supreme Exeter weren't in the Football League when they cheated their way out of a points deduction either. Punishing serial offenders is a start, but I would prefer an "early warning system" to nip problems in the bud and stop clubs running up huge debts that then need dodging. Most clubs in big trouble owe a fortune to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. I would like to see all payments of PAYE/NIC and VAT made via the League. The first missed payment would trigger a transfer/loan embargo, the second would make ALL contracted players immediately available on a free transfer. The third would trigger a points deduction. Harsh - but it would concentrate a few minds! |
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Post by stuartB on Jul 17, 2008 20:53:13 GMT
So, well done Football League, NOT. They are bullies to the little boys, who, yes have broken the rules BUT where were you when the big boys break the rules? Answer: NO WHERE!!! West Ham did what they like and bet your bottom dollar if one of their precious premiershite teams broke insolvency rules etc they would not have the guts to do a thing. Stu, perhaps the Football League was not in a position to punish West Ham because West Ham were not in the Football League - they were in the so-called "Premiership". The other punishment-dodgers supreme Exeter weren't in the Football League when they cheated their way out of a points deduction either. Punishing serial offenders is a start, but I would prefer an "early warning system" to nip problems in the bud and stop clubs running up huge debts that then need dodging. Most clubs in big trouble owe a fortune to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. I would like to see all payments of PAYE/NIC and VAT made via the League. The first missed payment would trigger a transfer/loan embargo, the second would make ALL contracted players immediately available on a free transfer. The third would trigger a points deduction. Harsh - but it would concentrate a few minds! I stand corrected, sir but I still stand by the fact that Chelski and co would not be touched by the FL if they were ever fortunate to be relegated |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Jul 17, 2008 20:57:24 GMT
I stand corrected, sir but I still stand by the fact that Chelski and co would not be touched by the FL if they were ever fortunate to be relegated Maybe or maybe not. The nearest to that scenario in recent years has been the mighty Leeds United. The Football League docked fifteen points off them, did they not? |
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Post by stuartB on Jul 17, 2008 21:07:03 GMT
I stand corrected, sir but I still stand by the fact that Chelski and co would not be touched by the FL if they were ever fortunate to be relegated Maybe or maybe not. The nearest to that scenario in recent years has been the mighty Leeds United. The Football League docked fifteen points off them, did they not? Only because it was Ken Bates |
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merse
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Post by merse on Jul 18, 2008 3:08:54 GMT
Most clubs in big trouble owe a fortune to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. I would like to see all payments of PAYE/NIC and VAT made via the League. The first missed payment would trigger a transfer/loan embargo, the second would make ALL contracted players immediately available on a free transfer. The third would trigger a points deduction. Harsh - but it would concentrate a few minds! A very sensible suggestion and seeing as member clubs are (I believe) a constituent part of the Football League plc or the BSP plc, I don't see why that might not be possible. |
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midlandstufc
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Post by midlandstufc on Jul 18, 2008 21:05:27 GMT
Ssh, but I may be close to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, in some form or another.
The issue is what the Government lets happen. If all the powers were applied to all on an equitable basis you would see more falls from grace, regardless of who they were and who were their 'friends'.
Unfortunately, some clubs have less friends in 'high' places.
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They are not being made an example of, they are simply the worst serial offenders against operating professionally as a football club and a business in the Football League.
