Lincoln City
Luton Town to the emergency room!
By Nathan Jackson
July 10 2008
Luton Town are well and truly screwed. The men from Kenilworth Road will now be extreme favourites for relegation following a further extension to their points deduction. They will now start the season on a whopping -30 points, a record for a points deduction and it virtually assures that they will suffer their third straight relegation.
Luton suffered relegation from the Championship in 2006/7 and then had another relegation fuelled season last time around. They now enter League 2 just in time for the 2008/9 season, but much like the previous two seasons, their stay will more than likely only last a single year.
Luton realistically now need to get 80 points to stand a chance of surviving and if they could put it off, it truly would be the greatest of great escapes. However, the chances of that happening are extremely slim.
However, I don't really feel sorry for them at all. Their 30 point deduction now means that City will have one less decent team to climb over as we battle for promotion from this division. Yes, I feel slightly sorry for the fans but at the end of the day, we can't afford to be sentimental to a club who could have easily been challenging for promotion at the end of the season.
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Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 10/07/2008 19:04
it would make more sense for Luton to take the relegation rather than the points deduction. They are odds on for the BSP next year anyway - and theyll still have a squad built foe L2 if they do - my guess is they will
Would they accept relegation to the Conference? No. After seeing what they did to Boston, its set a precedent, and it could be a lot worse. The rules in the Football Conference are a lot stricter than those of the football league on insolvency.
Luton's squad would make their own decisions about a demotion. I doubt a squad built for League Two would stay. Mansfield proved that this year.
I also have no sympathy for the club but for the fans. The club broke the rules and must be punished, otherwise the football league would be a soft touch. Also, it should be noted that Luton Town have been in this position now three times. Does that not deserve punishment? The buyers of the club are said to be furious, and that it feels like "a gun to our heads". Well, my in my opinion, you KNEW this was an ongoing investigation when you bid for the club. It wasn't hidden or secret. If you didn't like it, why bid for the club?
I want to finish by stating that it was the FOOTBALL LEAGUE that placed the -20 point deduction on Luton, and not the FA.
Rant Over.
Luton's squad would make their own decisions about a demotion. I doubt a squad built for League Two would stay. Mansfield proved that this year.
I also have no sympathy for the club but for the fans. The club broke the rules and must be punished, otherwise the football league would be a soft touch. Also, it should be noted that Luton Town have been in this position now three times. Does that not deserve punishment? The buyers of the club are said to be furious, and that it feels like "a gun to our heads". Well, my in my opinion, you KNEW this was an ongoing investigation when you bid for the club. It wasn't hidden or secret. If you didn't like it, why bid for the club?
I want to finish by stating that it was the FOOTBALL LEAGUE that placed the -20 point deduction on Luton, and not the FA.
Rant Over.
I agree with parts of what you say Rob but it always seems to be small clubs that get screwed.
A lot of Premier League clubs owe enough money to buy an African nation, yet that's ok because Sky and the money men want them to retain status.
Somebody mentioned this in an earlier post, but it could so easily have been us, there by the grace of god and all that.
I feel sorry for Luton as their season is over practically before it's begun.
I disagree with what Nathan says about not feeling sorry for them. When the Imps were in the cack a lot of fans from different clubs pitched in to help, you can still see their names on the back of the seats. I think it's a bit arrogant of us to start with the 'one less team for us to worry about' business.
A lot of Premier League clubs owe enough money to buy an African nation, yet that's ok because Sky and the money men want them to retain status.
Somebody mentioned this in an earlier post, but it could so easily have been us, there by the grace of god and all that.
I feel sorry for Luton as their season is over practically before it's begun.
I disagree with what Nathan says about not feeling sorry for them. When the Imps were in the cack a lot of fans from different clubs pitched in to help, you can still see their names on the back of the seats. I think it's a bit arrogant of us to start with the 'one less team for us to worry about' business.
The people taking over Luton need to stop moaning. They had to apply to the Football League for league status. Luton Town fc have ceased to be a football club. This is nothing more than a franchise. Had this company come in and done this and moved the club to another Town or City would there still be the same sympathy?
Phil, I'm with you on all but sympathy towards the club in general, the fans excluded. It was the 3rd time in 10 years that the club have become almost insolvent, which means once every 3 years 4 months. The line has to be drawn somewhere, and a 20 point deduction, although looks harsh, is somewhat deserved, although not on the fans but the club in general.
I still maintain that Luton Town 2020 KNEW this was going to cause trouble, however went ahead with the bid anyway. Statements such as the one released yesterday are, i'm afraid, not buyable by me.
The Football League have made a statement regarding the matter, and I agree with it all!:
In response to point 1, the plans were to release the administration without a CVA, which is against League rules, and fineable/points deductable. So, this is fair.
In response to point 2, the reason behind it is spot on. The books would have shown this through due diligence, so Luton Town 2020 already know this. Coming out into the press and stating its the former regime, yes, I understand that, but you bought the club with a cloud over its head. The company in my eyes look like mugs releasing this statement.
I still maintain that Luton Town 2020 KNEW this was going to cause trouble, however went ahead with the bid anyway. Statements such as the one released yesterday are, i'm afraid, not buyable by me.
The Football League have made a statement regarding the matter, and I agree with it all!:
Quote:The Football League - www.football-league.co.uk
In accordance with recent precedent, the Board decided to include the following principle conditions of entry as a pre-requisite to the exercise of that discretion: -
1. The new company (Luton Town 2020) should pay the unsecured creditors the amount offered at the time of the CVA hearing (16 pence in the pound).
2. A 20 point deduction should apply in the 2008/09 season, which also takes into account the fact that this is the club's third insolvency event in the last ten years.
In response to point 1, the plans were to release the administration without a CVA, which is against League rules, and fineable/points deductable. So, this is fair.
In response to point 2, the reason behind it is spot on. The books would have shown this through due diligence, so Luton Town 2020 already know this. Coming out into the press and stating its the former regime, yes, I understand that, but you bought the club with a cloud over its head. The company in my eyes look like mugs releasing this statement.
I still love you Rob, really I do
I just wanted to make a point though Phil. Yeah, I'm sympathetic for the fans, but its tough. 3 times in 10 years is taking the @#$%&, regardless of ownership. 2020 we're surely aware? Where do you draw the line and say enough is enough?
I know we were in admin and we struggled, but like a lot of mates down south have quite rightly stated that being in Administration holds an advantage over those clubs that play by the rules these days.
Other people have said that a big club would be fined monetarily. Ok, so what would you prefer? A £5.5m fine or a points deduction, with the possibility of staying in the league, rather than going bust?
I will mention that Gretna should now be the catalyst for all this to stop. I for one don't want to see another team go bust because of money. I can see the sanctions being increased every season until the message gets across that administration shouldn't be the easy way out, a la Leeds, Boston. The League have now set a precedent, and the clubs cannot now preach blissful ignorance when it comes to docking the club 20 points, especially when you have history of insolvency.
I know we were in admin and we struggled, but like a lot of mates down south have quite rightly stated that being in Administration holds an advantage over those clubs that play by the rules these days.
Other people have said that a big club would be fined monetarily. Ok, so what would you prefer? A £5.5m fine or a points deduction, with the possibility of staying in the league, rather than going bust?
I will mention that Gretna should now be the catalyst for all this to stop. I for one don't want to see another team go bust because of money. I can see the sanctions being increased every season until the message gets across that administration shouldn't be the easy way out, a la Leeds, Boston. The League have now set a precedent, and the clubs cannot now preach blissful ignorance when it comes to docking the club 20 points, especially when you have history of insolvency.
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