League Two chaos!!

[knowles]

What a sad state of affairs that three of the lesser teams in the Football League have found themselves spiralling into debt and will start the season with a minus points tally next to their name.

Bournemouth -10
Rotherham -17
Luton -30

I don't see what the League is trying to achieve by putting these teams onto minus points. We could well see the two relegated teams this season (likely to be two of the three) go out of business.

Like my arse Football League

[GeordieDave]

I agree Knowles. Meanwhile players with no moral backbone like Terry are busily negotiating contracts worth 150K a week. It makes me fucking puke.

How much do agents take out of the "beautiful game" on an annual basis?? 100M ????

25% of that would keep these (and many of the other clubs) in business.

I know Luton are masters of their own downfall in some respects and so perhaps are Bournemouth and Rotherham but the clubs need to survive.

I just cant accept the "laws of the jungle" and commercial realities of business on this one. Before Sky clubs still went bust of course, but not with the increased regularity that they do now. By bust I dont mean disappearing for good, just re-inventing themselves under new owners.

Football generates enough cash to be self-sustaining. Or it did. Now it just disappears to a few hundred players and a a dozen uber-agents.

Its wank.

[AlanHansen]

I was hoping Vale would get relegated out of the Football League, looking a tough ask now.

I am not too sure on the rights and wrongs of each of these clubs. There has to be some firm punishment and the Leeds debacle proves this, whether these penalties are at the correct level though i can't comment. It does make a bit of a mockery of it all though.

[Stokie86]

Maybe an online petition should be started to be sent to the Football League and The FA defending clubs who are in uncontrolled debt and due to soon go that way! The Footballing authorities are supposed to be there to keep the game respectable and help out in times of need! They are doing the complete opposite of this by pumping so much money into The Premier League and cup competitions! Yes, it was nice for us to get the reported £60m reward for promotion, but, wouldn't it be nice to see just a small slice from what each promoted club gets to be given towards the struggling clubs!?!

I ain't got a clue how to do it but, I'm sure there is somebody on this MB that knows a thing or two about it! So, if anybody could find the time to either set-up or help in finding someone to do this then maybe we could help towards making the game more respectable again. Get the petition sorted and post it on every message board to every club in the UK. A big, long and hard task and a long shot I know but it could very well be worth all the effort and bring football in the UK more respectable and as more of a community again

[thischarmingman]

Hanson you can dream but there will only be one team gwetting relegated from Stoke on Trent this yeasr and its not going to be us

[thepremierbanksy]

Rotherham, despite being near bankrupt, are also being asked to come up with a £750k bond before the season starts to allow them to continue playing at the Hallam arena.

It's difficult though, i'm sure these clubs could have shown a bit more restraint at some point during their downfalls - maybe they should have just accepted that they could only afford to pay wank players, but as people have said, it sticks in the throat that so much money is kept by so few.

What to do about these administration clubs is tough - you can't exactly have an admin fund for them to dip into or else noone would fear it. Clearly the long term answer is a better distribution of the money in the game across the leagues.

[knowles]

It basically makes a mockery of the league before it has started.

I don't want Vale to go out of the league- I think it would be bad for the area, but they are pretty much already guaranteed safety by default.

You get these teams coming up (in this case Aldershot and Exeter) who relish the struggle to survive in the League. It's all a bit piss easy for them now isn't it.

I can't see many fans turning up to these three clubs (especially the stricken Luton)- they are basically watching a relegated side from the moment they kick that first ball against Vale on Saturday.

It's an absolute joke. I don't know what is going on behind the scenes at these clubs and the Football League, but docking them stupid amounts of points is scandalous.

It truly pisses me off and it means half the league are playing for nothing now. The bottom half will be over by Christmas.

Use some common sense chiefs- give these clubs a chance. Please.

I hope all three survive just to stick two fingers up to the system.

[mikeyb99]

If the League was really serious it would slap some points deductions on Derby, Leicester et al who all fiddled the system a few years ago to remove debt through administration. They won't though, because the League can only 'act tough' on small teams. Its a complete joke really - I'm just thankful they showed some backbone in the Leeds affair.

[Davef]

If it's any consolation to Luton, they'll probably be on -27 by tea time on Saturday.

[Rebelliousjukebox]

Agree - as usual - with James on this issue.

I wonder whether there'll be new teams started - an FC Luton, FC Rotherham, FC Bournemouth - by the fans as with AFC Telford, FC Wimbledon, FC United?

[Trouserdog]

The unfair system of wealth distribution is indeed wank, but that's the harsh reality of the SKY TV age.

I wouldn't pretend to know the circumstances for each of the three teams in question, but for me clubs simply have to cut their cloth accordingly to avoid this kind of situation, as difficult as it might be.

The penalties have to be in place otherwise every other club in Britain would "do a Leicester", and wipe out massive and irresponsibly accrued debts just by having the knowledge to play the system.

As much as we poke fun at them, Crewe are the perfect example of a small club who balance the books and do Ok at the level they're at.

[Mr_DaftBurger]

Aug 7, 2008 11:41:54 GMT mikeyb99 said:

If the League was really serious it would slap some points deductions on Derby, Leicester et al who all fiddled the system a few years ago to remove debt through administration. They won't though, because the League can only 'act tough' on small teams. Its a complete joke really - I'm just thankful they showed some backbone in the Leeds affair.

Yes mikey they showed real backbone by delaying a decision until it was guaranteed Leeds wouldn't lose their play off place if the decision was upheld.

Blame Leicester who, at last, are where they deserve to be. They even had another chance and dined at the top table but still pissed it all away................shame. ;D

[Danstoke82]

I do feel sorry for them teams, struggling to make ends meet then you go see Chelsea reportedly offer over £100million for one fucking player, its a disgrace as to how the beautiful game is going.

[u2oxeterstokie]

Points deduction is a shit way to handle it. It only serves to plunge such clubs even into further trouble and debt. They need help not a life sentence.

[Danstoke82]

Aug 7, 2008 11:25:49 GMT GeordieDave said:

I agree Knowles. Meanwhile players with no moral backbone like Terry are busily negotiating contracts worth 150K a week. It makes me fucking puke.

How much do agents take out of the "beautiful game" on an annual basis?? 100M ????

25% of that would keep these (and many of the other clubs) in business.

I know Luton are masters of their own downfall in some respects and so perhaps are Bournemouth and Rotherham but the clubs need to survive.

I just cant accept the "laws of the jungle" and commercial realities of business on this one. Before Sky clubs still went bust of course, but not with the increased regularity that they do now. By bust I dont mean disappearing for good, just re-inventing themselves under new owners.

Football generates enough cash to be self-sustaining. Or it did. Now it just disappears to a few hundred players and a a dozen uber-agents.

Its wank.

Spot on Geordie Dave. With players like Terry and Fat Frank throwing their toys out of their prams because Roman wont offer them £150K a week, these smaller clubs have no chance, some of their players dont even get paid. A complete reality check is needed for greedy tossers like Terry, Lampard, Adebayor, Drogba, Ashley Cole etc...

[lordb]

what about the other clubs in League two - e.g since the current board took over,Vale - who dont keep going into admin & manage to balance the books?

yes the distribution of money is insanly top heavy but in Lutons case especially the League,imho,HAD to do something.

imho its quite right that these clubs are handicapped againts the clubs who act properley.

if it was me I would have kicked them out of the League already.

[Danstoke82]

Didn't Luton get done for dodgy dealings with agents or something?

[Stoke_FaN_DaN]

anyone got a petition running yet?

[twitters]

Bournemouth haven't been told their points deduction yet Knowles, but if they don't get a CVA in place it will be at least 15 points. They are struggling to stay in the league, and their chairman is on holiday!

As for Aldershot, they'll be gutted if they finish in the bottom half!

[wrighter]

my heart goes out to bournemouth for obvious reasons

will be watching them more this year, as ive little chance of getting a ticket for the brit.

true what the poster said about terry. its just not fair..

[knowles]

That's interesting Twitters- chairman on holiday ???

Have Pilkington and Hulbert signed for Luton?

[twitters]

Aug 7, 2008 14:02:21 GMT knowles said:

That's interesting Twitters- chairman on holiday ???

Have Pilkington and Hulbert signed for Luton?

Yep, Jeff Mostyn is sunning himself in Spain!

Pilkington, along with Asa Hall, Ian Roper and one other, have been offered a contract. They also have Keith Slow erm I mean Lowe on trial and could offer a pay as you play deal to Hulbert.

I have no idea why they want Pilkington, Lowe and Roper. The slowest defence in the country that would be!

[knowles]

Is Asa Hall that lad from Birmingham and Shrewsbury?

Ian Roper? He must be about 40 (presuming he is ex-Walsall)

Are you optimistic for Vale's chances this season? At least Marc Richards is staying

[PotterLog]

Aug 7, 2008 11:46:20 GMT Rebelliousjukebox said:

I wonder whether there'll be new teams started - an FC Luton, FC Rotherham, FC Bournemouth

Point of order - Bournemouth are already called AFC Bournemouth so they'll probably go to Bournemouth FC.

[Squeekster]

Bournmouth have now been put on -17 points and have accepted the result!

[knowles]

Utter madness!

[Deleted]

Agree -we mustnt forget our rules and roots

such massive points deductions to teams like them -totally unfair

now then Leicester city and leeds - thats another matter !

[Squeekster]

I agree Ukstoke these rules should only be for clubs who try and manipulate the system for their own gains E.G Leeds,Leic.
To punish teams who are really in trouble and have no choise then maybe some kind of help should be available.

[SneydGreenStokie]

Aug 7, 2008 11:39:36 GMT thepremierbanksy said:

Rotherham, despite being near bankrupt, are also being asked to come up with a £750k bond before the season starts to allow them to continue playing at the Hallam arena.

It's difficult though, i'm sure these clubs could have shown a bit more restraint at some point during their downfalls - maybe they should have just accepted that they could only afford to pay wank players, but as people have said, it sticks in the throat that so much money is kept by so few.

What to do about these administration clubs is tough - you can't exactly have an admin fund for them to dip into or else noone would fear it. Clearly the long term answer is a better distribution of the money in the game across the leagues.

I agree. The way in which money is being distributed is not a fair representation. The crux of it started when ITV digital pledged shedloads of cash and clubs cut their cloth accordingly. Then ITV Digital collapsed and clubs were left with heavy debts due to spending money that wasnt there anymore. However, it is sick when you hear of players demanding 150k per week and yet there are clubs going out business when they owe the equivalent of a few months wages of some of these players. The answer may lie in parent and feeder clubs where some of the smaller clubs like Luton, Rotherham had a parent club nearby. The parent club could loan out young players etc to the clubs when needed and have first dibs on any up and coming talent from the feeder clubs, paying a fee if they wanted to buy them but having a first option on them. The parent club could help the feeder club with wages/sponsorships/running costs. This could maybe be done on a 2/3 year contractual basis, until the feeder club gets back on its feet. Otherwise, we will soon see many other smaller clubs ruined by this atypical distribution of money in Football.

SGS

[surreystokie]

Am I right in thinking that a club only has to avoid defeat in six matches in order not to be relegated, this season?!