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Post by Big John RIP on Apr 1, 2008 9:38:36 GMT
Owls may yet breathe sigh of relief over loan player blunder
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next » 01.04.08
View GalleryBy Ian Appleyard
SHEFFIELD Wednesday look set to escape a points deduction despite breaking Football League rules concerning the use of loan players.
The Owls, who host Coventry City tonight, named six loanees in a squad of 16 for last weekend's 1-1 draw with Stoke City.
League rules state that five is the maximum permitted and Stoke have lodged an official complaint.
Although the League have yet to announce a formal decision, it is understood the result of the game will stand but the Owls are likely to be fined £2,000.
That will come as a massive relief to manager Brian Laws whose side are one point adrift of safety in the Championship relegation zone but will stun opponents Stoke.
Laws would not dwell on the situation yesterday but club officials will be red-faced over a mix-up that should have been avoided. Significantly, only three of the loan players were on the field at the same time – Graham Kavanagh, Frank Songo'o and Ben Sahar – and two, Adam Bolder and Bartosz Slusarski, were unused substitutes. The sixth player was substitute Enoch Showunmi who played the final 11 minutes of the game.
Laws said: "We have spoken to the Football League and don't want to talk openly about the situation at this stage. I am sure our supporters will forgive me for saying nothing. It is important to concentrate on what is ahead of us."
Laws, meanwhile, says there are 'no games bigger' than tonight's clash with Coventry who are also involved in the battle to avoid the drop.
Victory would propel the Owls out of the relegation zone and above Coventry who are currently three points better off with an inferior goal difference.
"This is our game in hand and these are the ones where we have to start picking up points," said Laws. "We can certainly do the damage in terms of the teams above us and it can improve our situation.
"You can't have a bigger game than this especially as they are in our predicament. If we win we go above them and move up four places so there is huge significance. This game is as important to us as it is to five other clubs looking at this one."
With only one defeat in the last nine games, confidence is good in the Owlsdressing room despite the frustration of not yet escaping the relegation zone.
"Although we have been stuck in the bottom three for so long, it's irrelevant," he said. "We have been closing the gap on everyone and we are certainly a lot closer than we were a few weeks ago. We're in a strong position but have to make it count – these games in hand mean nothing to us unless we get the points."
With striker Marcus Tudgay ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery and Showunmi returning to Bristol City after his loan spell, Laws is unhappy that Ben Sahar has been called up by the Israel Football Association to take part in an Under-19 international against Poland next week. A call-up which could see him miss the away game at Sheffield United.
Defender Richard Hinds is the only fresh injury doubt for the Owls after limping off with an ankle injury against Stoke.
thats it then, name every fucking loan player monday Tony!!!
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Post by nathan on Apr 1, 2008 9:41:44 GMT
This lad has probably come up with this on the basis that Leeds received a 2k fine.
I don't think we'll get the points, but if they get away with a 2k fine then it is an utter farce and gives license for sides to cheat.
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Apr 1, 2008 9:42:55 GMT
Same old nonsense.
Won't believe anyone until the Football League announcement.
Still, the fine looks the most likely route.
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Post by Big John RIP on Apr 1, 2008 9:44:07 GMT
defo mate im serious lets play all the players on monday mate.
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Post by foals on Apr 1, 2008 9:45:25 GMT
a fine of just £2000 seems like a ridiculously soft punishment for a clear breaking of league rules.
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Post by nathan on Apr 1, 2008 9:46:52 GMT
....and an advantage gained due to breaking the rules...
Basically, I think the punishment will be far too lenient, but not to the extent that this report suggests.
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Post by potters11 on Apr 1, 2008 9:47:29 GMT
I agree with nath, maybe this writer is using the Leeds case. However, if Wednesday do just get away with a small fine, what is stopping teams like ourselves, breaking the rules and getting a small fine, in comparison to the £40-50 million on offer in the Premiership!
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Post by RAF on Apr 1, 2008 9:47:52 GMT
Did anyone seriously think that Sheff Wed would get anything else but a fine?
And did anyone sane on here actually think we might get extra points?
We need the team to start digging in and getting the results we need to get promoted and not counting on pathetic pie in the sky hopes that we might get extra points because Wednesday fielded one more loanee than allowed.
For the people that are still clinging on to those hopes you really need to get real!
H
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Apr 1, 2008 9:49:10 GMT
I also thought that the severity of the punishment would be greater than Leeds, it's common sense isn't it.
They set an example. This is the THIRD time it has happened. SURELY, the punishments must grow each time this happens as the chances increases of them being aware of the rule.
Leeds happened only a few months ago, and i'm sure a letter would've been sent out to other clubs stating that if they were to do this, the consequences would be far greater....
Obviously not.
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Post by Big John RIP on Apr 1, 2008 9:51:15 GMT
SIOCH agreed mate it's a farce. I have been thinking about this long and hard mate it's a clear breech we should be awarded the points end of. FA grow some balls. BJ
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Post by stokemark on Apr 1, 2008 9:52:38 GMT
RAF Mate
Agree wholeheartly but...
A £2000 fine would be a joke - At least fine them a meaningful amount as that would be tantamount to endorsing their decision to take absolutley nop notice of the rules.
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Post by anarchicalan on Apr 1, 2008 9:53:19 GMT
Whilst I agree with RAF regarding hopes and dreams and PROPER adherence to rules, I would like it to happen!
I don't like the transfer window or the loans system, but we're stuck with it - at least for now. If we're stuck with it and it has rules, let them be applied diligently!
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Post by RAF on Apr 1, 2008 9:58:40 GMT
I'm with you both there.
2000 Quid in the scheme of things is fucking wank.
I would love to see us get the points, I just know we won't get them, so we need to concentrate on the games we have left.
Personally I would like to see the point taken off wednesday and given to us.
That way we don't get all 3 points, but Sheff Wed get nothing.
H
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Post by starkiller on Apr 1, 2008 10:15:17 GMT
It's obvious that the Freemasons at the FA do not stipulate the penalty for breaking rules such as this so that when a matter like this arises they can see how big or small the clubs involved are and assess the league table. Two issues which really should not affect any punishment.
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Post by wedgwood on Apr 1, 2008 10:48:44 GMT
No reason for not have all our loan players on the bench now. Better to have Gally and Zak, than Parkin and Buxton, it's worth £ 2.000
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bryanshawcross
Lads'n'Dads
ZAK celebrates another Stoke win!!
Posts: 74
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Post by bryanshawcross on Apr 1, 2008 11:39:17 GMT
This will run a while yet. While we wont get anything from it i think those teams around them may well kick off. The Fl will need to make a stand here or everyone will be doing it. It needs a fine AND a point deduction to make it clear this cant be allowed to happen. Having said that its a shame foe SW and i want them to stay up.
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Post by lordb on Apr 1, 2008 12:17:24 GMT
should be a much bigger fine,that much is obvious.
I genuinly think it should be a 3.0 default win to Stoke but,despite other precedents,the pathetic fine dished out to Leeds last year will sway teh case.
possiblt the League will fine Weds & deduct a point (supended fot two years)
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Post by Do it inthe Prem for 3rdminute on Apr 1, 2008 13:00:31 GMT
If they don't take points as well as a fine then the floodgates will be open. Imagine being able to include all loan players in your squad knowing that all you are going to get is a couple of grand fine.
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Post by Irish Stokie on Apr 1, 2008 13:10:44 GMT
Its very unlikely that they will only get a 2k fine due to the facts that it has happened TWICE before and that when leeds where fined 2k they lost the match and also one of the loan players scored the equalising goal. But as RAF and SIOCH said they wont get a points deduction and we certainly wont get any extra points but they will get a fine, i would imagine in and around 10-15k max, Which basically looks like they bought a point for 10k!!!!
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Apr 1, 2008 13:44:22 GMT
I'm with you both there. 2000 Quid in the scheme of things is fucking wank. I would love to see us get the points, I just know we won't get them, so we need to concentrate on the games we have left. Personally I would like to see the point taken off wednesday and given to us. That way we don't get all 3 points, but Sheff Wed get nothing. H A point taken off Wednesday is appropriate action by the FA imo. As much as I'd love Stoke to benefit there is more chance of me pissing petrol than us being awarded 3 pts. I had a chat with my Brizzle buddy over here when the news was breaking an he was cacking himself. In his words, we should be awarded a 3-0 win else the rules are bollox. |
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