Hatters Slapped, Millers And Cherries Waiting

Last updated : 11 July 2008 By Bournemouth Co-Ordinator
Luton Town, having already been found guilty of financial irregularites by the FA (with a 10-point deduction), learned of their fate from the Football League, having failed to comply with the Leagues insolvency rules. The decision of the League's Management Board, was to impose a 20-point deduction on the League Two side, which will see Luton Town start the new season with an unprecedented 30-point deficit on August 9th.

A statement on the Football League's web site reads:
Luton Town was unable to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with its creditors and as a consequence is unable to satisfy the normal conditions of The League's insolvency policy for exiting administration. The Board decided, however, that it was prepared to exercise its absolute discretion under its 'exceptional circumstances' provisions in order to accommodate the new entity. 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.

Moving on to Rotherham United, the Football League's statement goes on to say:
Preliminary information was received from a new company that wishes to take Rotherham United's place in League 2. The new company has not yet submitted a complete application to The League, although it has indicated that it would wish to play the club's matches at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. To assist the new company in completing its application, the Board decided to remind it that a club is ordinarily required to play its matches in its existing town. Clubs can be permitted to play in other locations on a temporary basis while a new ground is being built or developed. In Rotherham United's case, if the new company were to confirm an application to play elsewhere on a temporary basis then before giving permission the Board would require it to agree to return to Rotherham within a period of four years and also to lodge an irrevocable bond of £750,000. The new company is also reminded that all football creditors must be paid in full. In Rotherham's case, the Board was told that this includes an outstanding debt to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

As for AFC Bournemouth, the League's statement simply says:
The Board decided to defer discussion of issues surrounding the administration of AFC Bournemouth until all the necessary paperwork had been submitted.