[Chase]

How depressed must all Luton Town fans be now. They have suffered relegation two seasons in a row, and now find themselves in the bottom league, and they will probably start the season with a 25 point penalty before they even kick a ball.

They already have a 10 point penalty (and a £50,000 fine, which they can ill afford) after being found guilty of misconduct, even though all the people involved are no longer at the club.

They are hoping to escape from Administration next week, but that will also probably come with yet another 15 point penalty, if Leeds are used as an example.

The man who is lined up to be the next chairman, Nick Owen, has been talking to the BBC about the penalty:

"We made a plea for a suspended sentence to show how seriously the FA viewed the charges, but to avoid making innocent people suffer.

"Compare this with West Ham. They breached the rule book and appeared to create an advantage on the field of play.

"Although they received a fine, they were not docked points.

"Why hit little old Luton with a 10-point deduction when the regulation they have transgressed is a mere technicality, with no advantage to any individual or the club?

W"e feel we have become a soft target. Kicked when we are down.

"We went into administration last November after the then owner turned down an offer from my colleagues to take a major stake in the company, which would have saved the day.

"He dismissed our offer. We lost most of our team and had 10 points docked.

"As a result, we suffered relegation for the second successive season.

"Now we are in the bottom league, hammered with this FA penalty and awaiting a further sanction next week when we, hopefully, emerge from administration.

"If Leeds are a precedent, then we will be handed a 15-point deduction. A total of 35 points docked in seven months.

"Isn't that a trifle harsh? We think so.

"We are considering an appeal to the FA over the severity of the penalty, but this will cost a lot of money."

But he did end on a confident note:"Whatever the outcome of these tortuous issues, we will stand firm and turn things round.

I am confident our wonderful fans will stand right behind us too. And, I can assure you, we are deeply grateful for that. "

Things can hardly get any worse for poor Luton.