Luton Town have a mountain to climb

[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.

[Beefy]

I didn't hear many Luton fans sympathising with Leeds last season, we were fighting for every club that goes into administration. Maybe if a few had backed us, the points deduction wouldn't have happened. The biggest losers are the fans when this happens, Luton fans will be watching their side struggle in the lower end of the league even if they have a brilliant season.

[Rufc89]

Originally Posted by Beefy

I didn't hear many Luton fans sympathising with Leeds last season, we were fighting for every club that goes into administration. Maybe if a few had backed us, the points deduction wouldn't have happened. The biggest losers are the fans when this happens, Luton fans will be watching their side struggle in the lower end of the league even if they have a brilliant season.

one of the reasons they didnt back you was becuase you were around 30m in debt and went into admin 3 times in a month.

but its going to be hard for them, the only reason leeds got out of it was they were very lucky and can attracted good players even though they were on -15. they still spent money, got players on 8k a week,

[jayp]

went into admin 3 times in a month.



WHAT?????

[Rufc89]

Originally Posted by jayp

went into admin 3 times in a month.



WHAT?????

yeh, thats one of the reasons why you got -15 and the league brought this rule out

[jayp]

Originally Posted by Rufc89

yeh, thats one of the reasons why you got -15 and the league brought this rule out

what total rubbish

[Beefy]

How did we go into admin 3 times in a month? We went into admin the season before last and got a 10 point deduction, the 15 point deduction wasn't to do with us going into admin, it was down to not having a CVA

[briggcov]

Still it is tragic for the true Luton fan who's handed his money over week after week to be punished for the dealings of a board that is no longer at the club. I could understand it if Luton had gotten into the premiership or something the back of these dealings, but in actual fact the club was fighting relegation....If the FA wants to throw Luton out of the league then they should stand up and say so...As for Leeds their problem was Ken Bates trying buy the club for nothing and wipe of all debts without paying anyone that was the Leeds problem, in both cases it is the true fans that lose out.......

[Sweepy Bee]

Originally Posted by 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.

They're not known as "poor Luton" in these parts. You wait until their friendly fanbase visit Gigg Lane.

That said, to have a team possibly needing to amass 70 points to stay in the league is ridiculous. Maybe all these occurances will make a better club out of our Bedfordshire buddies.

[btrev1]

it is always the fans i feel sorry for