Southampton

[Summerof69]

I personally believe the points deduction should be down to how much you've been able to write off in the administration process, as it surely cannot be right the clubs like Leeds can write off debts in excess of £30m, while some of the smaller clubs write of £500k, and still get the same punishment.

[jonny72]

But isn't the points deduction more about stopping clubs from living beyond their means, rather than the amount of money they manage to piss away? A club in the Premier League is always going to go down for more money than a club in League 2.

I find it more worrying that the points deduction doesn't really act as much of a deterrent. Maybe its time for them to come up with some better financial controls and more draconian punishments. Automatic relegation if you go in to administration perhaps?

Though they maybe need some way of distinguishing between clubs that get in to the position due to their own incompetence versus outside factors. A club that spends too much on players and salaries should be punished more than a club that loses a major sponsor for example.

[juddie]

what Jonny said.

Clubs are being punished regardless of whether they're in trouble because they've been financially out of control, or simply because they're genuinely struggling and there needs to be something to distinguish between the two.

[suttonred]

Even fairer would be if Leeds got a 10 point deduction for any team that went into admin, that might get rid of the boorish gits, and give Bates the heart attack he deserves.

[Summerof69]

But isn't the points deduction more about stopping clubs from living beyond their means, rather than the amount of money they manage to piss away? A club in the Premier League is always going to go down for more money than a club in League 2.

I find it more worrying that the points deduction doesn't really act as much of a deterrent. Maybe its time for them to come up with some better financial controls and more draconian punishments. Automatic relegation if you go in to administration perhaps?

Though they maybe need some way of distinguishing between clubs that get in to the position due to their own incompetence versus outside factors. A club that spends too much on players and salaries should be punished more than a club that loses a major sponsor for example.

All clubs should be able to prove to the football authorities that they are a going concern at the start of every season, and the the FA/FL should be able to trawl through club accounts to verify this.

[Summerof69]

Also, if you put a club into admin, you are banned from buying it back again on the cheap like Master Bates !!!

[ahounsell]

The points deduction for administration came in because of Leicester going into admin, writing off a load of debt after relegation from the Premiership and then going straight back up. Prior to that it was never felt neccessary to heap additional punishment on clubs in financial trouble.

The problem, as we have seen, is that it isnt an effective deterrent. A far better deterrent would be an enforced change of ownership as a condition of remaining in the league after exiting admin.

Far be it from me to suggest that Ken Bates chose to put Leeds into admin to benefit himself rather than out of necessity, but the timing does raise the question. Clearly a 10 point penalty was no deterrent, an enforced change of ownership would certainly have ensured they would have entered admin only as a last resort which is as it should be.

This would also have the advantage that people who have proven themselves incapable of running a football league club would not be able to just carry on exactly as before with the inevitable consequence of going into admin for a second or third time.

[Summerof69]

The points deduction for administration came in because of Leicester going into admin, writing off a load of debt after relegation from the Premiership and then going straight back up. Prior to that it was never felt neccessary to heap additional punishment on clubs in financial trouble.

The problem, as we have seen, is that it isnt an effective deterrent. A far better deterrent would be an enforced change of ownership as a condition of remaining in the league after exiting admin.

Far be it from me to suggest that Ken Bates chose to put Leeds into admin to benefit himself rather than out of necessity, but the timing does raise the question. Clearly a 10 point penalty was no deterrent, an enforced change of ownership would certainly have ensured they would have entered admin only as a last resort which is as it should be.

This would also have the advantage that people who have proven themselves incapable of running a football league club would not be able to just carry on exactly as before with the inevitable consequence of going into admin for a second or third time.

Fully agree on that, as there is nothing to stop Rupert Lowe re-buying Southampton back with little or no debt on the cheap.

[alanmayes]

The points deduction for administration came in because of Leicester going into admin, writing off a load of debt after relegation from the Premiership and then going straight back up. Prior to that it was never felt neccessary to heap additional punishment on clubs in financial trouble.

The problem, as we have seen, is that it isnt an effective deterrent. A far better deterrent would be an enforced change of ownership as a condition of remaining in the league after exiting admin.

Far be it from me to suggest that Ken Bates chose to put Leeds into admin to benefit himself rather than out of necessity, but the timing does raise the question. Clearly a 10 point penalty was no deterrent, an enforced change of ownership would certainly have ensured they would have entered admin only as a last resort which is as it should be.

This would also have the advantage that people who have proven themselves incapable of running a football league club would not be able to just carry on exactly as before with the inevitable consequence of going into admin for a second or third time.

Andrew,i agree very much with what you say here.Please don't forget that Ipswich were almost
as culpable as Leicester, in the way that they cleared their debts in one fell swoop, by going into
administration.I think it was a combination of the actions of both,that led to calls for action from the
rest of the Football League.

Fully agree on that, as there is nothing to stop Rupert Lowe re-buying Southampton back with little or no debt on the cheap.

There's been a lot of infighting at Southampton between Lowe and the previous owners and i doubt
if it'll stop for the time being.Lawrie Mcmenemy is so fed up with Lowe and the current regime,that
he won't have anything to do with the club in any capacity whatsoever.

[michael]

One of my favourite players.

1:23 is just sick.

Perhaps one of us can construct a similar video of Cox's best goals for us?

[Rich Pullen]

I was at the Manchester United game with the chip in that reel. The game finished 6-3.

[Spencer_White]

Every team in England should have a Matt Le Tissier.

About 1996 time he was just unbelievable, the goals he was scoring. Got to the point he couldnt even be bothered to celebrate them anymore.

The Blackburn one is my favourite.

[alanmayes]

Update.

There is a Football League meeting next tuesday where the Southampton issue will be discussed.
On 5 Live earlier this evening,they interviewed the managing director of Luton.He reminded listeners
that Luton received an innitial 10 pts penalty for entering administration and further punishments
because of "misdimeanours by the holding company." The consortium bought the club from the
holding company and the Trust.Luton and their lawyers are watching any developments with
interest.

Southampton are already pleading to the rest of the league and through the media,not to let one
of the oldest clubs go bust and that any punishment would be "like a dagger through their heart."

[jonny72]

Also, if you put a club into admin, you are banned from buying it back again on the cheap like Master Bates !!!

Whilst I'm a fully paid up member of the "Bates is a cunt" club, lets not forget that it wasn't Bates that got Leeds Utd in to the financial shit - that was Ridsdale and it happened before Bates was on the scene. Bates buying the club on the cheap isn't really anything unusual and happens every single day in the wider business world.

The way in which Bates acted was out of order though and there is still ongoing court cases over it, as it appears he got up to some well dodgy shit to help push it through in his favour.

[Rich Pullen]

Luton and their lawyers are watching any developments with
interest.

Wouldn't be the first time the little club got screwed over by the FA though would it.

If the similarities between Luton and Southampton are significant and the Saints get away with it or are given a lighter punishment then I would imagine the majority of any football fan that cares about the subject will protest.