Wright hits out over points deductions
By Nathan Jackson
July 30 2008
Steff Wright has criticised points deductions imposed on clubs. The Imps opener against Rotherham United is still in doubt because of financial difficulties at the Millers. City still don't know for definite what is happening and whether the game will still go ahead, a bit of a worrying thought given that the season kicks off in ten days.
It's now been six years since the collaspe of ITV Digital and it still seems almost strange that no League club has gone out of business in that time. However, that could be about to change as Rotherham United are probably the closest any League team has been to extinction since York City were literally five minutes away in 2002/3.
The Millers are set to suffer their third points deduction in as many seasons. Not many League Two sides have had points taken off them since the sanction against teams going into administration came into play. Cambridge United, Boston United, Rotherham United and one or two others have all had points taken off them since the rule came in and Steff Wright believes that the sanction spoils the competitive nature of the division.
""I think for clubs to start the season where it's unlikely they'll do anything other than be relegated takes away the integrity of the competition," Wright told Radio Lincolnshire. However, Wright didn't rule out punishing teams for spending more than they can.
He continued "However clubs need to be punished for financial misdemeanours because if they continue to overspend and gain an unfair advantage from it, that in itself creates an imbalance."
Steff Wright is one of the men responsible for turning around Lincoln City's finances off of the pitch. Along with Rob Bradley, Keith Roe and several others, he helped save the club back in 2002 by making personal sacrifices and I personally don't think he gets enough credit for the job he has done since Rob Bradley left in 2005.
Teams like Rotherham should simply be removed from the Football League and suffer the consequences.
Its slightly hypocritical of us Imps to go along with this, but it is the only solution. And its the only one that is fair to fans of every other league club.
My only wish?
These same rules are applied to the clubs in the top ranks that have acrued multi-million pound debts in pursuit of Premiership and European glory. Then and only then will it be a totally fair solution.
Quote:plumbob
Points deduction or relegation is the only fair sanction. Yes, its harsh on the fans, but so is charging £20 a head to watch some of the dross dished up!
Its slightly hypocritical of us Imps to go along with this, but it is the only solution. And its the only one that is fair to fans of every other league club.
My only wish?
These same rules are applied to the clubs in the top ranks that have acrued multi-million pound debts in pursuit of Premiership and European glory. Then and only then will it be a totally fair solution.
I do not think it is slightly hypocritical of us to go along with this. Yes we were fortunate that these rules were not in place when we went into administration, but as you say it is the only soultion. If that is the case it hardly makes us hypocritical.
Quote:PoshImp
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Teams like Rotherham should simply be removed from the Football League and suffer the consequences.
dont 4get we were in somewhat the same financial situation a few years ago . I assume you wouldnt have wanted that to happen to us lol
There is enough money in football in the country to have a "slush fund" to help clubs like this . and before people say " its the clubs fault" , like i said we were very nearly out of business ourselves . "There but for the grace of god" and all that
Quote:CheshireImpQuote:PoshImp
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Teams like Rotherham should simply be removed from the Football League and suffer the consequences.
dont 4get we were in somewhat the same financial situation a few years ago . I assume you wouldnt have wanted that to happen to us lol
Ah, but, Rotherham have done this two or three times now, and they have lost their spiritual home. That is no comparison whatsoever with LCFC. My point is that habitual offenders should receive the ultimate sanction; demotion, by as many leagues as it takes!
But as Steff Wright correctly states they are gaining an advantage....Take Rotherham how have they signed 6 new players surely they should have a transfer embargo
Quote:plumbob
These same rules are applied to the clubs in the top ranks that have acrued multi-million pound debts in pursuit of Premiership and European glory. Then and only then will it be a totally fair solution.
The difference with them is that their revenue streams are large enough to pay their creditors the agreed fee every month. Besides Leeds finally got their punisment for over spending, did'nt they? Slowly dropping down the leagues then hit with a 15 point deduction. All their debt was from chasing the dream of european and league titles.
The rotherams of this world borrow money and don't pay it back.
you all voted for the 15 point sanction funny when it was Leeds wasn't it well
live with it not a jot of sympathy for any of you
OLD SCHOOL; LEEDS UNITED IS FOR LIFE NOT JUST THE GOOD TIMES
Had we lost 15 points, we would only have lost out in the play-offs one less time!!