Football: Ten point penalty is unfair say FDs
Should Nationwide League football clubs be punished for going into administration by losing 10 points?
Link: Oldham FC gets 11th-hour reprieve
The Nationwide League’s decision to deduct 10 points from football clubs that go into administration is wrong, according to UK financial directors.
This week’s Accountancy Age/Reed Accountancy Big Question found that 55% of those asked felt it was unfair to punish clubs to such an extent for their financial problems. However 28% felt the move would prevent similar controversies to last season when Leicester City went into administration but immediately gained promotion to the Premiership.
‘It’s hardly going to help a club get out of a mess if they are forced to drop points,’ said one financial director.
‘This is a knee-jerk reaction to Leicester City’s situation last season,’ said Aidan Geraghty of Fishpools.
Others however were far less sympathetic. ‘Allowing a club to go into administration gives a club an unfair financial advantage over other clubs who are struggling to work within financial constraints,’ argued Mike Paull at Actel. ‘I would question whether 10 points is sufficient.’