Luton in BIG Trouble

Not good Donny boy...

The FA has today issued over 50 charges in connection with alleged breaches of rules at Luton Town Football Club during the period from July 2004 to February 2007.

The charges are the result of an extensive FA investigation conducted since March this year into the circumstances surrounding a number of player transfers and contract renegotiations.

Summary of charges

Luton Town FC, 17 charges relating to the following allegations:

· Payments to agents for nine specific player negotiations made through the club’s holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited, rather than through the club as required by FA Rules

· Provision of misleading information to The FA

· Not holding representation contracts with the relevant agents for the above negotiations

· Dealing with unlicensed agents (both through Jayten and directly)

Bill Tomlins, 15 charges:

· As Chairman and Director at the time, it is alleged that he was directly involved in 19 of the rule breaches listed above (exceptions are negotiations with two unlicensed agents not conducted through Jayten Stadium Limited)

Derek Peter, nine charges:

· As Finance Director at the time, it is alleged that he approved payments made by Jayten Stadium Limited in relation to the nine negotiations

John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot:

· Currently Directors of the club, they are charged with failing to report the alleged rule breaches when they became aware of them

Licensed players’ agents Sky Andrew, Mike Berry, Mark Curtis, Stephen Denos, David Manasseh and Andrew Mills, each charged with allegedly:

· Failing to ensure that payments to them were made and disclosed through the proper channels, and

· Failing to enter into representation contracts with the club for specific services rendered in relation to the above negotiations

The background

It is alleged that in a number of player transfers, loan deals and contract renegotiations between 2004 and 2007, payments were made to the six agents for their services directly from Luton Town’s holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited.

These payments, totalling around £160,000, were not disclosed to The FA on the required disclosure forms, representing a breach of FA Rules.

It is alleged that this payment mechanism was initiated by Bill Tomlins as Chairman of the club, with each individual payment authorised by Derek Peter as Finance Director. It is alleged that John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot subsequently became aware of this system but did not alert The FA.

There are also a number of alleged breaches of the agents’ regulations in force at the time.

The six licensed players’ agents have all been charged with knowingly accepting payment from Jayten Stadium Limited specifically for their services to the club in securing the services of players. In addition, The FA’s investigation revealed that none of the agents acting for the club in each of the deals had a representation contract with Luton Town.

It is also alleged that in two transactions to secure the services of players, Luton Town dealt directly with two unlicensed agents, both of whom were paid via Jayten Stadium. In addition, the Club has been charged with negotiating with two unlicensed agents in two further player transactions.

Finally, it is alleged that services for the benefit of a Luton Town player, totalling approximately £7,000 in value, were paid for directly by Jayten Stadium Limited but were not disclosed on the player’s contract, representing a breach of FA Rules.

The parties have until 30 November to respond to the charges.

 

Vindication for Mike Newell?

 

So what's the upshot of this? How will they be penalized? Will the FA dock them points?

 

wow...sad to see the demise of your beloved Hatters Don

 

Nick, to be honest, if I was Town I would be crying "LOOK AT WEST HAM" and demand nothing more than a fine, reduced on appeal and a suspended points deduction. In my opinion though, they will get the book thrown at them.

Now there is a Fulham connection here as well that some of you may not of noticed, but the aforementioned John Mitchell was the same John Mitchell who had some legendary runs during the 1975 FA Cup run. Always be a Fulham legend but a dodgy businessman.

 

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking: "How is this really all that different from West Ham?"

 

Luton just now are in Administration and deducted 10 points.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 108271.stm

I guess when you are not a media darling, ahem...West Ham, you don't get protected.

 

The current League One Table. Luton will still avoid relegation if they gain as many ponts as they have all season.

P GD PTS
1 Carlisle 15 12 28
2 Leyton Orient 16 -1 28

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3 Nottm Forest 15 16 27
4 Leeds 16 19 26
5 Southend 16 3 26
6 Swansea 15 9 25

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7 Brighton 16 5 25
8 Tranmere 16 5 24
9 Doncaster 16 4 23
10 Crewe 16 -2 23
11 Huddersfield 16 -7 23
12 Yeovil 16 -3 22
13 Hartlepool 15 2 21
14 Walsall 16 0 21
15 Swindon 15 6 20
16 Northampton 16 -2 19
17 Bristol Rovers 16 -4 19
18 Oldham 15 -3 16
19 Gillingham 16 -15 16
20 Bournemouth 16 -10 13

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21 Millwall 16 -11 13
22 Port Vale 16 -9 12
23 Cheltenham 16 -12 12
24 Luton 16 -2 9

 

The tomfoolery that goes on at a lot of these clubs is astonishing. Luton deserve their just rewards for being foolish with their business.

Hopefully nothing like this happens at Fulham.