Chairmen vote over sanctions

At the Annunal General Meeting in the Algarve, the Football League Chairmen have voted in favour of amending the 'Sporting Sanctions' regulations, reports the Official Site.

This will close the existing loophole that enables a club going into administration, if they are effectively relegated, to avoid any hardship over the minus ten points imposed by the League.

The new amendment will say that there will be a cut off date - this being the fourth Thursday in March. Any club going into administration after this date will have the ten points deduction withheld until it is known if the Sporting Sanction will have any effect.

If the club is then relegated the Sporting Sanction will be withheld until the following season, meaning the club will begin the next season on minus ten.

However, if the club is not relegated the points will be deducted in the current season - though, this could then relegate the club.

Lord Mawhinney, the Chairman of the Football League, said he was delighted the clubs have backed their Board so strongly on this issue and 'the changes we have made today enable the League's Sporting Sanctions regulations to remain true to their original aim.

'Clubs should suffer a sporting penalty as a consequence of going into administration, as this will act as a spur to better financial management.'

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