Post by Macmoish on Nov 2, 2010 6:38:48 GMT
Telegraph
Dundee docked 25 points by Scottish FA for going into administration
Dundee have been deducted 25 Irn-Bru First Division points for going into administration.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir announced their punishment today following a meeting of the organisation's board.
Dundee have also been hit with a player registration embargo and the SFL will reconsider their situation if they are not out of administration by March 31.
The SFL also plan an early-warning system with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to alert them to any more clubs facing financial difficulties.
Dundee went into administration on October 14 after being unable to pay a tax bill which stood at £420,000.
Longmuir said: "The SFL regrets the situation Dundee Football Club find themselves in for the second time in seven years. We are fully aware of the impact this situation has had on all concerned, especially players, staff and fans of the club.
"The SFL has a duty to protect the integrity and the ongoing smooth running of the league.
"Following a thorough process, as endorsed by the administrator, the board has decided that Dundee Football Club Limited is guilty of conduct contrary to the league rules, the interests of the league and its member clubs.
"The following sanctions will be imposed.
"Dundee Football Club will be deducted 25 league championship points with immediate effect, a player registration embargo be imposed until the club comes out of administration, and if the club is still in administration by March 31, the board will reconsider the matter and will deal with the club as it sees fit.
"It should be noted that Dundee Football Club has the right of appeal against these sanctions."
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/scotland/8102387/Dundee-docked-25-points-by-Scottish-FA-for-going-into-administration.html
TELEGRAPH
Dundee brand 25-point deduction for going into administration 'outrageous'
The Scottish Football League has handed a 25-point penalty to Dundee as punishment for sliding into administration for the second time in seven years last month. It effectively relegates the club to the second division.
By Ewing Grahame
Published: 9:35PM GMT 01 Nov 2010
The verdict from the SFL board provoked outrage on Tayside, with Dundee’s administrator, Bryan Jackson, and the chief executive, Harry McLean, claiming that the sanctions threaten the very existence of the club.
Dundee will appeal against the decision. “This is an outrageous punishment for the club,” said Jackson. “With almost guaranteed demotion from the first division it will be much more difficult to attract investment or retain players.
“This seems a punitive and punishing blow which threatens the future existence of the club. Everyone involved at DFC is working hard to ensure that the club survives this administration but this penalty makes that situation much more difficult.”
McLean was equally bullish. “They’ve put this club at risk,” he moaned. “The SFL board clearly have no interest in helping this club survive.”
Dundee’s appeal would require a special meeting of the SFL. The club can then choose to take their case to the Scottish Football Association, with each appeal costing the cash-strapped plaintiffs a minimum of £500.
The deduction – which would move them from fourth place to bottom, 20 points adrift with 25 fixtures remaining – will not take effect until after the appeals process has been concluded.
Dundee, with a debt of around £2 million, chose not to pay their tax bills and were still signing players (including one from Finland, who relocated his family in Edinburgh) a mere five weeks before they went bust.
It seems disingenuous, at best, for a club with no tangible assets to run up debts they cannot service, lure staff from safe jobs elsewhere and then summarily sack them and not expect to suffer the consequences of that irresponsibility.
Gretna, during the summer of 2008, were demoted two divisions for the same offence and consequently folded.
Livingston were similarly penalised 12 months later so, in that respect, the fact Dundee’s problems came to light once the campaign was under way – making immediate demotion a logistical nightmare for the SFL’s administrators – means that they escaped relatively lightly. More pain is on the horizon, however. The SFL has also placed a transfer embargo and Dundee have been given a deadline of March 31 next year to exit administration. Failure to comply with that could lead to more sanctions being taken.
“I want to send out a message to our members and I think we’ve done that, not so much on the sanction but on the way we go forward as an organisation,” said the SFL’s chief executive, David Longmuir, who will in future be advised by the tax authorities if member clubs are late with payments.
“The HMRC element has been a major contributing factor in the state [Dundee] find themselves in, re-choosing not to pay their income tax bill.
“HMRC are very, very focused on football clubs at the moment and I think the clubs are beginning to realise it’s an area they need to be very careful with but we will try to help HMRC as much as our clubs.
“I would also hope that their supporters realise how [Dundee] got into this situation. The onus is on the management and directors of clubs, who have a duty of care to ensure that practices within the boardroom are carried out correctly.
“This is a wake-up call and I would like clubs to take stock.”
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8103369/Dundee-brand-25-point-deduction-for-going-into-administration-outrageous.html
Dundee docked 25 points by Scottish FA for going into administration
Dundee have been deducted 25 Irn-Bru First Division points for going into administration.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir announced their punishment today following a meeting of the organisation's board.
Dundee have also been hit with a player registration embargo and the SFL will reconsider their situation if they are not out of administration by March 31.
The SFL also plan an early-warning system with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to alert them to any more clubs facing financial difficulties.
Dundee went into administration on October 14 after being unable to pay a tax bill which stood at £420,000.
Longmuir said: "The SFL regrets the situation Dundee Football Club find themselves in for the second time in seven years. We are fully aware of the impact this situation has had on all concerned, especially players, staff and fans of the club.
"The SFL has a duty to protect the integrity and the ongoing smooth running of the league.
"Following a thorough process, as endorsed by the administrator, the board has decided that Dundee Football Club Limited is guilty of conduct contrary to the league rules, the interests of the league and its member clubs.
"The following sanctions will be imposed.
"Dundee Football Club will be deducted 25 league championship points with immediate effect, a player registration embargo be imposed until the club comes out of administration, and if the club is still in administration by March 31, the board will reconsider the matter and will deal with the club as it sees fit.
"It should be noted that Dundee Football Club has the right of appeal against these sanctions."
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/scotland/8102387/Dundee-docked-25-points-by-Scottish-FA-for-going-into-administration.html
TELEGRAPH
Dundee brand 25-point deduction for going into administration 'outrageous'
The Scottish Football League has handed a 25-point penalty to Dundee as punishment for sliding into administration for the second time in seven years last month. It effectively relegates the club to the second division.
By Ewing Grahame
Published: 9:35PM GMT 01 Nov 2010
The verdict from the SFL board provoked outrage on Tayside, with Dundee’s administrator, Bryan Jackson, and the chief executive, Harry McLean, claiming that the sanctions threaten the very existence of the club.
Dundee will appeal against the decision. “This is an outrageous punishment for the club,” said Jackson. “With almost guaranteed demotion from the first division it will be much more difficult to attract investment or retain players.
“This seems a punitive and punishing blow which threatens the future existence of the club. Everyone involved at DFC is working hard to ensure that the club survives this administration but this penalty makes that situation much more difficult.”
McLean was equally bullish. “They’ve put this club at risk,” he moaned. “The SFL board clearly have no interest in helping this club survive.”
Dundee’s appeal would require a special meeting of the SFL. The club can then choose to take their case to the Scottish Football Association, with each appeal costing the cash-strapped plaintiffs a minimum of £500.
The deduction – which would move them from fourth place to bottom, 20 points adrift with 25 fixtures remaining – will not take effect until after the appeals process has been concluded.
Dundee, with a debt of around £2 million, chose not to pay their tax bills and were still signing players (including one from Finland, who relocated his family in Edinburgh) a mere five weeks before they went bust.
It seems disingenuous, at best, for a club with no tangible assets to run up debts they cannot service, lure staff from safe jobs elsewhere and then summarily sack them and not expect to suffer the consequences of that irresponsibility.
Gretna, during the summer of 2008, were demoted two divisions for the same offence and consequently folded.
Livingston were similarly penalised 12 months later so, in that respect, the fact Dundee’s problems came to light once the campaign was under way – making immediate demotion a logistical nightmare for the SFL’s administrators – means that they escaped relatively lightly. More pain is on the horizon, however. The SFL has also placed a transfer embargo and Dundee have been given a deadline of March 31 next year to exit administration. Failure to comply with that could lead to more sanctions being taken.
“I want to send out a message to our members and I think we’ve done that, not so much on the sanction but on the way we go forward as an organisation,” said the SFL’s chief executive, David Longmuir, who will in future be advised by the tax authorities if member clubs are late with payments.
“The HMRC element has been a major contributing factor in the state [Dundee] find themselves in, re-choosing not to pay their income tax bill.
“HMRC are very, very focused on football clubs at the moment and I think the clubs are beginning to realise it’s an area they need to be very careful with but we will try to help HMRC as much as our clubs.
“I would also hope that their supporters realise how [Dundee] got into this situation. The onus is on the management and directors of clubs, who have a duty of care to ensure that practices within the boardroom are carried out correctly.
“This is a wake-up call and I would like clubs to take stock.”
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8103369/Dundee-brand-25-point-deduction-for-going-into-administration-outrageous.html
