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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 14:21:29 GMT
Southend United boss Phil Brown confirms interest in Bristol Rovers midfielder John-Joe O'TooleBy The Bristol Post | Posted: May 28, 2014 SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has confirmed and interest in signing Bristol Rovers midfielder John-Joe O’Toole. O'Toole rejected the opportunity to go to Rooots Hall after leaving Colchester United last summer when opting to return to the Memorial Stadium on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell. The 25-year-old's future at Rovers, however, is in the balance after the club suffered relegation to the Conference and could be available as part of a cost-cutting exercise currently underway at the Memorial Stadium in the aftermath. “I was interested in signing John-Joe before the start of last season and would be again now too if it was a possibility,” said Brown. “It was disappointing when we missed out on him and he went to Bristol Rovers but that’s what he felt was best for him at the time. “Unfortunately, they went down but he still had a good season himself scoring 15 or 16 goals in a struggling side so we will certainly be looking in to his availability. “We need to score more goals next season and that’s something we’re looking in to improving. John-Joe is certainly a goalscoring threat and that’s what we’re interested in.” Read more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Southend-United-boss-Phil-Brown-confirms-Bristol/story-21153128-detail/story.html
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 13:27:38 GMT
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 11:05:19 GMT
This short letter in today's Post provides a fitting postscript to the above questions: Reader's letter: Bristol Rovers board have let us all downBy The Bristol Post | Posted: May 28, 2014 AS a lifelong Gashead, home and away for donkey's years, I must admit I feel let down, hurt and cheated by the Rovers board. Over the years millions of pounds worth of talent has been sold, but peanuts spent on buying very poor players. The board must have seen what we were saw – the worst Rovers side ever. Yet no one seemed to care. Needless to say a lot of good Rovers fans have stopped watching them. I hope the board can sleep at night, because I can't. I just hope we can get some pride and passion back and let's get the old Rovers back. All we want is our famous club having a go, and the board to represent the supporters because we love our club. Ted Kingswood Loyal Gas Read more at www.bristolpost.co.uk/Reader-s-letter-Bristol-Rovers-board-let/story-21150401-detail/story.html
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 10:50:43 GMT
Does the Board agree that both corporately and individually they should be held accountable for the club's demise? Why did the Board reject the "Agenda for Change" in 2006? What have been the repercussions and ramifications of this decision? Why does the Board seem so afraid to embrace change and restructuring?
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 10:42:23 GMT
After a good night's sleep and a little time to reflect I do not feel at all comfortable about the club's action. I would much prefer for us to prepare for life in the Conference with our "eyes clearly on the ball".
Then there is the thought if the positions had been reversed would Wycombe have taken action against us? Perhaps a Wycombe fan would like to answer that one.
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 9:32:31 GMT
We have now made it to the NFL UK Forum!Below are comments from a Wycombe fan: As a Wycombe fan I will give you the details on this spurious claim. Wycombe were owned by a property developer Steve Hayes. He loaned the club a certain amount of money as the owner which he claimed at the time was an investment/gift. After he pulled out of the club when his planned property deal fell through, it was taken over by the supporters. In August of this year, former Wycombe player Matt Phillips moved from Blackpool to QPR in a deal where Wycombe were supposed to receive a percentage of that deal. Unbeknownst to the board, the deal was not actually to Wycombe Wanderers football club but to Steve Hayes which comes under third party ownership rules. Don Woodward (Wycombe's current chairman) reported the club for this violation (from the former owner) and Wycombe received a 10,000 fine. This Bristol Rovers claim is mixing this with the deals for Charles Dunne and Stuart Beavon in which Wycombe have an automatic deal with Hayes that any money gained from the sell-on clause from these players will go to paying off the outstanding loan Wycombe Wanderers has with this "word removed by censor". In this case, the money goes to Wycombe but will then go straight to Hayes which is legal as Wycombe are free to do what they like with their money and making the club debt free is a good thing. The deal before, the money never went through Wycombe and was therefore illegal. What Bristol Rovers are claiming is that a) the Matty Phillips issue should have come with a points penalty (however they are well outside the point of appeal as the issue was from last year) and b) the deal to repay Hayes is akin to third party ownership despite both deals being ratified with the FA before completion. Basically, Bristol Rovers owners are trying to take the emphasis of their own terrible running of the club by trying it on. forum.nfluk.com/showthread.php?p=2053658More Wycombe comments from the Independent Forum:We think this is what it is all about - i.e. the "3rd Party Investment" relates to payments direct to our former owner/chairman, and it may be that there is a legal argument in your claim somewhere, but it is hard to see how we "gained competitive advantage" through it. The pay back arrangement to the previous owner was something openly aired and discussed on the forum. Just to correct a couple of earlier posts. There was a sell-on clause for Matt Phillips, which would have benefitted the club (or Steve Hayes anyway) by around £1.25 M, but Blackpool bought this out from us for a reported £200,000 a few days before they sold him, on the basis that they weren't planning to sell him! (We needed the money) - and this is when the issues that led to the fine came about. (It should perhaps be mentioned that the Agent lost his cut of £1.25 M as a result of this so I guess we're not top of his favourite clubs as a result) We may be wrong and there may be more shady dealings within our club (although given the inexperience and naivety of the trust board this is more likely down to incompetence rather than deceitfulness) but given that the source of the complaint seems to be what was said at the FA hearing, I think (hope) that isn't the case. Obviously I will not wish you luck with this complaint, but I will for next season. I usually enjoy my trips down there and I (along with a lot of us) do still feel bad about the abandoned game. Anyway, I hope this makes sense
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 9:21:55 GMT
Finnish Gas would like to add predictions and ratings etc but noone to run it now. See what comes up over the summer. Sorry Ras it is not really my area.
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 9:10:43 GMT
Bristol Rovers launch legal challenge to keep club in Football LeagueBy The Bristol Post | Posted: May 28, 2014 Bristol Rovers have launched a dramatic legal challenge in an attempt to reclaim their place in the football league. The Pirates, who were relegated from Sky Bet League Two on the final day of the season, claim rivals Wycombe Wanderers broke transfer rules which should have seen them drop into the Conference instead. The teams were separated only by goal difference following the final round of fixtures on May 3, with Rovers losing 1-0 to Mansfield and Wycombe beating Torquay 3-0 to retain their football league status. But Rovers allege Wycombe should have had points deducted or faced transfer sanctions for breaching Football Association rules on transfer dealings and third party ownership of players. The accusations centre on the transfer of Wycombe player Matt Phillips to Blackpool four years ago. But Rovers believe the club received an unfair advantage this season, when the player was sold by Blackpool to QPR in August for a fee in the region of £5 million. The contentious part of the deal hinges on a portion of the 25 per cent sell-on fee which was due to be paid to Phillips' agent Phil Smith. A week ago Wycombe, who are now under new ownership, were found guilty of arranging payment to Mr Smith through a percentage of a future sell-on fee. The club was fined £10,000 for a breach of FA rules while Mr Smith was banned for two years. But the Pirates have suggested Phillips may not have been the only player at the club with a contract containing outlawed third party ownership arrangements. Last night, Rovers released a statement and published a letter to the Football League on its website. The club has demanded Wycombe respond to the allegations by 5pm today, or else they will consider legal action. The statement said: "It has come to the attention of Bristol Rovers FC that Wycombe Wanderers FC appear to have breached FA rules on Third Party Ownership. "Its current chairman, in giving evidence at a recent FA Disciplinary Hearing, appears to have admitted a serious breach in respect of the player, Matt Phillips (and possibly other players). "The result of this led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers. "Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated. "Bristol Rovers were relegated merely on goal difference, and as the breach, if proven, would have almost certainly led to a points deduction, Bristol Rovers have instructed specialist sports lawyers together with Nick De Marco, a leading sports barrister, to draft and send a complaint to both The Football League and The Football Association." In a letter of complaint to the Football League, the club has claimed: ● Mr Smith has informed them that at the hearing in April into the breaches involving Phillips, allegations were made about Wycombe's involvement in "other serious breaches of the prohibition on Third Party Investment in English football". ● Don Woodward, current Wycombe chairman, is understood to have told the hearing that 100 per cent of the sell-on fee from the sale of Phillips would go to the club's former chairman Steve Hayes to pay a debt owed to him by the club. ● Wycombe may have seriously breached the rules and regulations of the FA and Football League ● When the alleged breaches were disclosed at the hearing in April, the FA ought to have investigated the alleged breaches and informed the Football League of them ● The FA and Football League may be liable for any losses if it is found that action ought to have already been taken ADVERTISEMENT The letter calls on Wycombe to disclose to the FA and Football League any written agreements in which third parties have interests in sell on fees of their current or former players The letter said: "It is obvious, given the nature and seriousness of the conduct Wycombe itself has admitted, that, had disciplinary action been taken promptly, one consequence would have been a points deduction against Wycombe... Had a points deduction been applied, or if it is applied now, Bristol Rovers would not be relegated. "Further, other sanctions that ought to have been applied, for example a transfer embargo or financial penalties, would have made it more difficult for Wycombe to survive relegation, in place of Bristol Rovers." The move has come out of the blue to the club's supporters, who were expecting the Gas to be playing non-league football next season. Last night, many of them took to the Post website to respond to the unexpected developments. One said: "we might be staying up, what a result" while another posted: "All gasheads give brfc your full backing. A points deduction will be justice!" Other supporters were less convinced, with one fan writing: "Utter,Utter,Utter, Joke. We were relegated due to being poor not because of wycombe so say cheating." When the Post contacted the Rovers' chairman Nick Higgs, he said he did not want to comment further. In a statement issued to counter Rovers' claims, Wycombe Wanderers said: "We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer. "There will be no further comment from the club at this stage." Read more at www.bristolpost.co.uk/ROVERS-RETURN/story-21150496-detail/story.html
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 28, 2014 8:58:23 GMT
Football - Wycombe confident over complaintWycombe are confident they will not face a points deduction for allegedly breaching the Football Association's rules on third-party ownership. Bristol Rovers are set to tell the Football League and Football Association that Wycombe should be deducted points and relegated to the Conference in their place as they believe they broke the third-party ownership rules during the sale of Matt Phillips in 2010 and 'possibly other players'. The winger's transfer to Blackpool has already seen Wycombe fined B£10,000 after they admitted breaching the FA's regulations in relation to player agent activity. They decided not to appeal their fine at a disciplinary hearing and were keen to stress they are now under new ownership. But having read the fresh claims about different FA rules being broken during the evidence in that hearing the Blues expressed their confidence that Rovers' claims will not go any further. "We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer," it read. In a dramatic final day of the League Two campaign last month Rovers fell out of the Football League for the first time in their history on goal difference, with the Chairboys surviving by the same method. And on Tuesday afternoon Rovers stunned supporters of both clubs by revealing their plans to send a formal complaint. "It has come to the attention of Bristol Rovers FC that Wycombe Wanderers FC appear to have breached FA rules on Third Party Ownership," their statement read. "It's current chairman, in giving evidence at a recent FA Disciplinary Hearing, appears to have admitted a serious breach in respect of the player, Matt Phillips (and possibly other players). "The result of this led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers. "Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated. "Bristol Rovers were relegated merely on goal difference, and as the breach, if proven, would have almost certainly led to a points deduction, Bristol Rovers have instructed specialist sports lawyers together with Nick De Marco, a leading sports barrister, to draft and send a complaint to both The Football League and The Football Association." uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-wycombe-confident-complaint-220858979--sow.htmlwww.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-05-28/wycombe-not-worried-about-bristol-rovers-claim/
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 21:32:26 GMT
BREAKING: Bristol Rovers to mount legal challenge on relegationBy TristanCork | Posted: May 27, 2014 Bristol Rovers are to mount an official complaint to football authorities that they should not be relegated out of the league - because their rivals Wycombe Wanderers 'gained an unfair advantage'. The Pirates will call for Wycombe to have a points deduction rather than a £10,000 fine handed to them last week over contract irregularities that breached the game's rules over Third Party Ownership. In a statement released on Rovers' website, the club said it has engaged specialist sports lawyers to draft the challenge which, if successful, would see Wycombe sent to the non-league Football Conference instead of Rovers. Bristol Rovers were relegated on goal difference below Wycombe after a last-day home defeat, so any points deduction would send Wycombe down instead of the Gas. The row centres on a £10,000 fine handed out to Wycombe last week over a breach of league rules concerning a transfer that took place four years ago. Wycombe sold Matt Phillips to Blackpool in 2010, but wrote a clause in the deal which would see his agent Phil Smith take a cut of any future sell-on fee. Technically, that breaches the Third Party Ownership rules set up by the FA in the wake of the Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez deals that landed West Ham United in hot water a decade ago. Those two Argentinian players played for West Ham while still owned by a third party back in South America, and Tevez in particular saved the Hammers from relegation. Sheffield United, who were relegated that year, sued when the FA did not give West Ham a points deduction, and after a long legal battle, West Ham had to pay the Yorkshire club millions in compensation. While on a smaller scale, Rovers believe the breach of rules by Wycombe could be enough to tip the balance in their relegation fight. The £10,000 fine to the club was accompanied by a two-year ban for the agent, 18 months of which was suspended. Wycombe have changed owners since that breach on the Phillips transfer, which may have been why they were not docked points. Rovers' statement read: "It has come to the attention of Bristol Rovers FC that Wycombe Wanderers FC appear to have breached FA rules on Third Party Ownership. "Its current Chairman, in giving evidence at a recent FA Disciplinary Hearing, appears to have admitted a serious breach in respect of the player, Matt Phillips (and possibly other players). "The result of this led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers. "Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated. "Bristol Rovers were relegated merely on goal difference, and as the breach, if proven, would have almost certainly led to a points deduction, Bristol Rovers have instructed specialist sports lawyers together with Nick De Marco, a leading sports barrister, to draft and send a complaint to both The Football League and The Football Association," it added. Read more at www.westerndailypress.co.uk/BREAKING-Bristol-Rovers-mount-legal-challenge/story-21148086-detail/story.html
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 21:22:16 GMT
Ciderspace - Yeovil Town viewConference National side Bristol Rovers have launched a bizarre attempt to regain their Football League status today, three weeks after they were relegated on the final day of the 2013-14 season. The Gas are planning to complain to both the Football Association and the Football League in an attempt to gain Wycombe Wanderers a points deduction that would see them relegated instead of Rovers. The Chairboys survived on goal difference on the final day of the season and as a result were the club immediately above the dotted line in the League Two table. The action planned by Rovers stems from a recent FA disciplinary case involving former winger Matt Phillips who now plays for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. Wanderers were fined £10,000 by the FA last week after they were found guilty of arranging a payment to a football agent based on a sell-on clause that had been built into the sale of Phillips. Rovers are complaining on the basis that "this led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers. Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated", so their statement reads. Where this starts to unravel somewhat is that this illicit transfer agreement for Phillips was set up in August 2010, when he was transferred to Blackpool for £350,000, whilst Wycombe were under previous ownership. The matter came to light only three years later when Phillips moved from Blackpool to Queens Park Rangers, when the agent concerned attempted to recoup the 'sell on clause'. Wycombe, by now under new ownership via their Supporters Trust, instead brought the issue to the attention of the FA in September 2013. They have admitted the charge, and have accepted the fine. Bristol Rovers, in their statement, imply that the FA have yet to pass judgement on the matter, claiming that "the breach, if proven, would have almost certainly led to a points deduction" - the case has already been heard, the breach was proven, but no points deduction was invoked. Given Wycombe have chosen not to appeal against the decision, the FA now consider the matter to be closed. Rovers claim that Wycombe gained a "competitive advantage" as part of the incident. At a stretch, it's possible that they may have done so during the 2010-11 season, given that at that time they agreed an agency fee that could not - within FA rule - be paid three years later. However, it is rather fanciful to believe that Wycombe's player sale at the beginning of the 2010-11 season was the reason why Bristol Rovers got relegated at the end of the 2013-14 season - four complete seasons later. The statement from Bristol Rovers claims that Wycombe's breach relates to 'Third Party Ownership' - an evocative term given its connection with the past Carlos Tevez affair. Media reports at the time indicate that Wycombe's fine was for a breach of Rule C2 of the Football Agents Regulations, which concerns the concealment or misrepresentation of transactions relating to agents - i.e. the inference that the payment was not properly declared. Rovers also infer that there may be "possibly other players" involved, but the FA's now closed case only relates to Phillips' transfer. Wycombe have sensibly chosen to go for an ultra-brief response to Rovers' plans, putting out their own counter-statement on the subject: "We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage." www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/news.asp?NewsItemId=21763
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 21:19:13 GMT
Bristol Rovers make Wycombe Wanderers 'breach' complaintBristol Rovers are to lodge a complaint to the Football League and Football Association over an alleged breach of third-party ownership rules by Wycombe. Last week, Wycombe were fined £10,000 for a breach of FA rules over the sale of Matt Phillips to Blackpool in 2010. However, that charge was relating to breaking rules regarding agents and not third-party ownership. The two sides finished level on points in League Two this season, with Rovers relegated on goal difference. Wycombe were found guilty of agreeing to pay an agent through a future sell-on clause of winger Phillips. The agent involved, Phil Smith, was banned for two years - 18 months of which was suspended. Phillips joined Blackpool for £325,000 from Wycombe in 2010 and moved to QPR last year, which is when the offence came to light. In a statement, Bristol Rovers said the infringement "led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers". It added: "Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated." A Wycombe statement said: "We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer." www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27589873
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 21:15:32 GMT
Bradley Confrey signsKing John School pupil Bradley Confrey signs deal with Bristol Rovers SIXTEEN-year-old Bradley Confrey is about to make the biggest move of his footballing life. He’s signed a two-year scholarship contract for Bristol Rovers. The King John School prefect – who is also a second dan karate black belt – was released by Southend United in January. And the Chelsea supporter has decided to make the move to the south-west to pursue his footballing dreams. Confrey, who is just finishing his GCSE exams, is currently captain of the King John school team which recently won the District Schools cup final. His mum, Debbie Confrey, said: “It’s a huge break for him and he really wants to go to Bristol and get playing football again. “He started playing years ago and played for Benfleet Youth, Dark Lane Dynamos, Basildon Wanderers – now called Basildon Town – and then with Billericay Town Colts. “He signed for the Southend Academy as a 15-year-old, first in the development group and then – after he’d played against Norwich – he went into the academy. “Bradley’s 6ft 3ins tall and a centre back so they could see the potential in the way he played,” she added. He was at the Blues Academy for a while but in the end Southend’s head of youth Ricky Duncan said they would have to release him. Ads by Google “Ricky said that he’d like to keep him on, but said finances were tight.” Academy release players can then take part in “exit trials” and he impressed in one of these trials held at Charterhouse School in Surrey. Interest was show from League Two clubs Oxford United and Cambridge United plus the two sides relegated from League Two, Torquay United and Bristol Rovers. The football-mad family sought the advice of former Southend United player Adam Barrett who told them he rated Bristol Rovers’ set up and praised the club’s traditions and approach to youth players. Debbie Confrey said: “Adam’s advice was good and helped us make up our minds. “We went to visit all the clubs that showed interest, but the set up at Bristol was good. As well as all the training he’ll be continuing his education and doing a sports diploma at the Bristol City Academy in a class of just seven. “If he were doing it here he’d probably be in a class of 30 so that’s good for his education,” he added. Bradley’s father Nigel Confrey, who now runs the Junior Bocas under-12s team which trains in Hadleigh, and Bradley’s little brother Danny – another King John pupil – are very proud of the teenager. www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/11238814._/
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 21:04:28 GMT
Wycombe Wanderers have issued the following statement into Bristol Rovers’ allegations of a breach in rules on Third Party Ownership.We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage. www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/article/club-respond-to-rovers-allegations-1575809.aspx
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 20:20:23 GMT
The 2 scenarios
Scenario A
1. In determining the Wycombe Wanderers and Third Party Investment appeal case raised by Bristol Rovers the FA fail to provide a solution which saves Rovers being relegated into the Conference.
2. Rovers then serve an injuction which prevents the Football League publishing its fixtures until Rovers have completed their Appeal process.
3. Rovers next take the issue to the European Court of Arbitration for Sport on the grounds that the FA at their Regulatory Commision meeting on 9 April 2004 did not act in accordance with their constitution.
4. The Court of Arbitration for Sport uphold Rovers appeal and decree that the club's relegation is unsound and that they should be reprieved.
5. At a late stage Rovers are added as a 25th team to League 2 causing chaos with the FL fixtures which are at long last released.
Scenario B
1. When assessing the the Wycombe Wanderers and Third Party Investment appeal case raised by Bristol Rovers the FA are aware that if they do not reprieve Rovers the club will serve an injunction which prevents the Football League publishing its fixtures before taking the matter to the European Court of Arbitration for Sport.
2. The FA and the Football League will also be aware and concerned about the chaos caused to the publishing of the Football League fixtures by such a delay - including delays in revenue streams - covering football pools, betting, tv match schedules etc.
3. The FA decide to relegate Wycombe Wanderers for serious breach of rules (and at the same time avoid the inevitable fixture chaos).
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 19:00:34 GMT
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 18:44:38 GMT
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 18:14:33 GMT
The issue is this if Wycombe owe compensation to every other club in League 2 for breach of FFP and do not have the resources to pay - what is the FA /Football League going to do with them? Chuck them out? But they will probably give them a reasonable time to pay up - which will be too late for us!!
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 18:09:37 GMT
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Post by Finnish Gas on May 27, 2014 18:06:24 GMT
If Wycombe are in the wrong (and they appear to be up to their necks) how are the FA going to sort out compensation to all the other clubs in League 2 (including Rovers) for Wycombe's breach of FFP rules?
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