ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - West Ham United

Posted by Billy Blagg on 04/26/2009

It might seem as if it has not much to do with me personally, I know, but I was sad to see Southampton FC relegated from the Championship and forced to carry a 10 point penalty into next season. In fact, I think situations like that at Southampton affect every fan no matter how big your club, and all supporters should be in condemnation of the ridiculous situation that currently presides over the league at every level.

It may be that I used to have a good friend who came from the area and supported Southampton passionately - ensuring I check the Saints result very week - or that Blagg Jnr is at University there and I spend a lot of time in the town, but, whatever my affinity, I feel for any fans who are forced to suffer the pain of points deductions.

Now this may seem ironic being as most of West Ham's problems over the past few seasons have resulted from not having points deducted but, I just feel that deductions condemn the only people not responsible for whatever crime has been committed.

Now I'm not pretending I know the answer to this - although to be fair I'm not paid to try and find one - and I'd be the first to admit that trying to liken the situation to any other walk of life is practically impossible (I know, I tried). But, as so often in modern life, it seems again that the perpertrators get away scott free while the innocent suffer. Those businessmen and administrators who 'lose' the paperwork or pay ridiculous prices for players they can't afford all just shrug their shoulders and walk away; the disaffected players simply slap in a transfer request and the manager gets sacked anyway. Only the long suffering fan is left to support the tatters of the club they love.

When I look back over my years at West Ham there remains only one constant; Players, managers, board, chairman - even most of the ground - have long gone or been replaced. Apart from a few mouldy pies and Doris, the Tea Lady, the only constant has been me and all the other fans who have attended Upton Park over the years. The same will apply to those supporters who bid farewell to the Championship at St. Mary's last weekend.

If the club has gone into administration - at it looks very unlikely from where I sit (surely a holding company isn't the club if the club are continuing to pay the bills?) - then who is to blame for the debacle? Do you want the list again? The only ones I know who are not responsible are, again, the fans - the very people left to rue a point deduction that will make the chances of their returning to the Fizzy-pop League much harder.

Is there really no way to lay the blame, and fine or prosecute, the people who actually mis-manage clubs like Southampton? Why punish the very people who deserve it the least but suffer the most? The Football League is in danger of becoming a laughing stock, populated with clubs who are relegated or forced to struggle on with minus umpteen points before a ball is even kicked in August.

It's a nonsense and Southampton FC and its fans have my full sympathy.

Comments

Posted by Kenny on 04/27/2009

Can't agree with u more, mate...

Posted by Footie on 04/27/2009

Firstly Southampton have been rightly punished, just as your beloved West Ham should have been for the "Mascherano/Tevez scandal"

Secondly Yes a holding company is a club, especially in this case where the companys' only revenue is from the club.

Thirdly so what would you recommend to clubs that break rules? Fines to the club? The fact is a fine is not going to do anything, even if West Ham have to pay $30 million in their scandal they'll still be better off due to the television broadcasting and sponsorship moneys they'll recieve from being in the Premier League. The only suitable punishment is a points deductions.

So grow up and realise that the punishment is just.

It's not a nonesense and Southampton FC and its fans have none of my sympathy.

Blagg replies: "Grow up" ...well, it's a lomg time since someone told me to do that!

Posted by Justice on 04/28/2009

A 10 point deduction for the year I can agree with...Barely. Monetary troubles shouldnt be punished by a points deduction. But they have to be due to no other realistic alternative. (matches behind closed doors will only add to their money woes, but could be explored) However, to have to start a season on negative points is a joke. it is exactly shows how badly money is corrupting this beautiful game. Set up regulators for clubs, set up regulations, sanction teams, dream up soem other punishment but a point deduction for a season AFTER they are relegated is a stupid stupid stupid move. I know all about leeds, but tough. its dumb anyhow and is a joke

Blagg says: I've run your comment Justice as it was so heartfelt but cut out the language next time, eh?

Posted by Leo Dragon on 04/28/2009

If you want to offer pity, at least offer it to a more deserving cause - Southampton were pretty much down without the deduction. What about Luton Town - hit with a 30 point deduction before the league kicked off this year? Barring a promotion-winning performance that pretty much guaranteed, and has delivered, a relegation for this proud club and its supporters, not to League One but to the Conference, from which only one team a year is guaranteed promotion back into the Football League.

I agree that the instigators of these "crimes" must be appropriately punished. As a Leeds fan, my team has felt its share of this pain in the last few years, but the man responsible for our plight, Peter Ridsdale, carries on in football management. People who run clubs into the ground financially should be handed a lifetime ban from holding any other positions within other clubs. The Football League has been gutless about this. It is the first change that must be made.

Blagg says: Funnily enough Leo, a great deal of work time spent in the City of Leeds was one of the things that made me realise how unfair it was - particularly as previously I'd have said Leeds was one of the teams least likely to affect my opinion of points deduction.

I'd have to say what Ken Bates did was particularly repulsive but Leeds fans can hardly be blamed for that.

You're right, of course, the Luton deduction was even more preposterous. They may as well have just kicked them out of the League to start with!

Posted by Peter on 04/28/2009

I agree but how realistic is it being able to punish those truly responsible? They're long gone and probably live overseas by now...

Blagg reply: You're right, I know....how about a hitman?

Posted by Paul on 04/28/2009

I totally agree with you Billy!! Look at the sad case of Luton - what did the fans do to deserve that!

Posted by Dylan on 04/28/2009

Whilst I think to say grow up is a bit unnecessary, I think that it's worth noting that in business, if you cannot pay your bills, you go out of business. I am not suggesting that the football league should look at kicking out teams that are in administration, but a points deduction is far from the worst thing that could happen to them. Also, to say that the fans are suffering, it should also be noted that most clubs get most of their money from ticket sales, so part of the problem for clubs going broke is not enough fans perhaps? Not to underestimate the effects of mismanagement, but the fans (or lack thereof) do play some part.

Blagg reply: A more considered reply, Dylan (Love the Radio Hour by the way!) but I'm not sure blaming the fans who don't attend is any more moral than penalising the fans who turn up every week. It's a difficult situation, I know, it's just my heart feels there should be a better way...

Posted by olusegun wusu michael on 04/28/2009

i think one needs not argue on this,this is a matter of rules and regulation and i dont need we need to lay blame on anybody,it has happened to AC MILAN,JUVEVENTUS etc and they survived it,Southampton should try and survive bcos this is not the end of life.if it happened to my club Arsenal(Godforbid)i will still take heart and be hopeful that we shall bounce back.
Southampton,,,,,please cheer up and work harder,,,please i will advise the player not to desert the club now,they should be loyal to the club.

Posted by Dan Fredericks on 04/28/2009

The poisoned chalice of money in football - better stadiums, exotic (& occasionally skilful) players... but then there are the parasites - agents, unscrupulous directors & bored billionaires who want a new plaything before they discard it & move on! Yes it is unfair to the fans, but yes there does need to be an element of justice to those clubs who are playing by the rules. Perhaps fans need to really OWN their clubs, not allow any billionaire any more than one share each, then take part in proper management of the club. No billionaire can buy up FC Barcelona, the supporters are all shareholders with equal say. This I see is the only way to stop the baddies, seeing as it's unrealistic they'll ever pay for the misdemeanours, just don't let them get a foot in the door in the first place. As a Wolves fan who's only lived in Australia, this affects the whole football community & I still feel for Saints and Hatters and hope this plight only gives them more determination to return.

Posted by Jack Broadent on 04/28/2009

Although I feel sorry for saints fans, and any other fans at club with points deducted, As soon as they past the march 27th cut off date for declaring administration there was only going to be one outcome for the Saints. The new rule set up to block the loop hole that Leeds tried to use a couple of seasons back, so that if a club was relegated they couldn't go into Admin to avoid a penalty for next season. This is what darlington did and it cost them a playoff place and possible promotion.

It's definitely a harsh way to deal with clubs going into Administration, as is isnt fair on the fans, players or people who work at the club who will then lose their jobs because the board couldn't keep expenditure uncontrol. But as yet, there hasn't been a better solution. May be Platini and Blatter should focus on this instead of 6+5

Posted by Kevin on 04/28/2009

The reason for the points reduction is nothing to do with being fair or appropriate. It is do with the fact it is easy (I doubt many of those guys at the FA signed up to do lots of work) and cheap (still have to pay for Wembley) for the FA to implement.

Really 10 points is not a big deal even 17 has had little effect on teams (30 is borderline ridiculous) and I doubt it will ever act as a deterrent.

The FA has to manage the clubs – show some leadership. There needs to be audit for each club at the start of every season and all transfers, pay hikes and pay offs have to go through a team of financial auditors. Not a salary cap per se but if you want that former England international with a dodgy knee you will have cut back elsewhere. If you want to do an Ipswich town and change manager with color of the leaves then you need to cut back. If you want to … well you get the picture.

Posted by El Greco on 04/28/2009

I completely agree with you Blagg. After watching such sad situations as those that have occurred at Leeds United and Luton Town, I can only feel sympathy towards the fans. Though I have no experience in the matter, (I'm a Man U supporter), I can only hope that time heals all wounds and one day these clubs can return to loftier heights and put mismanagement and poor administration behind them.

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