Dave Whelan & Wigan Athletic

[south stand corner terrace 0]

It has been mentioned that the above is going to try and sue the Premier League/West Ham Utd, regarding the non-deduction of points regarding the recent transfer debacle at Upton Park

Is this a case of sour grapes or does he have a point, I note that Bury were kicked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ilegible player.  Dont get me wrong 5.5million isn''t a small fine, but a points deduction surely would of hit the club harder.

Also was it fair that Leeds were allowed their 10 point deduction whilst (technically) already relegated?

Thoughts?

[Bovril 264]

i was listening to five live today and they were interviewing the boston chairman (who today were confirmed as relegated) before the game started against fellow relgation candidates wrexham they were not sure of going down but had huge finacial worries and when asked the question by five live "might you decide to actually go into administration at half time if your losing to avoid having a point deduction next year, and instead having it this year" the chairman replied "yes... that is a possibility were looking at"

 

i found that absolutely amazing, it seems clubs are now picking and choosing exactly when theyre going to go into administration depending on when goals go in.... as it happens it was 1-1 at half time, until too late wrexham goals (one by chris llewyellen funnily enough) sealed boston''s fate both on and off the pitch

[canary cherub 1]

He certainly does have a point, but why on earth didn''t keep his views to himself while Wigan still have a chance of avoiding relegation?  Don''t see how it can possibly have helped their preparation for yesterday''s game.  Whelan is a football man too.  I''m really, really surprised.  Spectacular own goal.

 

[Regime Change 0]

I think most football supporters will support any leagal action that Wigan/Charlton/Wigan decide to take.  The FA has set a precedent of imposing points deductions on teams who have fielded ineligible players, and the punishment imposed on West Ham has been unduely lenient.  Considering WH are owned by one of the wealthiest men in Europe, a £5.5 million fine is little more than a slap on the wrist.

Although Leeds technically have done nothing wrong it does expose a huge loophole that currently exists and it''s something the football league needs to address before the start of next season.

[Branston Pickle 4,150]

As far as the West Ham situation is concerned, I don''t think any sensible football fan can think that this has been dealt with fairly when you see punishments meted out to others.  At all levels of the game sides are deducted points for fielding ineligible players (AFC Wimbledon are local to me and were initially deducted 18pts, reduced to 3 on appeal, only a month ago); even at the very top in rugby, Leicester had a point deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

For me it is a simple case that whilst all the other clubs are in their good/bad position on merit, West Ham now look as if they are going to survive based on illegal transfer activity and playing ineligible players.  The fine will mean practically nothing to them, it is merely 1/5th of the tv money they''ll get next season.  The very fact that Tevez is their player of the season indicates how he has influenced their team, so presumably their points tally, and all from a player who should not have been there. 

An argument that they didn''t want to see a side relegated based on the punishment is farcical.  This argument didn''t work 10 or so years ago when Swindon were promoted to the Prem only to be initially relegated two divisions as punishment (later reduced to just one division) for illegal payments to players.  It just goes to show how inconsistent (dare I say corrupt?) it all is.

 

[milburn 0]

Dave Whelan has a great point!

West Ham have been fined £5.5 million, which is alot but they will now gain £50 million by staying up!

Wigan have kept to the rules and will now lose £50 million. I would be pretty annoyed too if i was him! West ham will now stay up,wigan will go down and the premier league have their faviourite clubs!