Saints Can Be Sinners

So, Southampton have been deducted 10 points. It's nothing against them, but it is absolutely, 100% the right decision.

The technicality which is still being argued by the club's holding company is nothing short of a disgrace. Yes, the club hasn't gone into administration itself, but the company that owns it is in administration because of the football club.

If it was that easy to get around the deduction, then every club in the Football League should set up one of those magical "holding companies" as soon as possible.

The rules on administration are clear and while they are not universally popular, it is the best way to deal with it. Why should clubs who work hard to keep their finances under control have to play on an even keel as those who take a cop out.

Luton are the ones who have the most to complain about, having lost 20 points for their administration problems at the start of the season - a deduction which has consigned them to a season out of the Football League next year.

But the plain and simple fact is that Luton got themselves into debt, and the reason they couldn't get a CVA to come out of administration was because they couldn't afford to pay what was a pitiful percentage of their debts. Therefore, all their debts were wiped out and they had to start the new season with a disadvantage.

It speaks volumes that their wage budget remains one of the biggest in League Two, and in January they were able to bolster their squad with an £80,000 signing. Not a lot of other clubs at that level could afford to do that...

When Luton were hit with the deduction, Lord Mawhinney said it was about "protecting the integrity of the competition". Had the same punishment not been dished out to Southampton, then it would have completely contradicted what was said less than a year earlier.

Yes, it's tough on the Saints and it's very tough on their fans. You have my sympathy, but rules are rules...