Why bother playing by the rules!!

Barnsley FC have always kept within FFP guidelines.
They have on the whole, cut their cloth accordingly.
Bolton Wanderers, on the other hand have broken the rules on almost every turn. They have spent above their means on transfers and wages constantly over the last few years.
They have had several points deductions as punishment but this hasn't seem to have made them change their ways.
Yet here we are in 2024, and it looks highly likely they will finish above us this season and are more likely to get promoted then us.
Looking at their squad, apart from our 1st eleven, they are stronger than us. No doubt because of offering higher wages, better contracts thus enabling them to sign these players
So I think why bother playing by the rules. They say that cheats never prosper. Well in football it appears they do. It frustrates the hell out of me

 

Not to mention paying for a biased ref in a potential promotion decider

 

No need to pay the ref this time. He's a Sheff Wednesday fan...

 

You really answered your own question LSSM. If they continue to break the rules they will be punished. (Imo relegation is a must. As happened to Swindon once. Changed from two divisions to one on appeal).

As for highly likely finish above us. I think it's well in the ballance .
They have many difficult fixtures among those at the top and around the play offs.

 

If we finish in the Play-Off positions we'll get no points deduction. If we finish in the top two at the expense of Derby or Bolton we'll get one. Nailed on.

 

I understand the sentiment, and I get the "why bother" argument, but I disagree with a few of the details of your post.

I reckon Bolton's wage bill is much lower than it was when we were relegated ahead of them in 2018. I'm not saying they're cutting their cloth accordingly, but will certainly be doing so more than they did before their near collapse.

I strongly disagree that they're highly likely to finish above us, and that they have a much stronger squad than us. Whilst we don't have many league wins over them in recent memory, we did knock them out of the cup and play-offs last season, and they've not beaten us this season either despite what you'd say is a superior squad. They're 3 points better off than us despite what could be perceived as a much higher budget.

If anything, I pity them. They're more likely to face further punishment in the future, which they'll no doubt blame the EFL for, and point fingers elsewhere, all to get 3 points further up the ladder than little old Barnsley.

The season isn't over yet, thankfully our squad of players and head coach are aware of that.

 

A points deduction for what?

 

The EFL charges over ownership

 

I dont think it would be that. Re notification of change of board.
Not sure what the lee and Conway charges are. Except its re the shareholding they had.

Not as I can see, breaking any rules on ffp.

It is becoming a farce re the time being taken. But as I said in another post on the subject. Everton's took 8 months. Then came their appeal.

 

Not ownership per se, but persons in control when they had no business to and not divulging the correct ownership structure.

 

That's why I can't see it being an automatic points deduction mate. (Maybe I should have replied to Stephen.) Has anything similar happened to any other club and a points deduction handed out. ? I'm aware of the Birmingham incident. A 2 point suspended outcome.

 

Yeah Birmingham, but can't remember if it was a 2 point deduction or a suspended one with a fine.

 

Looked it up whilst you were posting mate. You remember right. 2 point suspended. Sentence. And Birmingham contributed to the EFL's investigation costs.

 

Thought so, hopefully will be the same and a very hefty fine goes to Lee and Conman instead of the club

 

You keep spouting this nonsense like you want it to happen so you can say told you so.

We won't be getting a points deduction.

 

Absolutely no chance we'll get a points deduction for that.

 

See above replies with @Hooky feller. Birmingham got a suspended 2 point deduction and a fine so hopefully will be similar if less as we reported the issue ourselves and it's Lee and Conman that take the hit

 

My apologies, I meant we wouldn't have points deducted. It would be a suspended deduction at most.

 

Have you looked at the numbers to back this up? Their accounts for last season aren't filed yet, so it's not a like for like comparison, but for 2021/22 their wage bill was around £1m less than ours last season (2022/23). Granted, last season was our first in League One after being relegated and 2021/22 was Bolton's first back in League One after being promoted from League Two, so it's likely changed slightly, but I can't imagine they're paying all that much more than we are overall.

 

Agree.