Boston retain their League Status

[Cassandra]

After pleading guilty to 6 charges they have had 4 points deducted and have been fined £100,000

 

BBC Sports News

[FleetFanatic]

It's a disgrace...they should have been demoted at least 2 divisions.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Whatever they decided the FA were in a "No Win" situation.

 

If they had demoted Boston, they would potentialy have faced a legal challege from them. By setting a penalty as they have, they have now left themselves open to a legal challenge from Dagenham and/or Halifax.

 

How much penalties for off field financial irregularities should be reflected in "on pitch" matters, has always been a contentious issue & there are fors and againsts for both sides of the argument.

 

Ultimately perhaps, the questions become " Did the financial and contractual irregularities actually lead to players staying rather than leavig" and " Did these irregularities improve the performance of the players concerned ?". And these, of course, are highly unlikely to be clear cut issues.

 

If it could be proven that the answer to one or both of these questions was "Yes", then there is a good case for suggesting that D&R should have replaced Boston in the league this coming season ( As the only difference between the 2 clubs was goal difference, this is quite clear cut, but what if there were 3 or 4 points between the clubs - again how do you decide how many extra points the irregularities have won a club ?)

 

Either way, the with its adverse publicity, is something football could do without.

 

[Andrewc]

I understand your point Alan but surely a precedent was set when Swindon were found guilty of irregularities a few seasons ago!

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[Rotten Johnny Shawcraw]

The decision certainly is a disgrace, if Boston cheated last season the points should be deducted from last seasons total and Dag & Red promoted instead.