New owners hit out at Luton point deduction

THE future owners of troubled Luton have described the club's 10-point deduction for breaching Football Association rules on payments to agents in past transfer deals as "unbelievable".

LTFC2020, who have agreed a takeover deal to rescue the club, have welcomed the FA taking a stand against the wrongdoing of the club's former regime, but feel they and the club's fans are being unduly punished.

The Hatters - who were also deducted 10 points last season after going into administration - will begin the 2008-09 campaign with -10 points and have also been hit with a 50,000 (63,200) fine over 15 charges of misconduct.

Former chairman Bill Tomlins was banned from all football activity for five years and fined 15,000 (18,900) for his part in the breaches, which prompted Peter Griffiths QC - the leader of the FA's Regulatory Committee - to say the club had been run "with a flagrant disregard for the regulations laid down to protect the game."

In a statement, LTFC2020 said: "We are very disappointed that the FA has not been able to take into account the plight of the club and the fact that it is soon to be under new ownership.

"To punish the club and the fans in the future with a points deduction when the perpetrators get away with just light fines is hugely disappointing.

"Rather than the perpetrators being punished in any meaningful way, it is again the fans that take the punishment for the wrongdoing of directors."

The club's administrator Brendan Guilfoyle has hinted the club may appeal and said in a statement: "The club and Luton Town Football Club 2020 Ltd will give urgent consideration, in conjunction with its legal advisers, to an appeal