Phil SumblerDerby County fans were prominent on Planet Swans yesterday following our story about the farcical situation that the football league now have two fixture lists ahead of them as they appeal against a decision to fine the Rams for accounting “crimes” preferring instead to implement a points penalty that could see Derby yet start the season in League One.
The main target of their corrections seemed to be Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson and Derby fans are certainly of the belief that there is a witch hunt going on against their team.
Commenting on the original article itself – Alan Jones said “I in no way support what the club has done – in fact, I have had issues with the ownership pretty much since day one – but if a points deduction is to be applied, one going into the forth coming season is the only thing that seems appropriate – Wednesday, Birmingham etc. were not retroactively punished for cooking their books (and QPR, Aston Villa et al were not punished at all, as they were lucky enough to escape the questionable auspices of the EFL) so why should Derby be?”
Gordon added to this with his view that “Derby went to the EFL years ago outlining its proposed amortisation accounting methodology, which was in line with standard business practice (It’s the EFL that wanted and had adopted a straight line amortisation policy differing from other business sectors) but at the time the EFL did not have a concern Derby would amortise the way they have. Ie;- the EFL by default has projected their amortisation may not be the best way. In any event, the EFL failed to flag Derby’s intended amortisation at the time Derby raised it with the EFL.
“The real crux of the matter should now turn to what else Stephen Gibsons Middlesbro lawyers had been saying to the EFL behind the scenes, corresponding with the EFL over the last 2 years which is turning 2 football leagues in the UK into a complete shambles.
“Feel free to go public anytime now Stephen, bit of transparency now on what your role has been in all of this and what exactly got you so bent out of shape. Sore that Derby finished 6th and Middlesbro 7th in the 2018/19 season.. you better be sure of your facts to go on such a monumental witch hunt against your playing opponents off the field.”
Whatever the wrongs and rights of the situation, the point of the original article remains in that this is a farcical situation and, less than six weeks before the season starts, we have two teams who have no idea which division they will start the new season in.
And that can’t be allowed to continue?
Lets summarise this mess:
The EFL agreed that Derby could use this method of accounting but changed their minds after first ageeing it was OK ( Farse )
The set up an independent tribunal to investigate Derby on 3 counts of misconduct ( Fine)
the independent tribunal found Derby innocent on all 3 counts ( Hooray ) but did make some comments around the future way they should do the amortisation (OK yes Derby said they would do this in future)
NO ! EFL did not like this, so ignored this finding and set up another ( here we go again) independent tribunal to investigate the 3 misconduct accusations from the EFL. ( keeping up ? sound like somebody is after proving something ? ) and again Derby were found innocent on 2 accounts but surprise surprise they found them guilty on the account of amortisation for players. ( funny that)
So they were fined £100,000 and told to use the new method in future ( OK we said we would so we will )
NO – ELF not happy with that ( now they smell blood ), we want you to resubmit your accounts usung the new way not the way we had agreed was OK 4 years ago and see if you fall inline with FFP. if not we will give you a points deduction and religate you. ( does this not sound like a witch-hunt )
so after more that 2 years of dragging a club through the mud for doing something that the ELF themselves authorised.
After having nearly 2 seasons of transfer embargo applied , amd scaring off any potential buyer for the club the EFL want to relegate Derby and will stop at nothing to complete their mission.
Why ? its got nothing to do with protecting the integrity of the EFL, Aston Villa , QPR both were well over the FFP limits and went into the prem lickily.
Whatever happens to Derby the EFL need investigating as to their behaviour over this. Derby have been victims of discrimination for over 2 years and punished many times over for what ? a technical accounting they had sanctioned ? # We just want to watch football and the clubs just want to be treated fairly !
Lets be fair here. Derby (like others) sold their stadium to fufil FFP. They introduced the amortilised accounting system to take advantage of FFP. The system is used in other industries but the EFL expert said you cannot put values on players other than in a straight line and that football transfers was not a buoyant market (rubbish). Also whilst Derby gave different values over the term of a players contract they always ended in zero at the end (due to Bosman).
Derby have not failed FFP, they have been found guilty of not having a straight line amortalisation process. If on resubmitting their accounts they are over the FFP limit they will be penalised. The only issue for the EFL is that they are likely to be inside FFP due to the sale of the stadium. The transfer embargo is having a serious effect on Derbys ability to keep and obtain players and also to get new owners. The EFL with by stealth get their wish to have Derby regulated.
Are the EFL on a witch hunt with Derby..Yes. Are Derby innocent parties….No
and that is from a Derby fan
woodley ram
You are correct..
I would add though, that the EFL should not be meting out severe punishment to Derby now, which they are doing, lets be clear on that (their action of threat of retrospective points deduction amounts to restraint of trade, player purchase embargo, interfering with sale of club, interfering with loanee players who come with a basic bottom line that they will be playing Championship football), without ‘due cause’.
Seems to those that have followed this, that the EFL have deemed Derby guilty of a serious crime (not followed FP rules), yet in not waiting to see if Fair Play rules were in fact broken, the EFL .. have chosen NOT TO ACT IN A FAIR AND REASONABLE MANNER themselves. By any civil measure they must not only play fair, but be seen to play fair. This is the fundamental difference from right from wrong, good from bad.
Isnt it “Innocent until proven guilty?”. At least – it was last time we all looked.