Rage Online

&quotMooro&quot wrote:I too think there should be a universal switch across the leagues to a flat (probably 3pt) penalty for all registration issues, unless a club is shown to have acted deliberately, which would then apply the same penalty to all miscreants regardless of the actual results of games affected.

But why have the situation where the outcome of the league is decided on by the admin staff? The table should be based on the results of games and nothing else.

Either: a) there was an accidental administrative error which caused a player to take part in a game while not registered. In which case fine the club.

Or: b) there was a deliberate attempt to gain a league advantage by not registering a player, perhaps to avoid transfer window issues. In which case, expel the club from the league for a breach of rules.

No middle ground, in my opinion.

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:&quotIt's very unfortunate, but this happened in August, clearly there are some people who would love to see Histon's play-off challenge destabilised with these stories coming out now,&quot

That quotation annoyed me. Clearly Mr Baldwin, IMO, was making reference to the clubs who did get punished both this season and in previous campaigns.

Unfortunately, Mr Baldwin not only has to protect his club, he has to protect his Club Secretary.......his wife!

The fact remains that Histon were guilty of a different offence. Therefore, to suggest, as Mr Strudwick did, that they should be treated like Oxford et al is misguided. They should have been treated in the same way as AFC Wimbledon, Altrincham and Weymouth.

Of course, Histon got struck by luck. The only reason this player didn't make any more appearances is that he was rubbish and Fallon got rid. If they had continued to play him the offence wasn't 'highlighted' until January 2009, I believe.

brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

&quotMatt D&quot wrote:brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

There is even more truly shocking stuff from Brian Lee in that article.

For example:

&quotHe said the system of spot-checks had not been approved by the Conference board, but by staff.&quot

Err, who runs this league? Do the staff have authority to impose such important regulations? Surely this comment alone should be subject to legal challenge.

&quotAsked if clubs knew the league had started relying on spot checks, he said: &quotI have no idea&quot &quot

This is quite incomprehensible. How can the Chairman of the Conference not even know when the rules applied and whether the clubs had been advised.

If I were Kelvin Thomas now, I would be on the phone to my solicitors, Brian Lee, The FA and everyone else involved to have the points reinstated immediately.

The story is getting worse by the day.

&quotMatt D&quot wrote:brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

Has someone forwarded this to the Club? This definitely provides more ammo for a legal approach or, if nothing else, to increase calls for Lee to pack his bags and f##k off.

I've asked Alan Algar to discuss it on http&#58//webchats&#46tv/schedule

He's not over interested.

Is there no friendly United Supporting lawyer around who could give some advice as to whether there is a case for judicial review. Because it's starting to look pretty bang-on to me.

Darbys and David Bower of Bower &amp Bailey, as it happens.

And a judicial review is only an appeal to a decision made by a government funded body (but I know what you mean in the above plea).

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:[
If I were Kelvin Thomas now, I would be on the phone to my solicitors, Brian Lee, The FA and everyone else involved to have the points reinstated immediately.

The story is getting worse by the day.

Yes, there has to be an angle somewhere doesn't there.

Here's a tip for Brian - give all deducted points back, immediately resign, leave the country, assume a new identity and never go within 100 miles of anything to do with football again.

&quottheox&quot wrote:

&quotMatt D&quot wrote:brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

Has someone forwarded this to the Club? This definitely provides more ammo for a legal approach or, if nothing else, to increase calls for Lee to pack his bags and f##k off.

So the Conference never discussed the decision to change from checking every players' registration to the random spot check system and they did not inform the clubs of this change (although poor old Brian has &quotno idea&quot whether they did or not!). We can assume that the non communication of the spot check system was not discussed or investigated during the lengthy review, which really is a total scandal.

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:[
If I were Kelvin Thomas now, I would be on the phone to my solicitors, Brian Lee, The FA and everyone else involved to have the points reinstated immediately.

The story is getting worse by the day.

Yes, there has to be an angle somewhere doesn't there.

Here's a tip for Brian - give all deducted points back, immediately resign, leave the country, assume a new identity and never go within 100 miles of anything to do with football again.

100 miles?

Can't we get him on the ExoMars Mission?

&quotA-Ro&quot wrote:I've asked Alan Algar to discuss it on http&#58//webchats&#46tv/schedule

He's not over interested.

The problem with getting NLP and associates to do anything more than a gentle rap over the knuckles, is that they know which side their bread is buttered.

&quotSideshow Rob&quot wrote:

&quottheox&quot wrote:

&quotMatt D&quot wrote:brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

Has someone forwarded this to the Club? This definitely provides more ammo for a legal approach or, if nothing else, to increase calls for Lee to pack his bags and f##k off.

So the Conference never discussed the decision to change from checking every players' registration to the random spot check system and they did not inform the clubs of this change (although poor old Brian has &quotno idea&quot whether they did or not!). We can assume that the non communication of the spot check system was not discussed or investigated during the lengthy review, which really is a total scandal.

Yes, I always thought that fighting the deduction was a bit pointless on the basis that if we didn't like the system we could and should have complained about it before falling foul. However, if we didn't know about the new system, then that puts a completely different angle on it.

&quottheox&quot wrote:

&quotMatt D&quot wrote:brian lee in the bognor observer:

http&#58//www&#46bognor&#46co&#46uk/bog ... 5525&#46jp

Has someone forwarded this to the Club? This definitely provides more ammo for a legal approach or, if nothing else, to increase calls for Lee to pack his bags and f##k off.

Yes, I've forwarded it.

I know I am one of the world's great pessimists, but I can't help feeling that, once the play off lineups are set after Sunday, there is no way that the FA will intervene and there is, realistically, no time for any legal action before they start. Can anyone think of a precedent where a successful appeal altered the make up of play-off or promotion?