Who care's about Luton Town?

Somewhere deep in the bowels of Soho Square, a balding dwarf sits atop his dusty throne, chuckling to himself, as the next devious twist in his plan falls in to place. Picking up a chunky cherry-red marker in his gnarled fingers, he strikes a large cross through Luton on his map, chuckles nastily and all-but consigns another club to the footballing scrap-heap. Yup - Brian Barwick is in ecstasy. Wheeling away with one fist raised in salute to his muse and confident Sepp Blatter, he has scored another powerful strike in his plot to turn the beautiful English game into nothing more than a commercially-run profit-fest for those big clubs ‘that deserve it’.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the news, and you would have had to have been in a Ronaldo-saga induced coma not to, The Football League in their infinite bloody-minded stupidity/greed/idiocy (delete as appropriate), have sanctioned a 20-point penalty on Luton Town if the club want to play in Coca-Cola League Two next season, on top of the ten points that were docked by the FA for misconduct charges Sure, there are grounds for some action, and nobody wants football to be a home for the corrupt. Luton’s previous administration were found guilty of breaching regulations over agents' fees. But, as stated (are you reading Brian), this was under a PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION – an administration who were flagged up to the authorities on discovery of their crimes by dedicated Luton club secretary Cherry Newbury.

Coupled with that, whilst trying desperately to sort out their financial issues before this season, poor Luton were hit with a flimsy ‘we’re trying to sort out the Leeds problem’ excuse by an unflinchingly unfeeling FA – meaning more points deductions this season. Nick Owen, chairman and quite-rightly agitated supporter of Luton Town, has been speaking on the lutontoday.co.uk website: “Compare this with West Ham. They breached the rule book and appeared to create an advantage on the field of play. Although they received a fine, they were not docked points.” Fair comment… Once again, it’s the smaller struggling clubs who so desperately need the help of the countries ruling body, who are proverbially f**ked in the ass by a corporation who seem so far removed from the reality of the situation, I can only imagine Barwick and his cronies have some kind of sadomasochistic fetish to become the most hated body in national sport. Like the bully in the school playground with an IQ similar to that of the rumbling brick he carries around in his pocket, they have avoided the potentially awkward pitfalls of dealing with the big clubs of this word, and come crashing down with an iron fist on an honest club, who have done their best to keep their head above water in the choppy ocean of footballing survival.

This is not just about Luton. Bournemouth and Rotherham United, who are both in administration, face a similar predicament – and the vast majority of the Championship and below could well be subject to the whims of the FA. Whether they want to turn the game into a money-spinning super-league, or cut out those undesirable teams who float about the bottom of the league pile I’m not sure… But one thing for certain is that famous family league clubs are inches away from complete destruction – leaving many a proud and dedicated fan out of pocket, out of hope and out of love as far as football is concerned.

Having been to Kenilworth Road a couple of times over the last few seasons, I know the Hatters faithful will remain noisy and passionate to the last – but the grim reality seems to be that wonderful support aint enough anymore! The ever diplomatic Owen again: “It is so harsh and my thoughts on those people who have made the decision this week are unprintable.”

Let me help you Nick… Brian you clown – you’ve fucked it up!