For accuracy, here is the full statement released on the FA's official website, www.thefa.com:
Luton Town FC in serious trouble.....
For accuracy, here is the full statement released on the FA's official website, www.thefa.com:
"The FA has today issued over 50 charges in connection with alleged breaches of rules at Luton Town Football Club during the period from July 2004 to February 2007.
The charges are the result of an extensive FA investigation conducted since March this year into the circumstances surrounding a number of player transfers and contract renegotiations.
Summary of charges
Luton Town FC, 17 charges relating to the following allegations:
· Payments to agents for nine specific player negotiations made through the club's holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited, rather than through the club as required by FA Rules
· Provision of misleading information to The FA
· Not holding representation contracts with the relevant agents for the above negotiations
· Dealing with unlicensed agents (both through Jayten and directly)
Bill Tomlins, 15 charges:
· As Chairman and Director at the time, it is alleged that he was directly involved in 19 of the rule breaches listed above (exceptions are negotiations with two unlicensed agents not conducted through Jayten Stadium Limited)
Derek Peter, nine charges:
· As Finance Director at the time, it is alleged that he approved payments made by Jayten Stadium Limited in relation to the nine negotiations
John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot:
· Currently Directors of the club, they are charged with failing to report the alleged rule breaches when they became aware of them
Licensed players' agents Sky Andrew, Mike Berry, Mark Curtis, Stephen Denos, David Manasseh and Andrew Mills, each charged with allegedly:
· Failing to ensure that payments to them were made and disclosed through the proper channels, and
· Failing to enter into representation contracts with the club for specific services rendered in relation to the above negotiations
The background
It is alleged that in a number of player transfers, loan deals and contract renegotiations between 2004 and 2007, payments were made to the six agents for their services directly from Luton Town's holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited.
These payments, totalling around £160,000, were not disclosed to The FA on the required disclosure forms, representing a breach of FA Rules.
It is alleged that this payment mechanism was initiated by Bill Tomlins as Chairman of the club, with each individual payment authorised by Derek Peter as Finance Director. It is alleged that John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot subsequently became aware of this system but did not alert The FA.
There are also a number of alleged breaches of the agents' regulations in force at the time.
The six licensed players' agents have all been charged with knowingly accepting payment from Jayten Stadium Limited specifically for their services to the club in securing the services of players. In addition, The FA's investigation revealed that none of the agents acting for the club in each of the deals had a representation contract with Luton Town.
It is also alleged that in two transactions to secure the services of players, Luton Town dealt directly with two unlicensed agents, both of whom were paid via Jayten Stadium. In addition, the Club has been charged with negotiating with two unlicensed agents in two further player transactions.
Finally, it is alleged that services for the benefit of a Luton Town player, totalling approximately £7,000 in value, were paid for directly by Jayten Stadium Limited but were not disclosed on the player's contract, representing a breach of FA Rules.
The parties have until 30 November to respond to the charges."
The charges are the result of an extensive FA investigation conducted since March this year into the circumstances surrounding a number of player transfers and contract renegotiations.
Summary of charges
Luton Town FC, 17 charges relating to the following allegations:
· Payments to agents for nine specific player negotiations made through the club's holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited, rather than through the club as required by FA Rules
· Provision of misleading information to The FA
· Not holding representation contracts with the relevant agents for the above negotiations
· Dealing with unlicensed agents (both through Jayten and directly)
Bill Tomlins, 15 charges:
· As Chairman and Director at the time, it is alleged that he was directly involved in 19 of the rule breaches listed above (exceptions are negotiations with two unlicensed agents not conducted through Jayten Stadium Limited)
Derek Peter, nine charges:
· As Finance Director at the time, it is alleged that he approved payments made by Jayten Stadium Limited in relation to the nine negotiations
John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot:
· Currently Directors of the club, they are charged with failing to report the alleged rule breaches when they became aware of them
Licensed players' agents Sky Andrew, Mike Berry, Mark Curtis, Stephen Denos, David Manasseh and Andrew Mills, each charged with allegedly:
· Failing to ensure that payments to them were made and disclosed through the proper channels, and
· Failing to enter into representation contracts with the club for specific services rendered in relation to the above negotiations
The background
It is alleged that in a number of player transfers, loan deals and contract renegotiations between 2004 and 2007, payments were made to the six agents for their services directly from Luton Town's holding company, Jayten Stadium Limited.
These payments, totalling around £160,000, were not disclosed to The FA on the required disclosure forms, representing a breach of FA Rules.
It is alleged that this payment mechanism was initiated by Bill Tomlins as Chairman of the club, with each individual payment authorised by Derek Peter as Finance Director. It is alleged that John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot subsequently became aware of this system but did not alert The FA.
There are also a number of alleged breaches of the agents' regulations in force at the time.
The six licensed players' agents have all been charged with knowingly accepting payment from Jayten Stadium Limited specifically for their services to the club in securing the services of players. In addition, The FA's investigation revealed that none of the agents acting for the club in each of the deals had a representation contract with Luton Town.
It is also alleged that in two transactions to secure the services of players, Luton Town dealt directly with two unlicensed agents, both of whom were paid via Jayten Stadium. In addition, the Club has been charged with negotiating with two unlicensed agents in two further player transactions.
Finally, it is alleged that services for the benefit of a Luton Town player, totalling approximately £7,000 in value, were paid for directly by Jayten Stadium Limited but were not disclosed on the player's contract, representing a breach of FA Rules.
The parties have until 30 November to respond to the charges."
So basically, I think it is safe to say that the club are in serious trouble. As agents are a relatively new part of the game, it is unclear what the gravity of the charges will be. The club could have a very hefty fine, possibly a points deduction, or because a lot of the charges relate to Bill Tomlins and Derek Peter, who are no longer at the club, the penalty could be a lot more lenient. With John Mitchell and Richard Bagehot charged by the FA for breaches, surely David Pinkney cannot continue to employ these people at our football club. If Luton are to survive this, then the chairman needs to act now and try to show the FA that he is committed to eliminating corruption at Luton Town FC. Ok, maybe it won't do any good, but the club are already quickly going downhill fast, so although it might be too little too late for Mr Pinkney, something has to be done.
The club has until 30th November to respond to the enquiry, so we will have to wait until more news becomes available, and we will have to wait until the charges are released to see what the future holds for Luton Town, or indeed whether there is any future at all. Life definitely isn't boring at Luton Town - the charges relate to the period since July 2004, which is around the time we left administration. In fact, things are seen as so bad now, that apparently some fans are wanting the return of David Kohler as chairman. Ok, I made that bit up.