Administration (British football)
In the United Kingdom, football clubs sometimes choose to enter administration when they are unable to pay off outstanding debts. Under the Insolvency Act 1986, a business will face a winding-up order bringing them to court and if it is shown that a business cannot pay debts as they fall due or cannot repay outstanding debts then the company will be classified as insolvent.[1] Administration puts accountants "in charge of pretty much everything apart from coaching the players and picking the team".[2] For a football club in administration, the "football creditors rule" requires football-related debts such as wages owed to players and staff, and transfer fees owed to other clubs to be paid first.[3]
England and Wales
In 2000, ITV Digital bought the broadcasting rights to Football League and League Cup matches in a three-year, £315m deal.[4] In March 2002, the company went bankrupt owing the League £180 million which it said it "cannot afford to pay".[5] As a result of this many Football League clubs had financial problems and entered administration.[6][7]
Before the implementation of a points deduction it was perceived that clubs had "manipulated and abused [administration] as a way of shedding debts then restructuring, and borrowing again once the hapless creditors had been fobbed off with their 8p in the pound".[2] In September 2003, it was proposed that clubs entering administration would be docked 10 points. A 'fit and proper persons' test was also introduced in an attempt to prevent fraudulent activities. If a person was previously director at a club which was in "administration twice during a five-year period" or at "two different clubs that have each gone into administration in a five-year period" then they would be prevented from becoming the controlling shareholder of a Football League club.[8] A 'fit and proper persons' test was also introduced for directors of Premier League clubs.[9] In November 2009, Stephen Vaughan, Sr. became the first director to fail the 'fit and proper persons' test.[10]
To ease financial problems for clubs that had been relegated, "parachute payments" were introduced to give time to adapt to the financial gulf between divisions.[11] The deductions of 10 points in the Football League and 9 points in the Premier League were ratified in 2004, with the rule in place from the start of the 2004–05 season.[12][13] The League also adopted rules that prevented any side from being in administration for either two successive seasons or eighteen consecutive months.[14] The reason for the deduction being a point less in the Premier League was that the teams play eight fewer fixtures than Football League clubs.[13] The first club to incur this new penalty were League One side Wrexham F.C. who entered administration on 3 December 2004.[14]
Leeds United filed for administration with only a few days remaining in the 2006–07 season, which automatically triggered a 10-point penalty. This placed Leeds at the bottom of the table and relegated the club, but they were extremely likely to have been relegated anyway. By entering administration during the 2006–07 season, they hoped to avoid starting the 2007–08 season on −10 points. The Football League saw this as a club trying to exploit a loophole and changed the rules. From 2007–08, any club entering administration after the fourth Thursday in March would have their 10-point deduction suspended until the following season. If the club is relegated the points will be deducted from their tally at the start of next season. If the club stays up the 10 points will be taken off their final total. [15]
On 26 February 2010, Portsmouth became the first Premier League club to enter administration.[16]
Football creditors rule
In a situation of insolvency, the "football creditors rule" means that debts to other clubs or players are prioritised and must be paid in full before the club is eligible to compete again in the league.[17] The Enterprise Act 2002 made reforms to the insolvency act and, from 15 September 2003, the altered procedures for administration were implemented.[18] Most notably it abolished the Crown's preferential right to recover unpaid taxes ahead of other creditors.[19] As such, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is now often not paid in full (between 2003 and 2010, outstanding unpaid taxes to the HMRC amounted to £30 million).[20] This legality of the football creditors rule was challenged in 2004 in Inland Revenue Commissioners v The Wimbledon Football Club Ltd. However, it was found that "full payment to football creditors (out of third party funds) ahead of preferential creditors did not infringe the provisions of section s4(4)(a) of the Act" and "differential treatment may be necessary to secure the continuation of the company's business and may be regarded as supportable".[21]
In 2011 HMRC brought another challenge to the football creditors rule in the High Court, this time on the basis that it breached fundamental principles of insolvency law, including the pari passu rule that all unsecured creditors should be paid on a proportionate basis. However, in May 2012 the court rejected the challenge as it found that the rule was not a deliberate evasion of insolvency law.[22]
List of clubs that have entered administration
Scotland
Following the adoption of a points sanction in the English Football League, a similar rule was proposed for adoption by the Scottish Premier League (SPL) in December 2003.[123] It was announced in January 2004 that SPL clubs going into administration in the 2004–05 season would be subject to a 10-point deduction and be prevented from signing new players. With Motherwell and Dundee already in administration at the time, it was decided that if "they are not in the process of coming out of administration by 31 May", the deduction would be applied at the start of the following season.[124] Furthermore, the Scottish Football Association would not allow clubs in administration to play in European competition.[125] Both Motherwell and Dundee met the required conditions to avoid the deduction of points.[126] The 10 point penalty was subsequently applied to Gretna in the 2007–08 season[2] and Rangers in 2011–12.[127]
Although the Scottish Football League (SFL) had no automatic deduction of points for clubs going into administration, it reserved the right to "deduct championship points before or during a season and/or to impose a player registration embargo on any club".[128] This meant that its penalties for insolvency varied; Dundee were docked 25 points in the 2010–11 season because it was the second time they had entered administration in a relatively short period.[129] The SFL also had the power to place a team in the bottom tier (Third Division) if there were any doubts that the club could fulfill their fixtures for the forthcoming season.[130]
The administration and liquidation of The Rangers Football Club Plc prompted much discussion in Scotland about what sanctions (if any) are appropriate for an insolvent club.[131] When Rangers entered administration in February 2012, the club was docked 10 points in the 2011–12 Scottish Premier League. The SPL clubs agreed to amend the penalty for administration to the greater of 10 points or one third of the club's tally in the previous season.[132] Rangers attempted to agree a CVA with its creditors, but this offer was rejected by HMRC in June 2012.[133] The business and assets of Rangers were instead sold to a new company.[133] One of Rangers' assets was its membership of the SPL, but this could not be transferred without the approval of the other SPL clubs.[133] Rangers' application for transfer was rejected by a 10–1 majority.[134] The SPL attempted to negotiate a deal with the SFL whereby Rangers would enter the First Division (second tier).[135] This was rejected by SFL clubs, who instead voted for Rangers to be granted associate membership of the SFL and a place in the Third Division (fourth tier).[135]
When the SPL and SFL merged to form the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) in 2013, the penalty for entering administration was standardised as 15 points.[136] Hearts entered administration days before the leagues merged and were docked 15 points for the 2013–14 season under the old SPL rules, as they had earned 44 points in the 2012–13 season.[136]
List of clubs that have entered administration
Club | Entered administration |
Exited administration |
League(s) | Deduction(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Greenock Morton | 15 December 2000[137] | 8 August 2001[138] | First Division | None |
Clydebank | 23 December 2000[139] | 9 July 2002 Became Airdrie United[140] |
Second Division | None |
Airdrieonians | 21 May 2002 Dissolved[141] |
First Division | None | |
Motherwell | 24 April 2002[142] | 20 April 2004[143] | SPL | None |
Dundee | 25 November 2003[144] | 6 August 2004[145] | SPL | None |
Livingston | 3 February 2004[146] | 13 May 2005[147] | SPL | None |
Gretna | 10 March 2008[148] | 8 August 2008 Dissolved[149] |
SPL | −10 pts[2] Demoted to Third Division[150] |
Livingston | 24 July 2009[151] | 13 August 2009[152] | First Division | Demoted to Third Division[153] |
Dundee | 14 October 2010[154] | 12 May 2011[155] | First Division | −25 pts[156] |
Rangers | 14 February 2012[127] | 14 June 2012[157] | SPL | −10 pts[127] After its membership of the SFA was transferred to a new company, Sevco Scotland Ltd, Rangers were admitted to the Third Division.[158][159] |
Dunfermline Athletic | 27 March 2013[160] | 13 December 2013[161] | First Division | −15 pts[162] |
Heart of Midlothian | 19 June 2013[163] | 11 June 2014[164] | SPL | −15 pts[163] |
Clubs in other sports that have entered administration
Club | Entered administration |
Exited administration |
Sport | League(s) | Deduction(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crusaders R.L. | 12 November 2010[165] | 27 December 2010[166] | Rugby league | Super League | −4 pts[167] |
Wakefield Trinity | 1 December 2010[168] | 17 February 2011[169] | Rugby league | Super League | −4 pts[170] |
Notes
- ↑ Charlton was reformed under Charlton Athletic (1984) Ltd.[23]
- ↑ Middlesbrough was reformed under Middlesbrough Football & Athletic Company (1986) Ltd.[25]
- ↑ Hull were renamed under Hull City AFC (Tigers) Ltd.[33]
- ↑ Derby County Football Club did not enter administration itself but holding company, "Derby County PLC", did enter administrative receivership.[48] The company was almost instantly taken over by newly formed company, Sharmine Limited.[47][49]
- ↑ Ipswich Town only entered temporary administration, this allowed existing club management to stay in place while finances were being restructured.[50]
- ↑ The Conference had no policy of automatic points deductions but, having failed to confirm payment of the previous season's CVA, the club were docked 6 points prior to the 2007–08 season for "bringing the Blue Square League into disrepute".[65]
- ↑ Due to Boston United's financial problems they were not placed in the Conference National when they were relegated but demoted straight to the Conference North.[68]
- ↑ Leeds United were originally deducted 10 pts,[69] but they were deducted 15 pts for not exiting administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement.[71]
- ↑ Luton Town were docked 10 points in the 2007–08 League One season.[72] Unable to agree to a CVA and exit administration, Luton were docked a further 20 points at the start of the 2008–09 League Two season (this was in addition to 10 more points deducted for misconduct).[74]
- ↑ Bournemouth were originally deducted 10 pts for the 2007–08 season.[77] Having failed to exit administration or to a agree to a CVA before the start of the 2008–09 season, they started that side with −17 points.[77]
- ↑ Rotherham were originally deducted 10 pts for the 2007–08 season.[78] Having failed to exit administration or to a agree to a CVA before the start of the 2008–09 season, they started that side with −17 points.[78]
- ↑ Southampton were deducted 10 pts when it was found that the football club was "inextricably linked as one economic entity"[84] to the holding company Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC which had gone into administration on 2 April 2009.[83] As Southampton were relegated in the 2008–09 Championship season the points were deducted at the start of the 2009–10 League One season.
- ↑ As Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on 26 February 2010 having breached five Conference rules.[88] On 8 March 2010 their results were expunged[89] and on 10 March 2010 the club was wound-up at the High Court.[90]
- ↑ Chester City entered administration just weeks after they were relegated in the 2008–09 League Two season. The club were therefore docked 25 points at the start of the 2009–10 Conference National season:[91] the automatic 10-point deduction and a further 15-point deduction due to investigations of financial irregularities by owner Stephen Vaughan, Sr.[92]
- ↑ Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Ltd. was renamed Northwich Victoria Football Club (2007) Ltd.[95]
- ↑ Northwich Victoria were initially subject to the automatic 10-point deduction. Furthermore, because they came out of administration "without paying its creditors (including but not limited to football creditors) in full",[96] they were expelled from the Conference and placed in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.[97]
- ↑ Salisbury City were initially subject to the automatic 10-point deduction. Furthermore, they failed to "pay all creditors in full by the second Saturday in May" which carried a two division demotion placing them in the Southern Football League Premier Division.[103][104]
References
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- ↑ "Wimbledon go into administration". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
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- ↑ "Crawley placed in administration". BBC Sport. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ "Crawley Town conclude their CVA". BBC Sport. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
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- ↑ "League confirm Boston deduction". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ↑ "Boston come out of administration". BBC Sport. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ↑ "Boston suffer new demotion blow". BBC Sport. 10 June 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- 1 2 "Leeds Utd call in administrators". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
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- ↑ "Stockport enter administration after failing to pay creditors". The Guardian. London. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "STATEMENT ON STOCKPORT COUNTY". Football League. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Chester City expelled from Football Conference". BBC Sport. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
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- 1 2 "Salisbury City lose their appeal against demotion". BBC Sport. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ↑ "Salisbury City facing double demotion over unpaid debts". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
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- ↑ Brian Marjoribanks (13 July 2012). "Get out of here! Rangers thrown down to Third Division after clubs vote against stricken club". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ↑ "Dunfermline set for cuts as interim administration is granted". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ↑ "Pars are officially out of administration eight months after club's future was thrown in doubt". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ↑ "Dunfermline docked 15 points following administration". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- 1 2 "Hearts placed into administration and deducted 15 points". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ↑ McLauchlin, Brian (11 June 2014). "Hearts: Club exit administration, signing ban lifted". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ↑ Wilson, Andy (12 November 2010). "Crusaders in administration but Wrexham Village aim to secure future". guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ↑ "Crusaders come out of administration and vow to back Iestyn Harris". dailymail.co.uk. London. 27 December 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ↑ "Crusaders suffer points deduction". BBC Sport. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ↑ "Wakefield Trinity Wildcats enter administration". BBC Sport. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ↑ Press Association (17 February 2011). "Wakefield Wildcats out of administration after sale goes through". guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ↑ Press Association (18 February 2011). "Wakefield docked four points for going into administration". guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 13 October 2013.