Dundee docked 25 points by SFL

After going into Financial Administration for the second time in seven years Dundee have been deducted 25 points

The points deduction sees Dundee drop immediately to the bottom of the table, 20 points behind Morton and staring relegation in the face.

Personally I have no sympathy for the Dens Park club who obviously have not learnt the lessons of their previous time in administration.

They tried to buy the First Division title last season by paying wages that teams in the SPL couldn’t even compete with, at the same time as paying transfer fess when no one else could.

Not winning the League showed they had no financial plan B for another year in the First Division and deserve all they have got in my opinion.

Having said all that I do hope they survive as I do not want to see any club go out of business, but if they survive I hope they never go down the over spending route again.

The full statement for the decision from the SFL is included below;

THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGRETS THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT DUNDEE F.C. FINDS ITSELF IN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN SEVEN YEARS.  WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE IMPACT THIS SITUATION HAS HAD ON ALL CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY PLAYERS, STAFF AND FANS OF THE CLUB.

THE SFL HAS A DUTY TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND ON-GOING SMOOTH-RUNNING OF THE LEAGUE.  OUR MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS EXPECT NOTHING LESS. 

FOLLOWING A THOROUGH PROCESS, AS ENDORSED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT DUNDEE FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED IS GUILTY OF CONDUCT CONTRARY TO LEAGUE RULES, THE INTERESTS OF THE LEAGUE AND ITS MEMBER CLUBS, AND THE FOLLOWING SANCTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED:
THAT DUNDEE F.C. BE DEDUCTED 25 LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
 

1. THAT, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, A PLAYER REGISTRATION EMBARGO BE IMPOSED UNTIL THE CLUB COMES OUT OF ADMINISTRATION.
    
2. THAT IF THE CLUB IS STILL IN ADMINISTRATION BY 31^ST MARCH, 2011, THE BOARD WILL RECONSIDER THE MATTER AND WILL DEAL WITH THE CLUB AS IT SEES FIT.
    

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DUNDEE F.C. HAS A RIGHT OF APPEAL AGAINST THESE SANCTIONS

 WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT LESSONS ARE NOT BEING LEARNED.  FOR EXAMPLE, CLUBS HAVE TO REALISE THAT, GOING FORWARD, THEY CANNOT TREAT THEIR HMRC OBLIGATIONS AS SOMETHING AKIN TO A CREDIT CARD.

 FOLLOWING A RECENT MANDATE FROM OUR CLUBS, THE SFL WILL NOW PREPARE THE INTRODUCTION OF AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM, DESIGNED TO ALLOW US TO INTERVENE AT ANY STAGE, IF ADVISED BY HMRC THAT CLUBS ARE DEFAULTING ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS.  WE ALSO WISH TO REITERATE THAT DUTIES OF CARE AND FINANCIAL DILIGENCE ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR ANY DIRECTOR OR OFFICIAL OF ANY CLUB.

 IN THE FACE OF CURRENT CHALLENGES, OUR ULTIMATE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT CLUBS SURVIVE WITH INTEGRITY.  PROFESSIONAL AND ROBUST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES ARE KEY TO THE FUTURE SECURITY OF ALL CLUBS.