Bristol Rovers considering legal action to avoid relegation

[Lady Whistledown]

Bristol Rovers, relegated to non-league on goal difference this season, are seeking legal advice regarding Wycombe Wanderers, the team who finished immediately above them. This stems from an irregularity in the contract of Matt Phillips, last seen playing for QPR after a spell at Blackpool. The FA have investigated and found Wycombe guilty, and fined them £10,000. Phillips was sold by Wycombe in 2010.

Rovers are claiming that Wanderers have gained "a competitive advantage" as a result of this action, four years ago, and are suggesting to the Football League that only a points deduction (and thus Wycombe's relegation instead of Rovers') is appropriate.




Bristol Rovers are to lodge a complaint to the Football League and Football Association over an alleged breach of third-party ownership rules by Wycombe.

Last week, Wycombe were fined £10,000 for a breach of FA rules over the sale of Matt Phillips to Blackpool in 2010. However, that charge was relating to breaking rules regarding agents and not third-party ownership.

The two sides finished level on points in League Two this season, with Rovers relegated on goal difference. Wycombe were found guilty of agreeing to pay an agent through a future sell-on clause of winger Phillips. The agent involved, Phil Smith, was banned for two years - 18 months of which was suspended. Phillips joined Blackpool for £325,000 from Wycombe in 2010 and moved to QPR last year, which is when the offence came to light.

In a statement, Bristol Rovers said the infringement "led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers".

It added: "Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated."

A Wycombe statement said: "We will, as always, fully cooperate with the Football League and the Football Association in any investigation into this matter, but we are fully confident that there is no case to answer."



There's desperate, and there's desperate, isn't there? Have a bit of dignity, Rovers, and accept your fate with grace. Poor show.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Rovers fans must be mortified at the moment. As if going down wasn't bad enough, now this pathetic attempt to shirk responsibility. Seems an absolute mess of a club.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Rovers fans must be mortified at the moment. As if going down wasn't bad enough, now this pathetic attempt to shirk responsibility. Seems an absolute mess of a club.

If the responses on Twitter are anything to go by, I think, in the main, they are completely embarrassed by this.

It's the sort of action you might expect from someone like Vincent Tan, not the longstanding directors of a (once) proud Football League club. They won't succeed of course, but, if they did, where would it end? Would every club that's missed out on promotion or got relegated by the odd point and who have lost to Wycombe during the last four seasons make a claim too?

 

[DNB_Seagull]

Feel awful for the fans.

 

[TomandJerry]

Oh my

 

[SweatyMexican]

It's a bold strategy Cotton, lets see if it pays off for them.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Lol their fans thought they were safe after winning away to Wycombe with a late winner in the penultimate game

Fa shouldn't even respond to this crazy request

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Disgraceful move.

Clearly they are being run by a joke of a board.

 

[Frutos]

The fans must be utterly mortified by this.

 

[Notters]

Blimey didn't spot that they'd been relegated.

 

[The Sock of Poskett]

At. Clutching. Straws.
(rearrange to make a popular phrase or saying)

 

[fat old seagull]

Oh dear, the metaphor that springs to mind might have clutching and straws in its content. The straws might float, but Rovers must be pretty much out of other ideas to put any reliance on this bearing the weight of their inability to score enough points.
So I suggest for Bristol Rovers it's (sadly) Lights Out. Shame not to go out with ones head held high.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

There must be a bit of bad blood between their board and Wycombe's mustn't there? This can't just be born out of a genuine belief they don't deserve it? Surely? SURELY?

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

What a baffling attempt to stay up.

If West Ham never got punished after the whole Tevez/Mascherano thing (which was actually in the same season) then what chance do they really have?

Surely they shouldn't be so willing to waste money now?

 

[Rogero]

They have just got planning permission for a lovely new ground.

 

[Left Footer]

Pirates by name Pirates by nature.

 

[Badger]

Surely there's an irregularity in Pompey's accounts, it wouldn't be right if there wasn't. Just dock them 10 points and it's problem solved.

#twats

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Lol their fans thought they were safe after winning away to Wycombe with a late winner in the penultimate game

Fa shouldn't even respond to this crazy request

The FA (or is it the FL, not sure) won't do anything at all, I'd imagine, as they've already dealt with it, fining Wycombe £10,000 as of last week.

 

[dazzer6666]

'Have you been injured in an accident at work ? Looking for someone else to blame for your own incompetence?' etc...............................

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The official statement on the Rovers website makes for quite pathetic reading, frankly (especially for fans of erroneous apostrophes):




It has come to the attention of Bristol Rovers FC that Wycombe Wanderers FC appear to have breached FA rules on Third Party Ownership.


It’s current Chairman, in giving evidence at a recent FA Disciplinary Hearing, appears to have admitted a serious breach in respect of the player, Matt Phillips (and possibly other players).


The result of this led to Wycombe wrongfully obtaining a competitive advantage over Bristol Rovers.


Without this, Wycombe rather than Bristol Rovers could have been relegated.


Bristol Rovers were relegated merely on goal difference, and as the breach, if proven, would have almost certainly led to a points deduction, Bristol Rovers have instructed specialist sports lawyers together with Nick De Marco, a leading sports barrister, to draft and send a complaint to both The Football League and The Football Association.