Conference News: Boston Enter Administration

Last updated : 09 May 2007 By Stray Shots Team
Goals from Ryan Valentine, Chris Llewellyn and Michael Proctor nullified Francis Green's opener and prolonged Wrexham's 86-year stay in the Football League.

Boston's directors, knowing relegation was all but certain in the closing stages of the match, swiftly entered the club into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) before the game had ended.

That should dictate that Boston were immediately deducted 10 points as punishment, although the League are yet to confirm the punishment.

Asked about the financial situation, Evans said: "You'll have to ask the chairman that. I don't know if we'll survive but there are a lot of people trying to make that happen.

"It's not the end we wanted. We haven't been paid for 12 weeks but you don't get relegated in only 12 weeks. I don't know what will happen now. I've got a contract but apparently there's been some interest in me so we'll have to see what comes of that."

The club now face a nervous wait to see if they will be accepted back into the Conference following their extraordinary exit from the Football League. 

The financially-crippled Pilgrims were relegated from League Two on Saturday after losing 3-1 at Wrexham.

In the closing stages of the game their chairman, Jim Rodwell, entered the club into a Company Voluntary Arrangement, preferring the automatic docking of 10 points to apply this season.

That has raised serious concerns with Conference bosses, who will discuss Boston's predicament at a board meeting on Thursday, while the club's continued existence remains uncertain.

Conference vice-chairman Charles Clapham said: "It's a unique situation with them going into administration in the last two minutes of the last game of the season.

"Whichever way you look at it, you can't turn around and say that this is sending out the right message in the world of football.

"It might be technically legal, but morally it's sending out the wrong message to creditors.

"In conjunction with the Football League, we'll have to look long and hard at the rules and the legality of it all in order to see what the implications will be.

"Leeds entered administration to save themselves a 10-point deduction next season and now a precedent has been set.

"It seems that clubs are using a loophole in the rules and I'm sure it will catch the attention of the ruling bodies.

"You've got to look at the trail of destruction which has been left behind and the people who've been good enough to give them credit.

"Maybe in the future clubs won't be able to get credit because of this type of action."

Boston's previous misdemeanours in the Conference could also be taken into account when their situation is discussed at Thursday's meeting.

When the Pilgrims were promoted from the Conference as champions in 2002, they were immediately hit by a four-point deduction and fine for breach of FA rules over player registrations.

Manager Steve Evans and former chairman Patrick Malkinson were given bans and last November both received suspended jail sentences for "conspiring to cheat the public revenue between 1997 and 2002".

Boston secretary John Blackwell said: "The Conference will surely have to take us but at the moment I'm more concerned about whether I'll have a job to go to."

The club's players and staff have not been paid for three months and Evans seems certain to quit the club and take the helm at Chester City.

And with the Football League yet to confirm Boston's 10-point deduction, the club could begin next season on minus 10 points in the Conference - provided they are allowed to play in the competition.

Source: http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6415 and http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6416