Club Statement On Wycombe And Third Party Ownership Regulations

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.

 

Is this for real or another wind up

 

i read this on club facebook page, fingers and everything crossed.

 

It's real alright but knowing our luck I doubt things will change.

They may get a points deduction but that will carry into next season still in League 2.

 

Matt Phillips left Wycombe 4 years ago what the hell is going on the board seem to be getting desperate

 

It's is on the OS so it's not a wind up. However irrespective of these circumstances I believe that if Wycombe Wanderers are found guilty, which after admission of third party ownership, they will I fear that they would not be relegated and Rovers will not be reinstated to the football league even if they assume a draw which would make 1 point difference. Recall the situation with Teves and West Ham getting a fine from the FA for breach of regulations. The most probable punishment would be a harsh fine and possibly a claim by BRFC for lost profits etc. however don't forget the FA could levy a fine and or points deduction against BRFC for crowd trouble in the two matches VS Wycombe (away) and Mansfield (Home) which could still see Rovers relegated. The fact that no sanctions were bought against Rovers could easily change as the FA are not known for going back on results and positions or final standings. We are definitely clutching at straws in the hope we have a leg to stand on.

 

My mate just txt me saying he heard on talk sport that if found guilty then Wycombe will be relegated

 

Well if that's the case BRFC were relegated on their final standing and points what's not to say that Rovers would stay relegated and Gateshead would be promoted. With the FA it just can never be that easy.

 

Wycombe's punishment wouldn't be automatic relegation, it could possibly be a points deduction which would put them in the bottom 2 not Rovers, Gateshead have nothing to do with this.

 

FFS. Its like a flipping soap opera! What a mess this is.

Do the board actually believe that the football league will kick Wycombe out of the league and reinstate us back to league 2?

If the board believe we have a chance of getting reinstated then until the matter is resolved, surely Clarke will be unable to sign any players as dont know what division we will be in and what budget he has available. Conference has no FFP so would have a big budget but if we are back in league 2 then we have the FFP rules so will be stuck on a limited budget. Clarke would be in limbo now until this is sorted.

If the board didnt think we had a chance of being reinstated back to league 2 then...
1) Why are they bothering getting involved in this and wasting funds in getting "specialist sports lawyers together with Nick De Marco, a leading sports barrister"?
and
2) Why are they distracting themselves with this instead of concentrating and planning a head on how to get back up to the football league instead of getting involved with Wycombes business?

 

From Evil Post

Bristol Rovers have this afternoon released a statement on their official website questioning Wycombe Wanderers' rule breach on Third Party Ownership.

Wycombe, on points difference, managed to stay in Sky Bet League Two following a 3-0 win over Torquay United on the last day of the season, while Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat against Mansfield which sent them down into the Conference.

Wycombe were fined £10,000 a week ago for a breach of Football Association rules in the sale of Matt Phillips to Blackpool four years ago.

Agent Phil Smith was banned for two years, 18 months of which is suspended.

Wycombe, who are now under new ownership, were found guilty of arranging payment to the agent through a percentage of a future sell-on fee.

Meanwhile, the statement on Bristol Rovers' official website says: 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.

 

We were fined £10,000 which we agreed we will not fight so the fa have punished us allready and they won't suddenly decide to punish us twice for the same offence.Also Phillips was sold under the old owner Steve Hayes and not the trust who now run the club. Rovers are fast becoming a laughing stock! You were relegated on goal difference fair and square so stop your nonsense.

 

its not us mate. its our board who are very desperate and who has made all our fan base very angry. its not us fans. i think we are all in agreement that this is very embarrassing.

but surely our board must believe we have a good chance of getting reinstated? why would any sane person get involved with this if there was nothing to gain?

 

Sounds like clutching at straws to me. If there are GENUINE grounds for appeal, then of course
they must be pursued. However it still doesn't hide the fact that we've been a rubbish side all
season at the wrong end of the whole football league, controlled by a clueless bunch of......................

 

Nothing will happen just major desperation from NH and the board to win us back

 

Unfortunately Mowgli1960 I agree with what you say to a degree. Basically if Wycombe have been fined previously for breaching these rules then they have had their punishment. Further sanctions can be passed if the club and the agent involved have ignored the sanctions placed upon them irrespective of whether it was New or Old ownership. I do feel however that our BoD are clutching at straws and that is making us look increasingly desperate to overturn our relegation which was our own fault. If they have instructed this sports barrister to act on their behalf I'm sure they wouldn't waste time if there wasn't something that could be proved but it does not fill me full of optimism.

 

How did we have a competitive advantage over Rovers when it was over 4 years ago and we were not even in the same division at the time? It's just putting money in the lawyers pockets but if Rovers can afford to throw money away then good luck with that!
I'm surprised you havn't asked for the Mansfield game to be replayed as they had to borrow your last seasons away kit or whatever it was. Oh hell i've given you ideas now!

 

again its not us. its the board of directors. think you will find were all in agreement with you!

 

Sorry mate i'm not in the best of moods today. Had messages from Rovers fans saying they feel ashamed by what the board is doing.

 

got to laugh mind. The club is a complete joke. Could understand if it happened this season, but 4 years ago Seems instead of preparing for next season your club are searching high and low for a reason to still be a league club, you have to admire their determination and desire to find this