Hatters blast Football League

The new owners of Luton have slammed the Football League for "trying to push Luton Town out of existence" after being hit with a 20-point deduction for failing to gain a CVA.

The League Two club will now start the new season on -30 points, having already been deducted 10 points last month by the FA for breaching rules over payments to players' agents.

But Stephen Browne, a director of the club's new owners LTFC2020 told club's official website: "Once again, the club suffers from the mismanagement of the past. Once again the faithful supporters are left high and dry. Once again a policy of honesty is not at all recognised by the football authorities who claim they want to clean up the game."

He continued: "It's quite clear that we have made a mistake. We placed our faith in the footballing authorities. We have tried to do everything openly and honestly.

"Obviously the very clear message from both the FA and Football League is that doing such a thing is a total waste of time.

"Once again the Football League fail as who was it that cleared the previous owners as 'fit and proper' owners in the first place?"

The Hatters' attempts to gain a CVA failed and they, like Leeds last season, have now been hit with a further points deduction, as well as being ordered to pay their creditors 16p in the pound.

They have also been forced to sign a letter relinquishing any right to an appeal against the penalty - but Browne insists the Hatters will fight on.

He added: "The Football League have decided to dictate what should be paid for the football club as it now appears that they are the only people who can set a purchase price for a football club.

"It's a gun to our heads because we also have to forego our right of appeal or else we will not be allowed to stay in professional league football. We have already discussed this internally and we have decided unanimously that we will continue the fight by sticking to our principles of openness and honesty."