Bolton update

[silent majority]

It can't be swept under the carpet. Everyone in League One knows it is pending the outcome of the commission.

I'm sure all those directly and indirectly involved are frustrated how long it has taken. We knew from shortly after the incident that the EFL referred the case to the Independent Disciplinary Commission so it begs the question, why has the FA taken so long to set a date?

Of course The EFL need to review their actions which led to Bolton being allowed to start the season in the first place.

That will be part and parcel of the review being carried out by Jonathan Taylor QC I would assume.

[adamtherover]

I'm rather tired of hearing what should or should not be done about a postponed game. It was not postponed, Bolton unilaterly decided to cancel the fixture.

They did not consult with the EFL or Doncaster. They simply announced a cancellation on the club web site without having the common decency to advise the other parties involved.

That action should not be rewarded with a rearranged fixture. The fixture was conceded. They refused to play. They withdrew.

As far as Doncaster Rovers is concerned, they were willing and able to play. They were denied an inevitable 3 points. The margin of victory is nominal and at the discretion of the EFL to award be it 1-0 or greater.

As for Bolton, they have to be punished for disregarding EFL rules and protocols. It cannot be swept under the carpet. Whatever the ruling they should accept it for acting in such an unprofessional manner and bringing the competition into disrepute.

The EFL should carry out an enquiry into their own procedures, dragging their feet and failing to act decisively. The whole shit show is becoming an embarrassment.

The Rovers might take legal action to secure the points, more mess’s for the EFL to sort out, and what if, just what if, Bolton stage a miracle run of results and a points deduction then causes them to be relegated.

In reply to the last part of the message above, that would be the upmost example of karma working its magic!!!!!!

[deebee]

I think we should hold a referendum.

[IDM]

It doesn’t matter that the opponent was Bolton - our opponent in a properly organised professional football fixture declined unilaterally to play and without permission nor informing us nor the organiser..

The game was forfeit - we get the result and as this was a league match that’s 3 points and a default winning score..

What other punishments the authorities dish out to Bolton is another matter entirely.

[BobG]

It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad, Football has been the most execrably led and managed sport for 50 years now. You can go right back to the wage cap and Jimmy Hill: nothing's ever changed, been planned, been managed, until it has been absolutely forced on these vacuous, empty headed people. Blazers follow blazers. Even the redoutable Alan Hardaker had his own, personal, agenda. The absence of foresight follows yet more absence of foresight. Jobs for aged boys in blazers follows yet more more jobs for aged boys in blazers. Their farcical inability to link cause with effect, to recognise a pattern, to grasp a nettle, has done more harm, over a longer period, to football than has been suffered by any other sport. And I include English cricket in that. They sat, resolutely, on their hands in 1998. I still have the letters documenting criminal wrong doing by one of their members. I know for a fact they had a file over a foot deep in Lytham St Annes on that horror show. They studiously ignored the lot.

We can't expect anything timely, sensible or even wise from these muppets. They are incapable of it.

BobG

[mushRTID]

Could they be waiting until we’ve played them at home to avoid any bad feeling at the game a decision might cause?

[Alan Southstand]

Bob, that was like a breath of fresh air. Thank you.

[Arsenal Of The North]

Could we assume that what ever the EFL outcome is.... it’s likely that either club will appeal it as it won’t satisfy both clubs. So if they don’t make a decision soon, then any appeal could rumble on close to the end of the season. How vital could 3 points be if we’re close to the play offs at the end of the season and this appeal still rumbles on? There could be implications for the play offs if it’s not sorted soon!

[the vicar]

According to a column by the Accrington chairman that the EFL want our game to take ace sometime in the near future

[IDM]

The one on the DFP site.?

Says “at some point” - not “near future”..

[DonnyBazR0ver]

According to a column by the Accrington chairman that the EFL want our game to take ace sometime in the near future

If the Disciplinary Commission hasn't sat yet and the sanctions haven't been determined how can that be true?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

According to a column by the Accrington chairman that the EFL want our game to take ace sometime in the near future

Having read the article that's not what was reported.

"it is understood..." "A final decision is yet to be made."

That suggests that someone connected with the EFL has offered an opinion but that doesn't mean that will be the outcome.

As suggested above, if the outcome is unsatisfactory to Bolton, ourselves and has implications for the integrity of the game going forward, there's likely to be appeals and complaints from other clubs.

[Glyn_Wigley]

If they replay rearrange the game, it sets up the possibility that if Rovers lose we would be the injured party but get absolutely nothing to show for it.

[drfchound]

The game can’t be replayed as it was never started in the first place.

[oliver]

Just to reiterate they can't replay a game that has not been played.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Fixed.

[the vicar]

There is a column on the free press website from the EFL and it says the only fare and propper thing is to give Rovers the points

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It's DFPs opinion on the matter. I'm sure we all agree.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/why-efl-must-take-hard-line-bolton-wanderers-postponement-doncaster-rovers-clash-and-it-bigger-either-club-828352

[drfchound]

It's DFPs opinion on the matter. I'm sure we all agree.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers/why-efl-must-take-hard-line-bolton-wanderers-postponement-doncaster-rovers-clash-and-it-bigger-either-club-828352

There is a column on the free press website from the EFL and it says the only fare and propper thing is to give Rovers the points

I don’t think it is from the EFL, it is more likely written by Hoden in conjunction with DRFC to put out there a further viewpoint on what they (and we) consider to be the fair and proper thing to do.

[scawsby steve]

It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad, Football has been the most execrably led and managed sport for 50 years now. You can go right back to the wage cap and Jimmy Hill: nothing's ever changed, been planned, been managed, until it has been absolutely forced on these vacuous, empty headed people. Blazers follow blazers. Even the redoutable Alan Hardaker had his own, personal, agenda. The absence of foresight follows yet more absence of foresight. Jobs for aged boys in blazers follows yet more more jobs for aged boys in blazers. Their farcical inability to link cause with effect, to recognise a pattern, to grasp a nettle, has done more harm, over a longer period, to football than has been suffered by any other sport. And I include English cricket in that. They sat, resolutely, on their hands in 1998. I still have the letters documenting criminal wrong doing by one of their members. I know for a fact they had a file over a foot deep in Lytham St Annes on that horror show. They studiously ignored the lot.

We can't expect anything timely, sensible or even wise from these muppets. They are incapable of it.

BobG

By God, Bob; what a fantastic post that is.

[RoversAlias]

That article is the opinion of Liam Hoden and Liam Hoden alone. Fair play to him for nailing his colours to the mast on the issue. Gavin Baldwin has previously said he's pushing for us to receive the points, the EFL have said nothing either way.

As I've said before I think it is likely the game will have to be played eventually, with Bolton receiving a further points deduction and perhaps ourselves receiving a small financial recompense.

[Glyn_Wigley]

At the very least I'd expect Rovers to get all the gate money and media revenue, so that Bolton aren't able to profit from their actions.

[steve@dcfd]

The argument was the young men could not play two games in a week.
Yet they did at the start of the season when they played in the Carabo Cup. Even after they unilaterally cancelled our game and after the takeover. The same team with young men played on the Tuesday night 3rd of September in the Leasing.com Trophy game. The new signings were not integrated into the team until the following Saturday.
The EFL from the start of the season made the wrong decision they have allowed a weakened team to compete in League 1 teams that achieved 3pts and 4/5 goals which could make a difference at the end of the season. If we have to play then what will stop any league team from cancelling games, knowing the league will allow to play the game again at their convenience.

[IDM]

Interestingly Macclesfield players are considering strike action over late wages.  If the don’t fulfil their fa cup tie, not only will they be eliminated this season, but barred from entry next season too.

Yes it is a different competition but the outcome is the same, their opponents get the victory and there is sanction against the offending club.

I can’t see why the EFL doesn’t do the same.?

[drfchound]

I hope that the Macclesfield players do refuse to play.
Their opponents will be awarded the win and it might help our cause.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Hold on a mo. Should this be a trigger for the EFL to step in and seek assurances from Macclesfield owners they can fund the rest of the season at least?

If lessons have been learned from the Bury and Bolton fiasco, the EFL should be on to this if they aren't already

[BobG]

Ho ho ho ho Baz!!!! Don't be so silly The Football league? Learning a lesson? Pull the other one. Go on.

Cheers

BobG

[the vicar]

According to a column by the Accrington chairman that the EFL want our game to take ace sometime in the near future

If the Disciplinary Commission hasn't sat yet and the sanctions haven't been determined how can that be true?

don't ask me but it's a statement from Accrington chairman

[IDM]

But he doesn’t say “near future” anywhere..

[DonnyBazR0ver]

According to a column by the Accrington chairman that the EFL want our game to take ace sometime in the near future

If the Disciplinary Commission hasn't sat yet and the sanctions haven't been determined how can that be true?

don't ask me but it's a statement from Accrington chairman

Yes, and as I pointed out earlier the same article also says no decision has been made yet.