Luton Town are investigating the possibility of an appeal against a judgment by the Football Association which will leave them 10 points adrift at the bottom of the Football League when the season starts in August.
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Luton, who were deducted 10 points last season after going into administration, which led to their relegation from League One, were additionally fined £50,000 yesterday after being found guilty of 15 charges of misconduct, concerning payments to agents.
In making his judgment on a total of 40 charges against the club and former directors, Peter Griffiths QC insisted there was no evidence of any "bungs or backhanders passed on to agents", though he said the club had been run with "a flagrant disregard for the regulations laid down to protect the game".
Bill Tomlins, the club's former chairman, was banned from football for five years and fined £15,000, while three other former board members were also punished, and six agents warned about their future conduct.
The investigation by the FA's regulatory commission followed allegations of bungs made two years ago by then-manager Mike Newell.
In a statement last night, Brendan Guilfoyle, the club's administrator, said: "The joint administrators and their solicitors are shocked by the severity of the sanctions, specifically the points deduction for next season.
"The club and Luton Town Football Club 2020 Ltd [who are financing a takeover] will give urgent consideration to an appeal."
The club's prospective owners were delighted the judgment exonerated Newell in blowing the whistle, but were critical of the FA's initial stance. "They still have to explain why they did not act the previous year when the allegations were first made?" LUTFC2020 said in a statement. "This hardly shows commitment to 'cleaning up football'."
