Derby County are still uncertain which division they will be playing in next season, with the English Football League drafting two sets of “interchangeable” fixtures in case they are in the Championship or League One.
As the full 2021-22 EFL schedule was released, an independent disciplinary commission hit the Rams with a £100,000 fine for “accounting irregularities”.
However, they are still being threatened with a backdated points deduction – which would mean relegation to the third tier – if an appeal goes against them.
The EFL said that there is a “possibility” that an appeal would lead to Derby being docked points which “would potentially impact the final league placings”. If that does happen, Wycombe Wanderers, who finished third from bottom in the Championship, would stay up instead.
Derby have strenuously denied wrongdoing and hit back at the governing body in a statement on Thursday morning.
“The club disputes that a points’ deduction at any time is appropriate, and disputes that it is lawful for the EFL to seek to impose one retrospectively, altering the final league placings after the season has already finished,” it read.
“The club looks forward to competing in the Championship in the 2021/22 season. It shall not comment further until after publication of the full written reasons of the Disciplinary Commission.”
The new season starts on 7 August and Derby are supposed to be playing Huddersfield at Pride Park. Wycombe, meanwhile, are expecting to play Accrington Stanley at Adams Park.
What have Derby allegedly done wrong?
The charges relate to player registrations. Each year, as players’ contracts tick down, the decrease in value has to be documented – a process called “amortisation”.
This change in value is recorded in the end-of-year financial statements and is considered to be part of a club’s annual expenses, like staff wages. Derby have been asked to resubmit their accounts for 2016, 2017 and 2018.
As Wayne Rooney’s side finished a point above the relegation zone, secured on the final weekend of the season when they twice came from behind to draw with Sheffield Wednesday, they have spent the summer anticipating another season in the Championship.
This is a long-standing issue though, with the original charges being lodged nearly 18 months ago. While Derby were later cleared of breaking EFL regulations, the Football League subsequently won an appeal.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3xPPVKs
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