If Bolton don't complete their fixtures

[paddy20]

With the postponement of their game today and players on strike there is a real likelihood of them not completing their 2 remaining fixtures. This is likely to mean that all points gained against Bolton will be deducted. We only managed 1 and all of the others at the bottom also only managed 1 so it should not effect the relegation slots luckily!!

[From Despair To Where?]

If it come's to this, I can't see the EFL expunging 44 results when the 2 games left have no bearing on promotion or relegation. They'll more likely award two 3-0 walkovers.

[Zip]

Yeah I think their opponents would be awarded 3-0 victories in their final games. Big problems for Bolton. Presumably they will start next season with a points deduction.

[Nameless]

AWarding 3-0 walkovers would be ridiculous, cannot think why that would even be an option. Would set a very dangerous precedent.
Between the PFA and the league they will get the games played even if they are behind closed doors with youth team players.
Very fortunate that not only are Bolton already down but their remaining opponents have nothing to play for. Imagine if their last 2 games were Rotherham and Leeds !

[Wycombe Royal]

Very fortunate that not only are Bolton already down but their remaining opponents have nothing to play for. Imagine if their last 2 games were Rotherham and Leeds !

If that had been the case heather PFA or even the EFL would have stepped in and paid the players wages. I believe it is only because they are nothing games that they have allowed the postponement.

[From Despair To Where?]

AWarding 3-0 walkovers would be ridiculous, cannot think why that would even be an option. Would set a very dangerous precedent.
Between the PFA and the league they will get the games played even if they are behind closed doors with youth team players.
Very fortunate that not only are Bolton already down but their remaining opponents have nothing to play for. Imagine if their last 2 games were Rotherham and Leeds !

Awarding a 3-0 walkover is standard procedure the world over when clubs cannot fulfil a fixture. It wouldn't set any sort of precedent whatsoever because it's been done hundreds of times before. FIFA Disciplinary Code punishes the team sanctioned with a forfeit with a 3–0 loss. #it's already happened in the Championship. The Battle of Bramall Lane was declared a walkover or forfeit as under official rules, a team has to have at least 7 players on the pitch to complete a ficture.

[Nameless]

AWarding 3-0 walkovers would be ridiculous, cannot think why that would even be an option. Would set a very dangerous precedent.
Between the PFA and the league they will get the games played even if they are behind closed doors with youth team players.
Very fortunate that not only are Bolton already down but their remaining opponents have nothing to play for. Imagine if their last 2 games were Rotherham and Leeds !

Awarding a 3-0 walkover is standard procedure the world over when clubs cannot fulfil fixtures. It wouldn't set any sort of precedent because it's been done hundreds of times before. The Battle of Bramall Lane was declared a walkover when Sheffield United went down to 5 players and couldn't continue. It was just co-incidence that West Brom were winning 3-0 at the time.

So if Bolton had folded after 25 games those teams they hadn’t played would have got 3-0 wins ?
It’s very different to award a walkover for a one off game but to do it for a number of league games devalues the whole season.
It obviously does set a precedent because I can’t recall the last time it happened in the FL, it’s not really relevant what other leagues do.
As far as I can see the EFL rules don’t specify what happens if a club fails to complete it’s fixtures. But as Bolton have been told they must play the last 2 games it’s not going to be an issue !

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Latest BBC updated report says EFL are expecting Bolton to complete their fixtures by the end of the season and today's game would have gone ahead using youth players if the U18's hadn't played on Thursday.

The issue appears to be between Anderson and Bassini rather than the EFL dilligence taking time etc...

Seems the takeover agreement not as watertight as suggested.

[strap]

The bigger question is what happens should Bolton fold - presumably unlikely as there appears to be a buyer in the wings.

Presumably if Bolton did fold only 2 clubs would go down from our division this season, with 3 coming up as usual. Then only three down from the 3rd tier and four coming up, with the spare place created in tier 4 filled by a third promoted team from the National League.

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

In that scenario Millwall would be third from bottom on 42 points with 3 games to play. Wigan 4th from bottom on 44 points with 2 left and us 5th from bottom on 45 also with 2 games left. It would certainly make the last 2 games very interesting.

[From Despair To Where?]

i don't think it does devalue the league season by awarding 3-0 walkovers for 2 fixtures that hold absolutely no bearing on any promotion or relegation issues and aside from making Bolton fulfil the fixture, would be a safe option and make sense in the circumstances. Certainly it would devalue the season less than expunging the previous 44 fixtures. Realistically, Bolton are not going to fold, will be forced to play the fixtures in some capacity and are probably looking at a points deduction next season.

Previous examples of clubs being kicked out mid season have all occurred with at least 13 games remaining in the season so obviously, there were still numerous games to be played that could impact on promotion and relegation. In those circumstances, results have been expunged.

[Hound]

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

Absolutely no chance of that happening

[windermereROYAL]

The bigger question is what happens should Bolton fold - presumably unlikely as there appears to be a buyer in the wings.

Presumably if Bolton did fold only 2 clubs would go down from our division this season, with 3 coming up as usual. Then only three down from the 3rd tier and four coming up, with the spare place created in tier 4 filled by a third promoted team from the National League.

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

In that scenario Millwall would be third from bottom on 42 points with 3 games to play. Wigan 4th from bottom on 44 points with 2 left and us 5th from bottom on 45 also with 2 games left. It would certainly make the last 2 games very interesting.

Where you up all night thinking about that tripe? so the season finishes, everyone goes on their holidays, Bolton go to the wall and then the EFL announce the 4th bottom team are going down too?

[From Despair To Where?]

The precedent has always been 1 less being relegated from each division.

[The Royal Forester]

The bigger question is what happens should Bolton fold - presumably unlikely as there appears to be a buyer in the wings.

Presumably if Bolton did fold only 2 clubs would go down from our division this season, with 3 coming up as usual. Then only three down from the 3rd tier and four coming up, with the spare place created in tier 4 filled by a third promoted team from the National League.

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

In that scenario Millwall would be third from bottom on 42 points with 3 games to play. Wigan 4th from bottom on 44 points with 2 left and us 5th from bottom on 45 also with 2 games left. It would certainly make the last 2 games very interesting.

It could depend on when Bolton fold. If it is after this season finishes, either before or after the play offs, it could be that League 1 may have only 23 teams in it, which would mean every match day there would be one team not playing, then the rules regarding promotion/relegation could be amended before the start of the following season. This has happened before, when clubs have withdrawn during the season.

[strap]

The bigger question is what happens should Bolton fold - presumably unlikely as there appears to be a buyer in the wings.

Presumably if Bolton did fold only 2 clubs would go down from our division this season, with 3 coming up as usual. Then only three down from the 3rd tier and four coming up, with the spare place created in tier 4 filled by a third promoted team from the National League.

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

In that scenario Millwall would be third from bottom on 42 points with 3 games to play. Wigan 4th from bottom on 44 points with 2 left and us 5th from bottom on 45 also with 2 games left. It would certainly make the last 2 games very interesting.

Where you up all night thinking about that tripe? so the season finishes, everyone goes on their holidays, Bolton go to the wall and then the EFL announce the 4th bottom team are going down too?

Wooh steady chap, the Wild West has already been won! Was merely musing, Jeez ...

[Sutekh]

AWarding 3-0 walkovers would be ridiculous, cannot think why that would even be an option. Would set a very dangerous precedent.
Between the PFA and the league they will get the games played even if they are behind closed doors with youth team players.
Very fortunate that not only are Bolton already down but their remaining opponents have nothing to play for. Imagine if their last 2 games were Rotherham and Leeds !

Awarding a 3-0 walkover is standard procedure the world over when clubs cannot fulfil fixtures. It wouldn't set any sort of precedent because it's been done hundreds of times before. The Battle of Bramall Lane was declared a walkover when Sheffield United went down to 5 players and couldn't continue. It was just co-incidence that West Brom were winning 3-0 at the time.

So if Bolton had folded after 25 games those teams they hadn’t played would have got 3-0 wins ?
It’s very different to award a walkover for a one off game but to do it for a number of league games devalues the whole season.
It obviously does set a precedent because I can’t recall the last time it happened in the FL, it’s not really relevant what other leagues do.
As far as I can see the EFL rules don’t specify what happens if a club fails to complete it’s fixtures. But as Bolton have been told they must play the last 2 games it’s not going to be an issue !

Bolton will play the games if the players are paid something in the next couple of days

The players themselves are taking action as they feel they can as the remaining games for Bolton are nothing games.

If Bolton had folded after 25 games (or any number of league games) then the FL would not award 3-0 wins to every other club as the circumstances are entirely different in that Bolton would no longer exist to be able to fulfil those fixtures and so the FL would have to expunge Bolton’s playing record.

In this case Bolton still exist and so the outstanding fixtures will either be eventually played or victories awarded to the opponents. Bolton themselves may well be hit with further penalties for failing to fulfil the fixtures.

If Bolton were to fold now then, given the timing, the FL would reprieve the club in Lg1 that finished 21st and the club in Lg2 that finished 23rd while all promotion places remained as expected (remember Bolton have been relegated therefore any demise would effect Lg1 not the Championship). And those reprieves would then be cascaded down the various non leagues.

If Bolton folded later in the close season (probably once fixtures are all worked out) then Division 3 would be comprised of just 23 teams next season and the adjustment to correct the numbers would be made at the end of that season.

At the end of the day Bolton won’t fold and none of it is going to make any difference to Reading or to promotion and relegation issues in the Championship.

[One87One]

Bolton will not play Brentford in the 'planned' rearranged fixture this week. EFL to discuss possible actions to take against Bolton. Forest game uncertain at this time. Players and staff didn't get paid again... Bassini supposedly proving he has the funds to complete the takeover today, however he promised to pay everybody last week for wages owed and failed to do so.

[yuomi]

Bassini is a twice declared bankrupt, who has been ripped apart in various courtrooms for his conduct.

I get that the EFL's version of the fit and proper person test isn't quite as stringent as the PL's, but wtf?

[John Smith]

The bigger question is what happens should Bolton fold - presumably unlikely as there appears to be a buyer in the wings.

Presumably if Bolton did fold only 2 clubs would go down from our division this season, with 3 coming up as usual. Then only three down from the 3rd tier and four coming up, with the spare place created in tier 4 filled by a third promoted team from the National League.

But what if 3 were still to go down from our division, with 4 coming up? We'd be in a right state if that came to pass. Whilst I imagine this has no chance of happening, it should still concentrate our players' minds.

In that scenario Millwall would be third from bottom on 42 points with 3 games to play. Wigan 4th from bottom on 44 points with 2 left and us 5th from bottom on 45 also with 2 games left. It would certainly make the last 2 games very interesting.

Where you up all night thinking about that tripe? so the season finishes, everyone goes on their holidays, Bolton go to the wall and then the EFL announce the 4th bottom team are going down too?

Incredible. Just when I thought I'd seen all the drivel I could on here then Strap posts that. Wow!

[Sutekh]

Latest news.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... -deadline/

If the FL don't like it then by this time tomorrow Bolton Wanderers may well be an ex-parrot.

And given where we are in the season I would imagine that if that did come to pass Bolton's playing record would simply be allowed to stand.