There is some confusion over the potential points deduction, so lets clear it up.
On Tuesday Saints will speak to the Football League regarding the technicalities of a Ten Point deduction, initially it was thought that as it was the holding company in admin and not the football club, that this deduction would not apply, however this could involve a lot of legal wrangling.
So what would the situation be if the League rule against Saints ?
Many have assumed that since the deadline for points deduction passed last week, that any penalty would be applied to next season ,this is not the case.
How it stands is that if a club goes into administration after this deadline, then the deduction is not applied immediately but at the end of the season dependent on league position. This means that if Saints were handed the penalty at the end of the season the league position would be looked at, if the ten points taken off would effect relegation or promotion, then the deduction would be made to this years total, so Saints could avoid relegation then go down after the ten points were deducted, in our current position we would be unlikely to finish over ten points off the third drop spot, so if the league rule against us on Tuesday then we are effectively relegated.
For clubs were the ten point deduction would not affect a promotion or relegation issue, admin after the deadline means that the deduction is made next season, confusing ? well this is the football league we are talking about !
In reality Saints will contend that to the letter of the law, they cannot be deducted points and that should the league try to implement the deduction then it will be taken further ie through the courts, if this was the case it could drag on for months, perhaps years, certainly well into next season.
The League would obviously want to avoid this, if Saints argument holds legal water then they are unlikely to impose the penalty, but take the easy route, and bolt the stable door after the horse has bolted.
You have to say if this was another club we Saints fans would be up in arms.