SWEET IS SO SOUR AS THE HATTERS PAY PRICE
LUTON Town chief executive Gary Sweet has blasted the EFL after the Hatters were fined £15,000 for breaking Checkatrade Trophy rules.
The EFL executive fined the League Two club £5,000 for each of their three Southern Group H matches, for breaching Rule 7.3 – not starting with at least five players who began the league fixture immediately before or after the Trophy game, or the five players who had started the most league and cup matches to that point in the season.
Luton went with their youngsters and, ironically, picked up £20,000 in prize money after winning 2-1 at League One Gillingham and beating West Brom’s Under-21s in their opening two matches. The Hatters lost 3-1 at home against Millwall in the final game.
Sweet said: “We are staggered we have been fined the maximum amount for our first offence, which was winning away from home at a club from the division above with half a dozen first-team regulars in their team.
“We played nine graduates of our academy in that game at Gillingham, and seven against a West Brom side containing four senior players, and still beat both.
“We believe our team selection has added value to a competition that was dying last season and is now well and truly on its last legs.”
Portsmouth have also been fined £15,000 and have indicated they will appeal.
A club statement said: “We have made it clear we are fundamentally opposed to the introduction of socalled ‘B’ teams into any first team competition.
“In our opinion, this only serves to undermine the integrity of the competition and Pompey will continue to fight strongly against any proposals.”
Other clubs fined were: Fleetwood (£5,000), Bradford, Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, MK Dons, Millwall, Charlton, Peterborough, Sheffield United, Southend (all £3,000).