Macclesfield Town and Stevenage learn their relegation fate on Friday night, and it has left fans on social media stunned.
The Silkmen reveal their suspended two-point penalty has been activated by an Independent Arbitration panel.
Our suspended two-point penalty has been activated by an Independent Arbitration panel.
Further details ?https://t.co/0EOdnN4hq8
— Macclesfield Town (@thesilkmen) June 19, 2020
It means the Boro are officially finish bottom of League Two & will be relegated to the National League for the first time since the 2009/10 season.
Macclesfield’s statement read: “Macclesfield Town can confirm that an Independent Disciplinary Panel has activated the suspended two point penalty which was levied against the Club during our previous hearing and as a result of further breaches of EFL regulations.
“An additional four point penalty has also been imposed and suspended ahead of the 2020 / 2021 season – to be activated in the event of the Club being found to have committed any further breach of Regulation 63.7 by not paying it’s registered players on time during next season.
“The Silkmen have also been ordered to deliver a professionally prepared business plan to the EFL, seeking to demonstrate sustainable financial resources and management to be put in place for next season and beyond by 31st July 2020.
“Further to this, the Panel continued to adjudicate that the Club should pay a fine of £20,000 to the EFL by the aforementioned date – “subject to the EFL, in it’s absolute discretion, considering whether to waive, defer or repay the same in the light of the business plan required”.
“The previously issued Sky Bet League Two standings are therefore unaffected by this, with The Silkmen concluding the 2019/20 campaign in 23rd place – albeit with an amended final total of 23 points.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the Independent Arbitration Panel for their unquestionable diligence, in reaching what we deem to be a fair and unbiased conclusion.
“Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mark Blower for his counsel and unwavering support throughout the duration of this matter.”
The English Football League have added: “An independent Disciplinary Commission has determined that Macclesfield Town will be deducted a further two points from this season’s League Two table following breaches of EFL Regulations.
“In addition, the Club has been fined £20,000 and ordered to cover payment of the legal costs related to the hearing.
“The latest misconduct charge brought against the Club related to failing to pay a number of players on the applicable payment dates due in March 2020, failing to act with utmost good faith in respect of matters with the EFL and for breaching an order, requirement, direction or instruction of the League.
“The Club was previously issued with a suspended two-point sanction in May 2020 as a result of other Regulatory breaches, and this penalty will now be activated taking the total to 13 points deducted from the Club’s 2019/20 campaign.
“The independent panel also ruled that a further four points should be deducted but suspended, and only activated if the Club is found to have committed any further breach of Regulation 63.7 by not paying its players on time during Season 2020/21.
“Today’s decision leaves Macclesfield Town in 23rd position in League Two after the application of the points per game formula as agreed by Clubs earlier this month.
“Under those newly agreed 2019/20 curtailment Regulations, the 24th placed Club in League Two will be relegated to the National League. This remains subject to ongoing discussions in respect of the 2019/20 National League play-offs and the EFL Board receiving the necessary assurances that the National League will start Season 2020/21 (i.e. the relegated Club from League Two has somewhere to play).
“A copy of the judgment will be published in due course.”
Fans reacted as Macclesfield and Stevenage learn their relegation fate…
congrats macc town ??you don’t deserve to go down anyway
— tom (@TD_2001) June 19, 2020
Blower arriving back at the Moss pic.twitter.com/a6VjQtPV45
— Jack (@jackainleyy) June 19, 2020
As Barnet fans congrats ? Stevenage going down ??????
— tomslevin2 (@tomslevin2) June 19, 2020
Never deserved to go down anyway, happy for you
— Callum Martin (@Cal_pafc) June 19, 2020
Congrats Macc. Wanted you to stay up.
— Rhys Parsons (@1rhysparsons) June 19, 2020
Stevenage relegated back to where they belong…. https://t.co/Up0yyAPeRn pic.twitter.com/EnQlXt9TCZ
— Jamie (@jamie_castle96) June 19, 2020
Bye stevenage, won’t be missed. https://t.co/dfDRrCOgA1
— Nino Barone (@NinoBarone27) June 19, 2020
Stevenage down… you love to see it!!!
— Kai Hatton (@Kaihatton1999) June 19, 2020
Stevenage away at the right point of the season could be mega,
Aldershot, Woking, Torquay, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, all the London ones, Solihull, Weymouth or bath potentially
Scottish cup ?
This leagues class #ytfc
— brad (@YtfcBrad) June 19, 2020
What are these Stevenage tossers gonna say now then???? https://t.co/71S5xTUK7M pic.twitter.com/ePgZkLSBiY
— Jaden Christy (@JadenChristy17) June 19, 2020
See ya Stevenage
— Jackbeeton (@Jckbeeton02cufc) June 19, 2020
Stevenage down? https://t.co/8WUkJQ2uDq pic.twitter.com/CUQeTlntNv
— Harry (@Harry_Hancock7) June 19, 2020
Stevenage are down I’m hearing? Heres to a great weekend lads ?@youngjby @Northall_ pic.twitter.com/H5ktvT3VSx
— Ewan ??????? (@Ewanjack_) June 19, 2020
— Ben (on loan at Hertha Berlin) (@MagicCMorton) June 19, 2020
Good!! Totally deserved! You have been embarrassingly bad this season! One the worse teams I have ever known grace a professional league
— Tom (@magpie_gunner) June 19, 2020
Atid
20th June 2020 at 9:22 pm
Don’t see why Stevenage need to down when surely there is a void because of the bury situation. Or am 8 missing something?