Ken H - angry

By Charlie Summerbell
May 6 2010

So, three points it is then … Hartlepool United have been given the punishment most people expected for fielding Gary Liddle in the win over Brighton when he should have been suspended.They have a month to appeal, and while many people feel the punishment fits the "crime", that is a route they are likely to follow if they are relegated on Saturday.

They have been docked three points and that means they go to Brentford on Saturday needing a last-day result to ensure League One safety.
Pools are now on 49 points, a point ahead of Exeter and Tranmere, and a point behind Gillingham. One of those four will join Stockport, Wycombe and Southend in relegation.
Typical of Pools - they can’t just see out a season in the middle of the table without any alarms or worries. Not only has their basic book-keeping error cost them a win, they have also been fined £3,500 by the FA, Liddle has been given an extra one-game ban and there is an additional £10,000 suspended fine from the Football League.

Basically, Pools have had their collective bum smacked and the only good news is that Liddle can play at Brentford on Saturday because his ban is not due for a fortnight.

Pools have reacted to the news angrily and in a statement on the official website suggests an appeal is possible.

The statement says: “The Club and its owners, while fully recognising that we play under two sets of rules (FA and FL), are amazed that the club and player have been tried and punished for the same offence on two different occasions – something that does not even happen under English law.”

It continues that similar offences by other clubs have not attracted points deductions (Tevez at West Ham) and suggests the FA and the League need to review the rules.
“The club and its owners are currently considering its position and are aware that the club have up to 28 days in which to lodge an appeal to the Football League with regards to the points deduction.”
Our guess is that if Pools are relegated, they will appeal, but if results go their way on Saturday they will leave things as they are.

Chairman Ken Hodcroft is clearly the man behind the angry words of the club statement and he is NOT a man to cross. If Pools are not safe on Saturday tea-time, expect an appeal and expect fireworks, because he will not go down without a fight.