Dear Lord Triesman

We are the Chairmen of the three supporters groups that represent the significant majority of Luton Town supporters all across the globe. Each group appeals to different kinds of supporters, but since the Club entered administration in November 2007 we have increasingly worked together to create unity across the fan-base during difficult and unsettling times and also to help the Administrator vet potential suitors for the Club given the dubious track record of previous owners. In this respect Brendan Guilfoyle has stated on the record that he was very grateful for our co-operation during the whole administration process.

We have been fully behind the LTFC 2020 consortium ("2020") and while there is much to be warmly applauded in their business plan we were particularly impressed with their complete openness and honesty, their clear intentions about operating in a transparent manner and also their intention to address basic issues such as ensuring the Club only operates within its financial means. They are also heavily committed to regenerating both the youth side of the Club and creating greater cohesion with the local community and having greater fan participation. In respect of involvement in the community you will be aware through the FA's dealings with Butch Fazal of the big steps that need to and can be made in such a multi-cultural town as Luton.

In essence all the three supporters groups gave their 100% backing to the 2020 team, have continued to work with them and will do so if/when the Football League finally confirm their ownership of the Football Club and transfer of the ‘golden share'. I'm sure if you have read the business plan and associated documents sent to you by 2020 you will agree with our common view that this is a blueprint that can be adopted in the future across the whole footballing community as it contains principles that the Football Association and Football League as governing bodies and regulators will undoubtedly be fully committed to.

Therefore it is with great regret that we jointly write this communication following confirmation of the penalties the Football Association imposed on Luton Town Football Club on Wednesday 4th June 2008.

We are 100% behind the principle of clamping down on unacceptable behaviour at football clubs and in particular actions which ultimately cheat the fans. In our view punishments should be harsh and offenders should be liable to judiciary sentences where applicable. In today's game when so much money is involved there is the need for strict regulation and it is unquestionable that there should be transparency and honest conduct from those that run the Clubs especially those who control the financial management side.

Further to the findings of Peter Griffiths QC we have a number of questions that we would like to be answered on behalf of all Luton fans and other fans/clubs round the country that have taken an enormous interest in this case and have also been shell-shocked by the apparent injustice served on the Club in the form of the £50,000 fine and ten-point deduction for the 2008/09 season which is considered hugely disproportionate to the crime and lack of on-the-field benefit gained.

Cherry Newbery, the Club Secretary, initially alerted the Football Association to certain irregular activities by the then owners (Messrs Tomlins, Peter, Bagehot and Mitchell) two years ago yet no action was taken until Mike Newell alerted the national media of dishonesty in the game. We would ask that given the gravity of the allegations being raised by a respected administrator, why has no action been taken until the matter was given wider exposure through the media?

If Mike Newell had never made his plea to the authorities to stamp out dishonesty in the game,can you categorically confirm that any subsequent investigation would have actually taken place?

Given the subsequent punishments handed out, do you not feel that dishonesty wins, i.e. those who discover irregularities yet do not inform the authorities are the actual winners, despite knowingly cheating the game whereas those that act professionally and honestly, not only in alerting the authorities but also behaving impeccably and truthfully throughout any investigative process, suffer with more severe punishments? Don't you think that this approach is self-defeating and will only end up deterring others from whistle-blowing?

Following on from this, is it right that the Clubs receive higher punishments than the actual guilty perpetrators? As in the case of Luton Town why should the Club and fans suffer through direct punishment when the guilty parties have long since departed the Club. Can the reasoning behind this be explained please? A simple analogy here is that we buy a 2nd-hand car that 2 years previously was caught speeding and also involved in a hit and run accident.Upon buying the car we pay for all the repairs then suddenly get hit by a speeding fine, a driving ban and charged for the hit and run. That seems completely unjust but is actually very similar to the situation that 2020 will be inheriting, without further consideration for the fans.

Can you also clarify for us what footballing advantages the club is deemed to have gained by these irregular technicalities that as we understand that the actual payments were not illegal and actual issues just surround the source of, origin and lack of formal disclosure? Surely two consecutive relegations on the back of actions of the previous owners is evidence of the highest order that very little overall benefit was gained if any.

We are also bemused by the statement relating to the agents. Surely if regulations relating to agents have been significantly reviewed subsequent to the alleged payments that allow the accused agents to receive nothing more than a 'slap on the wrist', then surely this implies that same approach should be taken on the issues directly connected to the Club.

Many people in football are astounded by the inconsistency of Peter Griffiths' decision when considering the decision made on 27th April 2007 relating to West Ham United when they were fined £5.5m but spared any points deduction. The reasoning behind this in the report outlining the outcome attributed this to the change of management/ownership and the guilty plea from West Ham's owners. The report also took pity on the fans and the fight against relegation. Given the precedent set here when West Ham actually benefited by gaining points through playing ineligible players can you clarify why Peter Griffiths QC took a different approach when deciding on the penalty in the Luton Town case when the wrongdoing was only technical and administrative?

Supporters of clubs all over the country put great faith in both the Football Association and Football League to govern and regulate the game diligently whilst protecting the interests of supporters, who are the true fabric of the game and without whom the game would simply not exist. There has been a disturbing increase in recent years in the number of Clubs that have run into financial difficulties and, at Luton Town, we are no strangers to this very sad state of affairs that often leads to job losses and local companies losing many thousands of pounds.

As supporters we trust the FA to govern sufficiently robust ‘fit and proper' tests to screen potential owners of all professional league clubs. This is especially true of those coming out of an administration or receivership. In the case of Luton Town, two of the parties who became involved had highly questionable track records which should have raised serious concerns and prevented these individuals from ever being involved.

If the Football Association is truly committed to all levels of football then it should be providing far greater help to Clubs that get into financial trouble with appropriate guidance thereafter. However, this seems anything but the case at the present time.

By making such a heavy charge on Luton Town the Administrator will have to seek up front cash from 2020 before lodging an appeal to seek due justice. These funds will unfortunately be diverted from the one area that 2020 had budgeted to spend more money on in the coming years, namely the youth development and community programmes. How does this then fit with the commitment of the Football Association towards grass roots football?

Once again the big losers here are the fans. There is huge resentment to the treatment that has been meted out to Luton Town supporters who have done nothing wrong other than having subscribed as young children into the "Luton Town family" and getting hooked on the beautiful game and all that it offers.

Many now, and not just those at Luton, are accusing the Football Association of using bullying tactics and again coming down far heavier on a smaller club than a bigger club that would have far greater financial capability to challenge any such decision via independent tribunal. It is hard to take a different view, even when you take the emotion out of the situation.

Constant abuse of smaller clubs should not be tolerated especially when in the case of Luton Town, through 2020, we now aim to get our house in order and ensure by way of a long-term focused, sensible and comprehensive business plan there is stability, strict financial discipline and high ethics running all the way through the Club.

We appreciate that we have raised many issues in this letter. However we would ask that you provide us with a timely response to all the questions outlined above. We would then pass your response on to our supporters.

We would also sincerely hope that in view of the parlous state of many clubs' finances that the FA will be looking to set up an early warning system that would flag up clubs in financial difficulties before they find themselves plunged into administration or receivership.

As a matter of courtesy please note we will also be copying this letter to all our respective members as well as members of the press, 2020, Brendan Guilfoyle, local politicians, the Football League, FIFA, UEFA, the FSF and Supporters Direct.

We look forward to receiving your response and appreciate the time you take to deal with our issues.

Yours sincerely



Kevin Lennon - Chairman, Loyal Luton Supporters Club

Liam Day - Chairman, Trust in Luton

Kevin Barrett - Chairman, Luton Town Supporters Club