Derby County began the 2021/22 season with a points deduction. From there, it was always going to be an uphill battle.
Over the years in English football, points deductions have not been uncommon, with many teams facing such punishments for financial mismanagement. Wigan Athletic, for example, were slapped with a 12-point deduction for entering administration in July 2019 before being relegated by on-field results in 2020.
Sheffield Wednesday also received a 12-point deduction for breaching EFL profitability and sustainability regulations in November 2019 after the league concluded that the club had breached the £39m permitted losses. This was halved later on, however, when an appeal panel disagreed with the original panel’s finding that the sale of Hillsborough stadium taking place after July 31 2019 was irrelevant to the case.
11 years ago today, a team of heroes travelled up to Sheffield Wednesday, backed by 6,000 fans in the away end & secured the point needed to overturn a 10-point deduction and survive on the last day of the season.My most emotional day as a Palace fan. pic.twitter.com/2jw4N7dny4May 2, 2021
In 2008, however, Bournemouth managed to beat the dreaded deduction. After failing to exit administration via a Company Voluntary Agreement, the Cherries were slapped with a whopping 17-point deduction from the league and facing the real possibility of slipping out of the Football League altogether – potentially folding, too.
The club entrusted the survival plans with rookie boss Eddie Howe, who had only recently completed his coaching badges and somehow, the south coast side managed to put together the form to survive on the penultimate day of the season, thanks to a Steve Fletcher goal against Grimsby.
In 2010, meanwhile, Crystal Palace dropped from ninth in the Championship to 21st – three points off the relegation zone – after being winded with a 10-point deduction. On the final day of the season, away to Sheffield Wednesday, the Eagles managed to hold on for an invaluable draw to steer clear of relegation.
There's hope out there for other clubs with points deductions…
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