Luton docked points but FA finds no evidence of bungs

Luton Town have been deducted 10 points for next season after being found guilty of 15 charges of misconduct by a Football Association regulatory commission.

The League Two side and a number of their former directors were hit with charges last season after allegations of bungs were made. But in his judgment yesterday, Peter Griffiths QC insisted there was no evidence of any "bungs or backhanders passed on to agents", but he did say that the club had been run with "a flagrant disregard for the regulations laid down to protect the game".

The charges were issued against the club in November after allegations made by former manager Mike Newell in January 2006. It was alleged that payments totalling £160,000 had been made to agents by the club – and the club, its directors and six agents were hit with charges by the FA.

The Hatters went into administration in November, leading to a 10-point deduction which saw them relegated from League One, just a year after going down from the Championship.

As well as the cut in points, the club have been fined £50,000 while former chairman Bill Tomlins has been fined £15,000 and banned from all football activities for five years. Former financial director Derek Peter was banned from the game for a year and fined £3,750 in relation to seven charges, while former directors Richard Bagehot and John Mitchell were fined £750 and £250 respectively for "failing to immediately report the relevant wrongdoing".