Lord Mawhinney feels sorry for Luton Town supporters, but the Football League chairman says that a 20-point deduction was the only punishment that the Coca-Cola League Two club could have received for breaking the League's insolvency rules.

“We have to respect and maintain the integrity of our competitions,” Mawhinney said. “When a club goes into administration it sheds its debts and it gets a competitive advantage over the other clubs who are playing in its division. They clear their debts while other clubs have to pay their bills. We have to send a message out to all clubs that they have to be run in a prudent and sensible way.”

Luton were deducted ten points by the FA for making illegal payments to agents last month and the latest 20-point penalty means that Mick Harford's team will have to kick off next season on minus 30 points. Luton were also deducted ten points last November for entering administration. In the past eight months they have won 22 points on the pitch and been deducted 40 points.

“Of course I feel sorry for the fans but at the end of the day we have to apply the law,” Mawhinney said. “I have sympathy for Luton just as I had sympathy for Leeds United last season but you have to bear in mind that this is the third time that Luton have gone into administration in the past ten years.

“It was a difficult decision and, although unanimous, it was made with a heavy heart. We discussed it for some time and we came to the correct decision. I fail to see how it's unfair.”

Luton Town Football Club Ltd 2020, the consortium that is trying to take the club out of administration, has been told by the League that the punishment is non-negotiable. The consortium will have to sign a letter waiving its right to an appeal and agree to pay creditors an extra £500,000 if Luton want to play in League Two next season.

“We were stunned by the decision but it is irreversible so we'll just have to take it on the chin,” Mick Harford, the Luton manager, said. “Our backs are against the wall but we'll come out fighting. For the past three years this club has been mismanaged and run in a totally shabby way. Now we have a chance to put this all behind us and build a new team and plan for the future. We have to regroup and regenerate and I believe the new owners are the right people to take us forward.”

Harford's first task when the club come out of administration will be to build a new squad to replace the players who have left the club. Nearly all the players who helped Luton to finish above Stoke City and Hull City - who will be playing in the Barclays Premier League next season - two years ago have left Kenilworth Road. “Starting a season on minus 30 points is the hardest challenge any manager has faced,” Harford, who played 168 times for the club in the 1980s and 90s said. “But I'll get the players in, I'll coach them, I'll make them believe in themselves and we'll do whatever it takes to stay up. It's going to be a massive challenge but we'll prove everyone wrong.” Comment: This is an unfair judgment for Luton Town and its fans

Fans and former players saddened

“It is very disappointing for everyone connected with the club. It is such a shame that something that happened off the pitch is going to have such an impact on what the team will be trying to do on the pitch next season.”
Monty Panesar, England cricketer and Luton Town fan

“I'm still fully committed to the club. I'm not going anywhere. I'll make sure I get a squad together that will keep Luton up next season. The bookmakers are hardly ever wrong - they've already written us off - but I aim to prove them wrong. This club has got a great history, we're the oldest club in the South East and I'll give the fans a team they can be proud of.”
Mick Harford, Luton manager

“It will be a miracle if they do not get relegated after this because what team comes back from minus 30 points? Morale will be desperately low and they will struggle to attract any players to join the club. Joining a team who are rock bottom of the Football League on minus 30 points is not an attractive option. Relegation from the Football League could even put them out of business.”
Chris Perry, Southampton defender, who left Luton at the end of last season

“It's a terrible blow. They have an FA appeal [on Tuesday] in which I think they will get the ten points back where they failed to comply with the administration of certain transfers, so that's another issue. This is terrible news, but I think they'll survive.”
David Pleat, former Luton manager

“I think the League's decision is very harsh, but now is the time to prove everyone wrong and turn this around. I believe we can, otherwise I would not offer my help.”
Dean “Midas” Maynard, celebrity and sport psychic who has offered his services to the club

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