Doncaster Rovers hint at further challenge to Bolton points verdict

In November the South Yorkshire club called for stronger punishment after Bolton were initially handed a five-point penalty, suspended for 18 months, for postponing games against Brentford, in April, and Rovers, in August.

The EFL launched an appeal after pressure from several League One clubs but reported this morning that their efforts have failed, with a second independent panel upholding the original decision.

Wanderers conceded the Brentford game after players went on strike over unpaid wages, the result awarded to the Bees 1-0 after the EFL tried unsuccessfully to reschedule the game.

After going into administration in May, several legal issues delayed their takeover. The club was told by the EFL to start the season at Wycombe with just a handful of professional players, and when safeguarding concerns were raised ahead of the Doncaster game over academy players, they took the controversial decision to postpone the game.

The fixture will be rescheduled, although attempts thus far have failed – the most recent being January 4.

A statement from Doncaster released this morning said the club would look at the details of the case before deciding whether any further action would be taken.

It read: “Doncaster Rovers note the outcome of EFL’s appeal following the independent panel’s disciplinary hearing into Bolton’s cancellation of their fixture against us and failure to fulfil a previous game against Brentford.

“Bolton pleaded guilty to the charges, with the independent panel deciding that our fixture should be rearranged along with a fine and suspended points deduction.

“We backed the EFL’s appeal, believing the decision has the ability to undermine the integrity of the competition, and will now review the panel’s findings.

“Everyone at Rovers is glad Bolton survived their financial problems, we wish them well under their new ownership and will work to schedule the fixture which had been cancelled by Bolton back in August.”