First Luton, now Rotherham

ROTHERHAM United are the latest club to suffer the wrath of the Football League, and have been dealt a massive blow with news that they too will have points deducted.

The news comes just days before the big kick off on August 9 and will see Rotherham start the season second to bottom with a points total of -17, with Luton Town beginning their League Two campaign rock bottom of the table on -30.

This is massive news for Accrington Stanley though, who are aiming for the Play-Off spots in League Two after bringing in a number of good players in the summer with former Liverpool youngster Jimmy Ryan the latest to join; John Mullin, Chris King, Colin Murdock and Jamie Clarke (on loan from Blackburn).

This works either way, as both Luton and Rotherham would have been considered promotion contenders before the season, so should Stanley be looking at the top half, this will help out massively, but also on the other hand should things go wrong at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, then their points disadvantage will only help Stanley to survive.

The Millers were handed the penalty after being unable to satisfy the normal conditions of Football League rules for exiting administration.

The Football League has also warned Rotherham that they must be back playing their home games in Rotherham within four years or else they could end up losing their League status. The club was forced to leave Millmoor, their home for more than 100 years at the end of last season and so will have to play games at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield from the start of 2008/09.