Ever since news of Rotherham’s
Football League charge broke on Monday people have accepted that they are probably going to be deducted three points.
The stripping of those points
– the price for a costly administrative error in the build-up to Easter Monday’s
win over Brighton which saw the ineligible Farrend Rawson play 90 minutes – will breath fresh life into a Sky Bet Championship relegation fight that looked as if it
might be done and dusted.
Let’s put aside the fact that
the charge is still to go through a disciplinary panel and a punishment has not happened and work on the basis that they will probably
be coming off.
The
next important issue, which also has a massive bearing on the fight to avoid
the drop, is when the points will be deducted.
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| The Millers' survival hopes could rest in the Football League's hands |
The Football League stated
that they are looking to resolve the matter at “the earliest possible
opportunity”, which adds further weight to a potential deduction.
While Rotherham should not
expect leniency with the punishment – if found guilty of the charge of course –
they certainly have to hope for leniency when it comes to the timing of it.
It’s highly likely the points
will be deducted before the Millers next take the field against Norwich on
April 25.
The quirk of the fixture list
means that Millwall – the team immediately below them in the table, five points
adrift – play twice before then, already giving them an opportunity to make
points up knowing the Millers aren’t playing.
Rotherham have to hope that
the punishment comes after those two games.
It’s the absolute worst case
scenario to have three points deducted and then sit on the sidelines for a week
while their closest rivals play two games.
If that is the case and it happens before Millwall’s
clashes at Cardiff on Saturday or Blackburn on Tuesday that would give Neil
Harris’ men an unbelievable motivation.
Suddenly a win in either
match would take them above Rotherham in the league and that puts a totally
different complexion on proceedings and probably their mindset.
If there is no deduction
before either of those two games, even if the Lions win both of them, then Rotherham will
at least have a match extra to play and an opportunity make some points back.
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| Steve Evans doesn't know what went on |
On the other side – the dream
scenario if you are of a red and white persuasion – if the points come off
after those two games and Millwall have lost or drawn them both then Steve
Evans’ men are in a massive position of strength, still ahead of their rivals
but with an extra game to play.
There doesn’t appear to
precedent on whether the Football League take things like this into consideration
and there’s certainly no firm reason why they should.
The Millers have done wrong
and are in no position to request when decisions are made. They just have to
hope they get lucky.
Fans are understandably anxious
for a quick decision. But they need to wary about getting it too soon.
