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Luton Town FC

Bill Tomlins
Bill Tomlins

Tomlins resigns

Luton Town have announced that Chairman Bill Tomlins has resigned.

The chairman of Luton Town, Bill Tomlins, has resigned having admitted to making irregular payments to agents on three separate occasions. The club are now the subject of an FA investigation.

A statement from the club says that Bill Tomlins approached the FA earlier this year to clarify certain matters relating to the club, and the FA are currently carrying out an enquiry.

Meanwhile, Tomlins has told the BBC that he made the payments from the club's holding company J10. But he was at pains to point out that he made no private gain himself. He admits though that he did wrong, and he himself contacted the FA to report what had happened.

Manager Mike Newell made a number of allegations following his dismissal last month, and director Martin King resigned in the wake of the manager's departure saying he was concerned with a number of issues, not just the one to sack Newell.

The FA are now investigating, and neither they or the club will comment further.

Tomlins said there has been too much disruption at the club and it's an appropriate time for him to stand down. He also said he thought it best to go now, given that there will be major investment in the club in the next 48 hours. Whether or not this amounts to a direct takeover is unclear.

What is clear is that the club is in a mess. Off the field these revelations simply add to the on-going row over a new stadium, whilst on the field, the club look almost certain to be relegated from the Championship.

Watch the BBC Look East interview with Bill Tomlins here:
video Interview: Bill Tomlins on BBC Look East >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer
BBC Three Counties Sports Editor Simon Oxley gives an update on Drivetime (11/04/07)
audio Listen to Simon on Drivetime (11/04/07) >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer
Kevin Lennon from the Loyal Luton Supporters' Club gives his reaction to the news.
audio Listen to Kevin Lennon >
Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer
last updated: 12/04/07
 
Have Your Say
What do you think of the latest events at Luton Town?
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Phil Wain
Be realistic the players all wanted to leave once they found out how much more they could earn elswhere and there was nothing to build with.

Ian Ogilvie
Great News!!Lets hope that the club can now move forward with new owners who have strong business acumen and finance behind them. Whats been happening behind the scenes has been an absolute shambles!!

Mike Melbourne
If any one either attended or listened to the session that Roberto ref'd months back it was very clear that the management of the club by the board was very poor. It was always going to be "jam tomorrow" with that crowd.I guess Mike Newell was sent packing because he was far to close to knowing what had happened in some deals at Luton. It’s really sad to see Town in such a terrible state both on and off the field. Let’s hope any penalty imposed on the club does not involve loss of points for the next season.

Ron Hedley
It is now time for the rest of the Board and John Mitchell to leave the club, they have made us a disgrace.

Oliver Philips MBE
Its so sad to see Bill go, he was taking the club in the right direction finally! I'd like to thank him for his efforts in making the club what it is today.

David, Luton
Good riddence. He has been a shambles of a chairman. The club has remained poorly run under him. Only until recently there was a huge lack of transparency with the new stadium. He gave Mike Newell barely £1m after selling nearly £9m worth of players. Everything we have built up over the last three years in what seemed like seeing us as an established Championship club, has been torn down and stamped on by the board of this club. The FA MUST investigate the club's finances as to where the money has gone. There are many questions left to be answered as where that money has gone. That is Luton Town's money. We must know where that money has gone. Tomlins ignored J10 for a new stadium and instead persisted with moving us to J12, almost 9 miles outside of Luton Town Centre to the middle of nowhere. Strange how someone who professes to be a Luton fan and sets up a deal for a new stadium wants to leave right after doing the deal. The whole saga has descended into a farce yet again, it's poor. This cannot keep happening, we need the fans in charge of this club, otherwise we'll just continually shoot ourselves in the foot.

Mick F
This probably explains why Mike Newell was so vocal about illegal payments to agents. He obviously knew what was going on but couldn't say anything at the time.

ian,hemmings
all u so called luton fans give the board a break.there not all that bad,i live in codicote long live luton town and pray for J12 AND A NEW CONSORTIUM UP THE HATTERS

Conor LBA
Bye Bye Billy dont forget to take Mitchell with you.

Dave
The running of the club is a sham and I think all supporters - EVEN SEASON TICKET HOLDERS - should boycott this Saturday's game to show we will not take this any more and want the club run properly

Tim,Flitwick
What now for Luton? Administration? Points deduction? Mr Tomlins came in after the John Gurney episode with plans to 'stabilise the club'. He always said that he wasn't a money man, and if there was ever anyone who could take the club further than he could, then he would gladly walk away. Well...if 'stabilising' the club means selling the best players and weakening the team to the point that relegation is inevitable, then he has achieved his aim. Thanks Mr Tomlins.Does anyone know anything about this 'financial investment' in the next 48hrs?I for one can't see how anyone will invest in a team thats on the brink of relegation, and now has this enquiry going on.

Jim
Mike - you clearly are not aware of any of the facts surrounding tomlins and how he saved the club from administration. He has not provided a single penny of funding to "keep the club going". Do the sums initial investment of £500k to get LTFC out of admin, provided by the Watson-Challis's. Since then £9 million pounds worth of player sales. So exactly how has tomlins helped LTFC in any way?.

Peter Gardner
Good old Bill go - something has gone on selling our key players Nicco, Howard, Edwards, Vine. He resigns however it doesnt change things - still no season ticket till all the rot has gone and Luton have a board who have a interest in the club.

Fred
Lets hope this investigation takes in how LTFC has been acquired and used as a means to try to justify monsterously inappropriate development at Old Park Farm

Mike Melbourne
Lets that the hope Luton Town fans get some good news very soon?

Mike
I'm amazed that fans would suggest their Chairman did nothing for the club. He was the guy who rescued them from administration & has kept the club going with funding since then.I presume there must be dozens of billionaires waiting to pump their fortunes into LTFC, otherwise the fans would be more worried than they seem to be.AFC Luton, owned by the fans, with a tenth of the income they have today, in the Spartan League, is a real possibility if they go into admin again...

The Spokesman
Farewell Silly Billy, you could have acheived so much if you had concentrated on building a successful team.Its time to put the club and local area first and build a new stadium in a place that everyone will support...LUTON !

Kyle Brightman
im glad he has gone, all he's done is sold the club bit by bit.he didnt help in the finance situation or the players situation.he wasn't really a chairman, he didn't do anything.It's because of him we are in this situation now.glad he's gone.anyone else.

Phil Wain
I would not hurt the club I love by boycotting it.Hopefully all the bloodletting will be out of the way by next season and the club will concentrate on football again.I am sure all the picky supporters will come back if there was ever a new stadium or we started to win again but thats football.

tony
i am not going to renew my season ticket 2007/08 i dont trust the people at the club with my money and club.who are they and what do they do.

Enya
Sail Away, Bill.

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