Dale rivals in financial meltdown

Rochdale fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the coming season and many will be counting down the hours to 3pm on Saturday, when Dale kick off their season at Grimsby.

This is more than can be said of Rotherham and Bournemouth supporters and as things stand fans of the latter are holding their breath waiting to see if their side will even start the season at all.

The League Two relegation battle looks like it is almost over before it has even begun.

Rotherham have been deducted 17 points for the coming season after coming out of administration without agreeing to a Company Voluntary Arrangement. But that isn't the end of the story for the Millers, who have been forced out of their Milmoor ground and hope to play at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield this season. To do so the Football League has enforced a £750,000 bond on Rotherham's directors that they will return to Rotherham within four years. Failure will see the Millers expelled from the Football League.

Having just come out of administration it is by no means certain that the Millers can afford to enter into such a bond.

They must agree to the deal offered before midday tomorrow (Friday 8 August).

Things could be even worse for Bournemouth after the Football League have not made them an offer to remain in League Two. The Football League were not satisfied that Bournemouth have sufficient finances behind them to start the season.

The Football League was due to meet today and expect Bournemouth's prospective owners to come back with detailed information about the 'viability of the new company's proposals. The League says that unless that information is provided no decision could be made.

Even if the south coast club do start the season, they could also be hit with a points reduction similar to that facing Rotherham.

With Luton Town already starting the season on minus thirty points for their financial misdemeanours those teams who are perhaps expecting a tough season can breathe a small sigh of relief.