Doncaster Rovers have responded to the independent panel’s disciplinary hearing with regards to their cancelled fixture against Bolton Wanderers.

Wanderers pleaded guilty to the charge having failed to meet fixture obligations when their scheduled fixture against Doncaster Rovers in August was cancelled, after having cancelled a fixture against Brentford before their relegation from the Championship.

The independent disciplinary panel, appointed under EFL regulations, had charged Bolton with a five-point deduction, suspended for 18 months, along with a financial penalty. However, the EFL are now looking to appeal this decision on the grounds that they believe the punishment is too ‘lenient’ on Bolton.

The EFL’s reasoning for believing this punishment is too lenient on Bolton is that the offence they have been found guilty of threatens the integrity of the league competition they are in and should be punished as firmly as possible.

Doncaster Rovers, the supposed victims of this fixture cancellation, have responded to the charge and the EFL’s subsequent response.

The Yorkshire club have seemingly sided with the EFL’s decision to question the light nature of the punishment, as it threatens to undermine the league that both teams compete in. Along with this, the club state they will "look to work with our counterparts at Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers to rearrange those postponed fixtures".

The Verdict

It was obvious that Bolton were going to see further sanctions as a result of their early-season woes, with the cancellation of more than one fixture.

These events did threaten to undermine the league competition and Doncaster do have every right to question a lenient decision.

However, it is a wise decision not to take action as a club while the governing bodies officially step in, meaning they can continue to focus on footballing matters and not tarnish their own standing on the matter.