Richard Sutcliffe: Delays over QPR’s fate leaves Championship in limbo

Not, as is usually the case at this time of year, because several promotion and relegation issues are yet to be resolved. Those were all finalised last weekend when Norwich City clinched second place, Nottingham Forest all but bagged the final play-off place and both Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United joined Preston North End in being demoted to League One.

No, the reason for the uncertainty is that the Football Association are still yet to announce the findings of their inquiry into QPR’s signing of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009. And, more importantly, the punishment that will be meted out to the London club if found guilty of breaching FA rules with a fine and/or points deduction being highly likely.

Rangers deny the charges, which relate to the alleged third party ownership of the Argentinian midfielder and the Championship side allegedly seeking to use an unauthorised agent during the deal.

Just how strong a case QPR have is something only the FA hearing that has spent the past three days listening to evidence truly knows.

That is why you won’t find any predictions of the Londoners’ possible fate in this column or a discussion into the rights and wrongs of the matter.

There has been enough of that already with former big-hitters in the game, sports lawyers and supporters lining up since Tuesday to offer their opinion on what fate, if any, should befall QPR.

Instead, what does need addressing is how this saga has been allowed to drag on so long – particularly following yesterday’s announcement that the verdict is not now likely to be delivered until after the weekend.

Let’s not forget that this matter was first drawn to the attention of the FA in September by the Football League, who passed the matter on due to not having regulations of their own forbidding third-party ownership. That was nearly a whole season ago and yet, here we are, with the regular season about to end and no-one, least of all QPR, knows where they stand.

If, as one national newspaper suggested on their back page last week, Rangers are hit with a 15-point deduction then, on today’s league standings, they would be fifth. Norwich City, in turn, would be champions, while Cardiff City and Swansea City would be scrapping it out for second.

A 10-point deduction, meanwhile, would see QPR slip to third in the table, a point behind Cardiff. And if the FA were so brave as to dock 20 points, Rangers would need to at least draw with Leeds United at Loftus Road on the final day to ensure they do not miss out on the final play-off place.

Such uncertainty at this stage of a season is a recipe for disaster, not least as any points deduction is likely to result in legal action from the billionaire owners of the London club.

That is why, earlier this week, the Football League contacted the Championship clubs to say the play-off semi-finals might have to be delayed a week but that the final would go ahead as planned on May 30.

Thankfully, that plan was quickly abandoned – much to the relief, no doubt, of the two finalists who would have been faced with the logistical nightmare of distributing 32,000 tickets in just a few days.

Even so, yesterday’s announcement suggests the FA are still yet to realise the potential damage of their actions.