IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks has been in Portugal attending the annual general meeting of the Football League.The league has unanimously voted in favour of a proposal by the league board to amend 'Sporting Sanctions' regulations.

IPSWICH Town chairman David Sheepshanks has been in Portugal attending the annual general meeting of the Football League.

The league has unanimously voted in favour of a proposal by the league board to amend 'Sporting Sanctions' regulations.

This closes the existing loophole that enables clubs going into administration, once effectively relegated, to avoid any negative effect from their 10-point deduction.

The new amendment introduces a cut-off date of the fourth Thursday in March. If a club is ultimately relegated, regardless of the ten-point deduction, it will begin the new campaign on minus ten points.

If a club is not relegated it will suffer a points deduction in the current season - and this could also drop them into a relegation position and relegate them.