Rotherham accept points deduction

Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium is due to be Rotherham's new home

Rotherham United have accepted a 17-point deduction for the new season after agreeing to a set of criteria imposed on them by the Football League.

The Millers were handed the penalty after being unable to satisfy the normal conditions of Football League rules for exiting administration.

The club were given a deadline of noon on Friday to accept the punishment in order to start the season on Saturday.

They will now face Lincoln at home in their opening fixture.

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Rotherham could not agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement with its creditors but the League decided under the 'exceptional circumstances' provisions of its insolvency rules to set the conditions for their League future.

In a statement, the League said it was imposing the punishment because it was the Millers' second insolvency in recent seasons.

They also said the club must return to Rotherham within four years after they were forced to leave Millmoor, their home for more than 100 years, and play games at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield from the start of 2008/09.

The 17-point deduction puts them second bottom of the League Two table above Luton, who had 30 points taken away for misconduct and for failing to satisfy the League's insolvency rules.