Luton Town have lost their appeal against the ten-point deduction imposed on them by the FA for irregularities in transfer dealings.

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The loss of the appeal means that the club will begin the 2008/09 season in League Two on -30 points.

The Hatters had previously incurred a 20-point penalty for going into administration.

The club's new owners, the LTFC2020 group, had appealed on the grounds that the irregular payments to agents had been made by board members of the previous ownerships, and that they were being punished excessively.

The FA Appeal Board released the following statement: "The Football Association Appeal Board, chaired by Nicholas Stewart QC, today heard an appeal by Luton Town FC against a decision of a Football Association Regulatory Commission in that it imposed upon the Club, in respect of 15 charges of misconduct, an overall sanction of a £50,000 fine along with a deduction of 10 points to be operative in the 2008/09 season.

"The appeal submitted by Luton Town FC was on the following grounds:

1. The Regulatory Commission came to a decision that no reasonable body should have come to (Regulation 1.4(2))

2. The Regulatory Commission imposed an award, order or any other sanction that is excessive (Regulation 1.5(1))

"Having considered the submissions by Luton Town FC and The Football Association, the Appeal Board dismissed the appeal and upheld the original Regulatory Commission decision."