Ten days after the Second Division play-off final, winners Swindon Town were found guilty on 35 counts of illegal player payments and were given a two-division relegation. Initially this meant that runners-up Sunderland were promoted to the First Division in Swindon's place, and Tranmere were promoted from the Third Division to the Second Division. Following an appeal, Swindon's penalty was reduced to a one-division relegation and Tranmere's promotion was revoked, the condemnation of which was heard in an early day motion sponsored primarily by Frank Field, the Labour Party MP for Birkenhead.
