Everton and Nottingham Forest have been bluntly warned that they might be relegated from the Premier League five days AFTER the season ends due to their failure to comply with Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
The authorities have recently sanctioned the two Premier League clubs, as well as Championship promotion contenders Leicester City, who were relegated last season, amid suspicions of financial mismanagement.
Nottingham Forest were struck with a four-point punishment earlier this week, dropping them immediately into the relegation zone and one point behind Luton in 17th place.
Everton had previously received a 10-point punishment, which was later reduced to six on appeal, and the Toffees are currently in 16th place, four points ahead of Forest in 18th.
However, the Merseyside club faces a new PSR complaint next week and could face another points loss if judged to be in violation.
The Premier League has set a deadline of May 24 for a final decision on sanctions and any appeals.
However, that date is five days after the Premier League season is set to expire, meaning the pair’s fate might be taken out of their own hands, leaving the remainder of the division – particularly those teams around them battling to avoid relegation – on edge.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has labeled the Premier League’s ability to decide on relegation after the season as a “laughing stock,” believing that the competition’s entire legitimacy has been undermined by authorities.
Former Everton executive calls Premier League a ‘laughing stock’.
Wyness, who was Everton’s CEO from 2004 to 2009 and now operates his own football consultancy, believes the system and lawmakers have a great deal of responsibility.
“It appears that the lawyers’ arguments are all being fabricated to achieve a particular goal. “It’s just very confusing; there is no clear structure,” he told Football Insider.
“Letting everything be subjective turns everything into a joke.
“We’re discussing the most crucial thing for clubs. It means relegation from the Premier League.
“The havoc they’re wreaking on the league table’s overall integrity is unbelievable. “We are a laughing stock.”
Wyness insists that the scenario at the bottom is causing problems for everyone, not just Everton and Forest, and that the fact that the final rankings can be set after the season is over complicates matters.
“There are at least two asterisks in the table presently. We know that if Forest or Everton appeal, the standings can only be changed when the season ends on May 24.
“It’s mindboggling.”
“There are at least two asterisks in the table presently. We know that if Forest or Everton appeal, the standings can only be changed when the season ends on May 24.
Sean Dyche and Nuno Espirito Santo can only focus on on-field things and achieving as many positive outcomes as possible between now and the conclusion of the season.
Even if they stay up, both sides risk losing a number of key players as they seek to balance the books and avoid similar fines in the future.
Everton’s battle for safety will resume next Saturday with a game against Bournemouth, while Forest will play at home against Crystal Palace.
