Former Nottingham Forest CEO Paul Faulkner has discussed whether the Reds and Everton should be docked points this season.
Both Premier Leagues have been charged with violating profitability and sustainability standards.
Now Faulkner has weighed in on the subject. We reviewed the former Forest CEO’s comments on the concept…
What Paul Faulkner stated about the potential Nottingham Forest points deduction
Faulkner was at Forest from 2014 to 2015, and he believes the Premier League’s rules are simply not suited for purpose.
He believes the competition’s integrity is being called into question, and that the entire situation is a complete mess.
Everton has already been penalized six points and will face another when their most recent charge is heard.
Forest will also be deducted points, while Manchester City still faces 115 charges.
Faulkner believes Forest should not be deducted any points because the regulations do not make sense.
He told The Athletic: “There must be a mechanism in place that allows teams like Forest to get promoted and compete; it is critical to the game’s long-term viability.
“An amnesty is needed. The authorities must pause and consider how they might proceed in an appropriate manner.
“They messed up, and they must acknowledge and deal with the consequences. There should be no punishment because it is such a mess.
“There should be no punishment for Everton or Forest; instead, they should rip up the regulations and start over next summer, finding a manner of doing things that is much, much clearer and has a structure in place.
“Forest and Everton are probably hoping that Luton don’t win many more games so that all of this just becomes academic – there is a fundamental problem to be solved here.”
Faulkner is right: the Premier League is not fit for purpose.
This is totally correct, and Faulkner remarked last season when Forest stayed up that it should be allowed to happen.
The Reds had to pay substantially after promotion, with five players on loan and others leaving after reaching the top division.
He went on: “It was a miracle that Forest stayed up last season. Perhaps they pushed the bounds, but these are the stories that define football.
“It was a manager, Steve Cooper, who had cobbled everything together on short notice. It was a wonderful story.”
Forest will sadly lose some points, and the hope is that it will not be too severe.
Faulkner is correct, though. The rules, in our opinion, are not fit for purpose, and the entire system appears to reward the division’s top six clubs.
