'Extraodinarily...' - Martin Samuel fumes over 'Important' 3rd Everton points deduction decision

Martin Samuel has slammed the situation which sees Everton without a decision on a potential third points deduction for seven months and counting.

Writing for The Times on 9 November the journalist insisted the Toffees should not still have a PSR-related issue hanging over them from last season following a deferral to the ruling on a disagreement between the club and the Premier League over their accounts.

Everton were twice docked points last term for a pair of spending breaches – the first reduced from 10 to six on appeal, the second for a further two – but the latter independent commission was unable to come to a decision in April on a £6,561,000 discrepancy related to stadium spending interest and the matter still remains unresolved now.

Samuel wrote: “That was April and this is November, yet nothing. And the decision is important. A £6million breach would amount to a one-point deduction and, looking at the present league table, that makes a difference.

“Everton averaged less than a point per game in the first quarter of the season and sat four points outside the bottom three entering this weekend’s matches. Asterisks at the ready, here we go again.

“It is increasingly clear that the Premier League has put in place an extraordinarily complex system of financial regulation, which it does not have the capacity or capability to efficiently implement.

“Everton, and the clubs around them, should not have a PSR issue outstanding from the previous season.”

Sean Dyche navigated two punishments with Everton last term

The reason why the Toffees found themselves penalised twice in the same campaign last season was specifically because the Premier League changed the rules to ensure these situations were contained within the same campaign that charges were sent down [The Athletic].

So it is hard to see it as anything other than a farce for a third, albeit minimal, potential deduction to still be hanging around so far into the current term.

It would probably have been easier for everyone involved if Everton had just taken an extra point penalty last season and been able to forget about the whole thing, since Sean Dyche managed to finish comfortably clear of the relegation zone anyway despite losing eight from the total.

This season the Toffees boss has yet to go on one of the excellent runs of form which proved so vital last term.

His job had been called into question at points last season only to ultimately finish 14 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town, and would have been mid-table without the points deductions.

This time around he is again the subject of sack speculation after just two wins in 11 games, but is almost certainly safe at least until the takeover goes through.

The authorities clearly no longer have a proper handle on enforcing their own financial rules, and Everton have managed to be worst affected of late.

It seems unlikely that the Toffees would face a massive threat of relegation this term but as things stand they can hardly afford to lose any points comfortably.

And if a ruling, whenever it does finally come, goes against the club again it would also necessarily reduce the PSR room to spend in the transfer window.

In other Everton news, the names of two candidates approached to become Friedkin’s new CEO have emerged.

For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post 'Extraodinarily...' - Martin Samuel fumes over 'Important' 3rd Everton points deduction decision appeared first on Goodison News.