Everton and Nottingham Forest, whilst relegation rivals, are on the same page regarding one key thing.
After all, they are the two unfortunate sides who have been chosen as the Premier League’s scapegoat, seeking to enforce their faux power and financial governance over them, as two of the weaker and once-ambitious sides in the division.
Having first targeted the Toffees, the manner in which they pushed back, both club and fans, was admirable.
The Reds, however, have not been so forthright.
It remains to be seen whether their silence will prove profitable in their defence, but for now Alex Crook has sought to detail the different strategies undertaken and how they might affect the state of play.
What Alex Crook said about Everton and Nottingham Forest’s PSR situation
Speaking live on talkSPORT, their resident reporter sought to shed some light on what promises to be a ridiculous situation for the Premier League.
Doing little to strengthen their position as governor of 20 huge football clubs, the journalist offered the difference between Everton and Forest’s cases
He claimed: ‘I think it depends on the severity of the points deduction. If you look at the way Forest have approached this, they have been a lot less confrontational than Everton were – even in the wording of the statement when they were penalised, it was a very short statement. Whereas Everton right away were right on the front foot against the Premier League, Andy Burnham was involved, a big Everton fan from the off as well.
‘I think Forest have tried to do this as peacefully as possible hoping that might help when that judgement comes, and if it’s a two-point penalty that keeps them above the bottom three, so they might decide to take their punishment.
‘There is a possibility, as unlikely as it sounds, we might not find out who goes down from the Premier League until after the final day of the season. Because under Premier League rules, they need to make a final decision on any appeal by May 25th, which is when they are due to hold their AGM, that is after the last round of fixtures.’
Jeff Stelling left fuming with the Premier League
Offering an immediate reaction, Jeff Stelling was left furious with the Premier League’s conduct. And rightly so.
After all, to potentially decide something as financially crucial as the relegation battle in the courtroom is a joke, and ironically enough goes against everything this battle is for.
In their efforts to ensure that their clubs remain sustainable in the long term, it feels like that goal has been somewhat muddled up amongst all these accusations.
Now, that is merely the front that the Premier League are using to enforce their will upon weaker sides who cannot fight back like Manchester City or Chelsea can.
However, it kind of defeats the point, as any places lost due to points deduction, or god forbid forcing a side into relegation, can be the difference between millions of pounds.
How’s that for sustainability?