Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has urged Everton and the Premier League to “bang” their heads together to avoid an unprecedented situation in May.
The Toffees were hit with a two-point deduction on Monday. In total, the Premier League have taken eight points during the 2023/24 season.
Sean Dyche’s side now sit 16th in the league table, two points above Luton Town, who occupy the final relegation berth.
Everton have confirmed their intention to appeal the latest punishment. Furthermore, there has also been talk of a third hearing taking place in the summer, although the club are adamant that any further breach can be accounted for in the development of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Maguire has since claimed that both parties could come to an agreement to prevent the saga from continuing beyond the end of the season.
Kieran Maguire says both parties should drop current cases
Talking on the Price of Football Podcast, Maguire detailed when Everton’s second appeal will take place.
“Everton are going to appeal. They put out a note on their website to that effect,” he explained.
“We’ve got to hear the Nottingham Forest appeal first. We are now into the second week of April. That commission will probably take place next week. The Everton appeal will take place before the end of the season, but you won’t get the publication until after the season.”
Maguire suggested that Everton should drop their appeal and that the Premier League should drop any charges to avoid further complications in the summer.
“This, I think, doesn’t look too clever. That’s an issue,” he added.
“There must be a better solution. I did hint that there could be another set of charges around Everton and that all circulate around the club borrowing money to build the new stadium and how the interest has been treated.
“Is there a case for saying, ‘Look folks, let’s bang our heads together’. Everton drop the appeal and the Premier League say they’re going to drop the additional charges.”
Luton Town CEO wants harsher penalty for Everton
Unsurprisingly, Luton Town CEO Gary Sweet has lobbied for a harsher punishment to be thrown the Toffees’ way. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: “If you look at the Forest four [points] – which I was also disappointed with – two points off for co-operating is ridiculous.
“You should have had two points added if you didn’t co-operate – it should have been six.”
It’s easy to see why the Hatters’ chairman is slightly agitated. His side’s Premier League survival is very much at stake. As Maguire alluded to, it’s absolutely essential the saga is dead and buried before the final ball is kicked.
Teams being relegated after the last day will make a mockery of what is the most lucrative league in Europe.