Joe Roberts

Fri 6 October 2023 12:52, UK

Leeds, Burnley and Leicester City’s attempts to sue Everton if they are found guilty of breaking Premier League spending rules is “silly”, according to Simon Jordan.

Speaking live on talkSPORT (6 October, 11:44 am), Jordan claimed the clubs’ writing to prospective Everton owners 777 Partners to make them aware of the potential lawsuit was “ridiculous” and questioned the logic of the move.

The Daily Mail reported (3 October) that the trio of clubs sent a joint letter to 777 stating their intention to sue the club for £300million if Everton are found guilty as compensation for lost Premier League revenue.

Jordan said: “That’s just ridiculous. First and foremost, writing to someone to suggest ‘are you aware’, to what end? They might make an offer to hit it off at the pass, or they might stop them buying Everton as a result of it.

“The rules in terms of adjudicating, the timings of adjudication are down to the Premier League and the clubs that sit in it. Their argument is that if this had been adjudicated in a much more timely fashion, then Everton might have found themselves in a situation where they were the ones getting relegated, and not the others.

“Why don’t you go deploy that logic to Manchester City then? Manchester City have won titles on the basis of alleged offences that are yet to be answered and won’t be answered any time soon.

“They’ll be consequences [for Everton]. What will happen to Everton, if they are found to have breached financial fair play with all the adjustments they were allowed to make as a result of COVID, they were allowed to make adjustments based upon the restructuring of the new stadium. That’s how they got £250million worth of losses down with £250million off their losses and brought them beneath their financial fair play.

“When asked what Leeds’, Burnley’s and Leicester’s motivations were, Jordan said: “God only knows. Maybe to create some sort of currency where there’s an opportunity to get something from it. The issue is, if they want things done in a more timely fashion if they want the rules to be far more reaching, guess what you do?

“You get into an [annual general meeting] with the 20 clubs, you say to the general manager of the Premier League that we want these rules changed, and then you vote upon it. That means once the quorum has been achieved, you go with what the situation is.

“You can’t then just decide to part from the posse and decide to sue somebody because of the democratic position that we’ve engineered, which is 14 clubs that can change the rules, and if we haven’t got that rid of them. It’s ridiculous! It’s silly!”

Tricky

Everton yet again find themselves in tricky waters.

While the trio of clubs’ anger is understandable, they will have to wait until the verdict of Everton’s charges with an independent tribunal set for 25 October.

Their logic is that if the Toffees faced a points deduction, then their relegations may have been spared. These clubs would have been very upset and disappointed when they faced relegation, and if they genuinely think they have a chance of success, then they will attempt to sue.

However, Jordan makes a very fair point regarding Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side would have taken points from relegated teams that mathematically would have caused their relegation. For instance, if Leicester got two points from Manchester City last season, they would have been safe from relegation on goal difference.

Where’s the Citizen’s lawsuit? The prospect of earning a huge cash injection at the expense of another club is an understandable motivation if they feel it’s justified, but their argument feels weak at best.

In other Everton news, Branthwaite has opened up on the “best thing” for him amid those recent transfer rumours.