Kieran Maguire shares ‘administration’ view live on Sky Sports after Everton points deduction verdict
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested Everton may have been better off had they entered administration after being docked 10 points.
The Toffees were hit with an immediate double-figure deduction on Friday (17 November) after being found to have breached the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
That is the most points a team has ever been deducted in the competition’s history – one more point than the nine taken away from Portsmouth in March 2010 for going into administration.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Friday [17 November, 12:47], Maguire said: “Portsmouth were deducted nine points when they went into administration.
“Everton will point out they could have taken the administration route and that would have resulted probably in a nine-point deduction, and that would have hit local suppliers and other creditors as well.
“A 10 point-deduction appears to be over arguing about the intricacies of accounting rules and an unprecedented global pandemic that impacted their ability to act as a normal business during Covid.”
Has a point
When news first emerged last month of a possible 12-point deduction, it was initially met with surprise before the realisation sunk in that it was never likely to happen.
While it may not have been the absolute maximum penalty, 10 points is still an almighty punishment, one which puts the Toffees in the relegation zone and two points from safety.
You can only wonder what those high up at Manchester City and Chelsea, to name just a couple of examples, are thinking after hearing this announcement.
Each case may be different, but the Premier League has opened a can of worms now by actively pursuing a points deduction and succeeding in doing so.
There is still a very good chance of Everton making up the points deficit and staying in the division, even if they are unsuccessful with their appeal.
If the players were not motivated enough before, then this decision will certainly help in that regard. It really is now Everton against the world.
In other Everton news, a journalist has shared information on something he saw Sean Dyche do for the first time during last week’s win at Crystal Palace.