Everton: Simon Jordan slams Andy Burnham over ‘absurd witterings’ in new appeal verdict
Everton won their appeal over their 10-point deduction because of a change in judgement rather than the “absurd witterings” of Andy Burnham, according to Simon Jordan.
Sean Dyche’s managed to reduce their initial 10-point deduction, for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, to six points to move out of the relegation zone and closer to safety this season.
Mayor of Manchester and Everton fan Burnham was one of many to campaign against the Toffees’ punishment, but talkSPORT host Jordan believes his argument possessed little relevance to the independent commission’s change of heart.
Writing for the Daily Mail on Wednesday (28 February) he said: “With regards to Everton, it’s not that there were legal holes in the case against them – the facts have not changed – simply that the judgment has been recalibrated.
“The absurd wittering of such luminaries as Steve Rotherham and Andy Burnham – the mayors of Liverpool and Manchester – and former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney about Everton bore no resemblance to the arguments the club brought to the appeal.
“There are two instances where the independent panel were corrected. One is the perception that Everton were less than frank with the panel which is very subjective and can always be challenged.
“The other aspect concerns the level of punishment and this is where the ridiculousness of it all is exposed and the Premier League does deserve some criticism.”
Will Everton receive a second point deduction?
Jordan has never hidden his irritation with Burnham ever since the Manchester mayor began to voice his frustration with the Premier League and alongside Jim White has often criticised the Everton fan for his involvement in the appeal process.
But he isn’t necessarily wrong in his statement that Burnham and those around him’s argument had little relevance to the Toffees appeal as Dyche’s side have never claimed that they are innocent, rather that the punishment didn’t fit the crime.
However, without Burnham and others shining a light on the severity of the punishment, the new independent commission may not have reached the verdict that the original 10-point deduction was too severe.
Hopefully, a similar approach will be taken for the Toffees’ second PSR charge and Everton won’t have to fight and appeal to try and reduce their punishment again with the backing of political figures.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are expecting a “sensible” judgement for their second PSR charge from the Premier League
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.