Everton ‘highly unlikely’ to face negative points deduction appeal outcome as cash boost mooted
Everton are “highly unlikely” to face a negative scenario that would make it worth cancelling their points deduction appeal and could land more money from the outcome, says Alan Myers.
The Sky Sports journalist replied to a concerned fan via Twitter on 29 April to highlight the potential for points to be returned that would contribute to a higher league finish and greater prize money.
With the Toffees’ top flight safety secured by three consecutive wins during April some supporters have advocated withdrawing the appeal, set to be heard in the week commencing 13 May, but Myers believes more issues resulting from the hearing aren’t on the cards while a welcome financial boost could be.
He wrote: “One positive would be a return of points and a higher league finish, meaning more money, it is highly unlikely there will be any other scenario.”
Could Everton land extra Premier League prize money?
A genuine risk of further points being taken away would certainly incentivise cancelling the appeal now that Premier League survival has been secured, but it doesn’t look like there is a significant danger of that.
As long as it is technically possible it leaves the door open to an unpleasant shock, and there have been more than enough of those at Goodison Park throughout this saga, which is still a long way from over.
But the benefits of finishing as high up the league table as possible are all the more important for Everton when the books need to be balanced to avoid a third profit and sustainability breach and more of these headaches next season.
It may yet require big-money transfer exits in the summer either way, especially with the 777 takeover still up in the air, but extra millions to end the season with would certainly help.
As things stand the Toffees would be two places higher and level with Brighton on goal-difference were it not for the eight points they have been docked for two breaches this term, and on current form Sean Dyche would probably be confident of improving the final total in the last three games anyway.
There had been some hope that the second deduction might be avoided entirely, and while it would be a surprise for an appeals board to return both points taken away by the second commission there is perhaps hope of getting one back, or even a fraction of a point, which could be the difference of a place or two in the final standings, worth £3.1million extra each [i News, 18 April].
In other Everton news, the Toffees have made an offer to sign an international midfielder for free.
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