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'There's talk of Everton suing Man City' - Keith Wyness drops bombshell
Ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness has slammed Premier League chief Richard Masters for creating a “legal merry-go-round” with the Toffees’ 10-point deduction.
The 66-year-old, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, claimed Masters’ predecessor Richard Scuadamore would have pursued an alternative punishment.
Last month, Everton were ruled by an independent commission to have breached the Premier League’s financial and sustainability rules and were subsequently handed a 10-point deduction.
Football Insider revealed on 23 November that the likes of Leeds United, Burnley and Leicester City have begun legal proceedings against the Merseysiders in a claim which could be worth a combined £200million.
Five clubs are pushing for compensation following their relegations from the top flight.
Everton have confirmed their appeal against the Premier League’s verdict, while cases against Man City and Chelsea are yet to reach the trial stage.
City’s case has been scheduled to be heard by an independent panel in Autumn 2024 – with a verdict is expected to be delivered by the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness said: “I think the political environment with the independent regulator is weighing on people’s minds.
“There has been some kind of political thought in mind as people look in and say: ‘Can the Premier League run the game or not?’
“Looking at my time when Richard Scuadamore was the head of the Premier League, I think he would have found a way through this mess without putting himself in the difficult position we’re in now.
“Richard Masters has unleashed what I consider to be a legal merry-go-round.
“There’s the legal action from relegated clubs, there’s talk of Everton suing Man City or Chelsea. If I’m a chief executive, I’m looking at spending 30% of my budget on KCs rather than a left-back.
“That has put the Premier League into a cycle of big issues. I think Masters has to be looked at in terms of how he’s led the league into this situation.
“In Everton’s case, I think there was enough on both sides to find a different way to approach this.
“For a financial breach like this, I think it should’ve been a financial penalty. That wouldn’t have led the Premier League into this legal spiral.”
In other news, Major update on Everton triggering Jack Harrison clause.