Nottingham Forest may have a “side deal” with the Premier League, according to former Everton manager Keith Wyness, meaning they won’t challenge their four-point deduction.
The 66-year-old, who ran a football consultancy advising elite clubs after serving as CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009, speculated that the Midlands club’s outraged statement on Monday, March 18, may have been “for show” in an interview with Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
Nottingham Forest expressed their “extreme dismay” at the independent commission’s decision to penalize points in response to the deduction earlier this week.
They argued that the Premier League club’s “trust and confidence” had been “harmed” by the decision.
Forest acknowledged that their expenditure of £34.5 million over their allowed loss level of £61 million constituted a violation of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Wyness states, “I’d be very surprised” if Nottingham Forest filed an appeal.
Wyness stated he would be “very surprised” if the club decided to file an appeal, even though they did not confirm their plan to do so.
He stated on the Insider Track podcast of Football Insider: “I find it intriguing that Forest might file an appeal.
They have seven days to make a decision. After the ruling, they released a very incensed statement, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they won’t file an appeal.
“They might have worked out a separate agreement with the Premier League to get the deduction lowered to four points provided they don’t file an appeal.
“I believe there is a problem here.
I felt that the statement was only decorative. If they do appeal, I’d be shocked. I might be mistaken, but I would be shocked.
“Their attorney, Nick De Marco KC, presented their case extremely effectively, so I would be shocked if he suggested filing an appeal.”
