By Daniel Lewis
Alan Myers does not believe Everton are at risk of facing administration, despite the threat of potentially having to pay hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation to rival clubs.
Southampton, Leicester City, Leeds United and Burnley are all threatening legal action if the Toffees are found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations [Daily Mail].
The Premier League hearing is expected to be held at the end of October, and if found guilty Everton could then face a second hearing over a £300million payout claim.
I don’t believe that will happen
However, asked by an Everton supporter on Twitter on Thursday [7 September] if administration is a realistic threat, news editor Myers said: “I don’t believe that will happen.”
Fingers crossed
As the Daily Mail stated in their article on 16 May, “a bill for damages would place yet more pressure on Everton’s beleaguered finances and increase the danger of them entering administration”.
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Everton insist they have complied with the regulations and will have the opportunity to defend themselves next month.
Should they be found guilty of certain breaches, it will pave the way for clubs relegated at Everton’s expense over the past two campaigns to lodge a claim of their own.
Given just how badly the Toffees have struggled to balance their books over a number of years, being told to pay out £300m would surely cripple the club.
But that is the worst-case scenario, and it will hopefully not come to that point.
Either way, events off the pitch in the coming weeks will be just as important as what happens on it.
In other Everton news, the Premier League has drafted new rules amid anger from clubs regarding how long it has taken for the Toffees’ case to be heard.