Everton hope appeal is settled ‘around end of month’
Everton manager Sean Dyche says the club hopes to hear the outcome of its appeal against a 10-point deduction “around the end of the month”.
Everton appealed the Premier League’s decision to dock them points for financial rule breaches in December.
“The guidelines that [the media] suggest, and we suggest, have been around the end of the month,” said Dyche, whose side is currently fourth from bottom in the table.
“We will just have to wait and see.”
Everton received an immediate 10-point deduction in November after being found to have breached the Premier League’s financial rules in the three-year period to 2021-22.
While the club admitted the initial breach, Everton said they were “shocked and disappointed” at the severity of the punishment – the biggest in Premier League history.
The appeal with the Premier League’s judicial panel will be heard and concluded before the end of the season.
The Toffees, along with Nottingham Forest, have since been referred to an independent commission for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules in their accounts for 2022-23.
But Everton’s second case cannot be heard until their appeal against the 10-point deduction by a previous commission has been determined.
“It’s in the hands of the powers that be and it’s an ongoing process as far as I know,” added Dyche.
“I don’t know the legalities of appeals but I think it is in everyone’s interest [that it is resolved soon]. Firstly our own, of course, but I think everyone is scratching their heads on the first one and wondering when it is going to come to a close.
“We don’t know if that 10 points [deduction] is fact still. It would be helpful [to know] sooner rather than later. I don’t know the legal process, the timescales and why it takes so long, so we just have to wait and see.”
Under Premier League regulations, clubs can lose a maximum of £105m over a three-season period, or £35m per campaign, before facing sanctions.
The points deduction dropped Everton from 14th in the Premier League table to 19th.
They are now 17th – above the relegation places only on goal difference with 12 games remaining – but would be 12th without the deduction.
They travel to Brighton on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
“The players are working very hard, very diligently and I am very pleased with what they are doing on a daily basis and in the games,” said Dyche.
“I don’t think it is [in their minds] in a literal way on a daily basis, but I am sure it is in the back of their minds. They are still wondering ‘When are you going to tell us where we are at and give us more of a factual view of it?’
“We are of the same mindset, it is what it is. We look at where it is now and see what comes. Unfortunately, that process is taking some time.”