Keith Wyness, former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive, claims Nottingham Forest should not be penalised for a “minor breach” of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) criteria.

On Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old, who was CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, expressed sympathy for the Midlands club’s efforts to protect their investment and secure their place in the top tier.

Forest was charged with violating PSR regulations in January following the publishing of its 2022-23 accounts, with the club allegedly surpassing their £61 million permitted losses over three years up to the end of last season.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad is expected to receive the judgment of their trial before the end of the 2023-24 season, with a potential points deduction if proven guilty.

‘I have pity’ for Nottingham Forest over FFP violation, says expert

Everton has already been found guilty of a similar infringement and received an immediate 10-point deduction.

Forest signed no fewer than 30 players for the 2022-23 season following their promotion from the Championship.

Wyness stated on Football Insider’s Insider Track podcast that the issue at Forest appears to be related to player spending, despite his lack of personal knowledge of the matter.

“It’s only a little violation. The players they’ve signed haven’t destabilised the entire Premier League.

“Forest are meant to compete in the Premier League against teams such as Manchester City. These principles are not based on common sense.

 

“When it comes to enforcing the laws, we’re seeing that clubs like Forest are penalised.

“I have pity for Forest. All they want to do is protect their investment and secure their place in the Premier League.

“They purchased a large number of players, but their spending was not excessive.

“All they did was give themselves a reasonable chance of remaining in the Premier League.

“I don’t really see the need to give them a points deduction for that.”

In other news, Forest points deduction might cause disaster, as clause specifics emerge.

 

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