The Blues manager addressed the uncertainty produced by Everton’s points penalty and the wait for an appeal ruling in his most honest comments on the subject to date.

Sean Dyche has admitted that Everton’s points penalty is causing concern for his team.
The Blues manager lauded his squad’s “focus” throughout months of off-field drama, which has plummeted a team making clear progress into yet another arduous relegation struggle.

While he claimed to be able to manage the setting in which the players worked, he conceded that it would most certainly have a “psychological impact”. Some players, including James Garner and James Tarkowski, have expressed concern about the situation following the draw with Crystal Palace. Tarkowski commended Dyche’s handling of the situation.

Dyche, speaking before of Everton’s trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, emphasised the importance of clarity surrounding his club’s position, claiming that “football is ready” for the outcome.

Dyche spoke candidly about the points deduction ahead of the visit to the south coast. Everton received a 10 point penalty for violating Premier League spending limits in November. The club quickly filed an appeal, which was heard over a few days beginning on January 31. It was thought that a verdict would have been reached by now. Not only could a reduction in the most severe sentence in top-flight history help Everton’s survival chances, but success in the appeal would also bolster the club’s defence against a second charge, which is expected to be heard later this season.

The deduction converted a promising season into the third consecutive relegation struggle. Without it, Everton would be 12th; instead, they are out of the bottom three based only on goal difference.

 

Dyche agreed that this will undoubtedly have an influence on his players. He stated: “I believe the focus has been terrific. But what I’m referring to is the subliminal bit that occurs when you’re driving and wondering. That is something I cannot control. While I can manage our exercise regimen and overall health, I cannot control our inner thoughts. Going into games, are they thinking that, are their agents thinking that, or are their advisors, family, and friends thinking that? What type of noise do they make all the time? What I would recommend is that if you said you are done 10 points – if that is the end of it, so be it, but if it is not the end of it, you go: ‘Well hang on a minute, why did you adjust it instantly if that is not the end of it?'”

Dyche stated that he believed “human nature” would have an impact if Everton fell into problems despite achieving results to underpin a comfortable second half of the season. He expressed worry about the length of time the process was taking – Everton got the sanction in November and announced a plan to appeal within days – and said that it should be reviewed in future cases.

He went on to say, “I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t understand the complexities of that case, but if this is a recurring issue with other clubs, I believe you need to figure out how to compress it and turn it around quicker. It affects everyone; everyone is hanging around, waiting and wondering. And they do deduct those ten points instantly, so you keep looking at that chart and getting asked about being in the bottom three, four, or five. How do we understand the psychological impact of not being left alone up there? You can’t quantify that. So, how does that influence the team while the process is ongoing? At first, everyone says definitely not because you won four. However, you could say that there is a delayed effect, which definitely exists [Everton won four consecutive games immediately following the suspension but have not won in the league in the two months subsequently].

“How do you assess the psychological impact of having 10 points deducted from you? Whereas if they leave the table and then adjust it down by whatever it ends up being – in that process taking this time or this many games – then if you are looking at the table and you are in the middle, when everyone is looking at that, you have a different psychological profile. I’m not sure you can measure it; all I know is that there must be some psychological influence; that’s just human nature.

When asked if he had any reservations about the verdict being announced on Friday, amid final preparations for the game at Brighton, he responded, “No, just tell us what is going on.” I believe football is ready for it, not just me or Everton Football Club.”