Burnley, Leeds and Leicester set to WITHDRAW plan to sue Everton — Mail 1/12/23
Burnley, Leeds and Leicester are set to WITHDRAW plan to sue Everton, as aggrieved trio seek negotiated settlement instead following Toffees' 10-point deduction for breaking spending rules
Burnley, Leeds and Leicester have held talks ahead of
deadline to make claim
Aggrieved trio of clubs do not want to force Everton into
administration
By MATT HUGHES
Burnley, Leeds and Leicester are set to withdraw their
planned claim for compensation against Everton in favour of seeking a
negotiated settlement with the club.
Mail Sport has learned that the aggrieved clubs have held
talks over the last few days ahead of a deadline to make a formal claim to the
Premier League’s independent commission, and are leaning towards holding
private discussions with Everton.
The aggrieved trio first served notice of their intention to
sue Everton last May along with Nottingham Forest and Southampton in a letter
to the Premier League, with the independent commission chaired by David
Phillips KC ruling that they had a potential case.
The commission’s imposition of a 10-point penalty on Everton
a fortnight ago initially increased the clubs’ resolve to claim as they would
all have avoided relegation from the Premier League had the sanction been
applied during the seasons in which Everton were found to have breached
spending rules, but following further discussions it appears they may opt to
negotiate instead.
As previously reported by Mail Sport there are major doubts
over Everton’s ability to pay any fine imposed by the commission, as the club
are relying on £20million-a-month loans from prospective buyers 777Partners to
fund their day-to-day operations, which would leave them facing administration
and a further nine-point penalty.
Despite feeling aggrieved by the Premier League’s handling
of the matter Burnley, Leeds are Leicester are also conscious of not wanting to
be responsible for forcing Everton into administration, a consideration which
has influenced their thinking.
If Everton agree to negotiate the case would go to
arbitration rather than being heard by the Premier League’s independent
commission that imposed the 10-point penalty.
In addition to seeking to negotiate with Everton the clubs
could also bring a claim against the Premier League for alleged failures in
their disciplinary process, on the grounds that delaying Everton’s hearing by
several months led to them being relegated.
The Premier League did seek to have the case heard last
season after charging Everton in March however, but were denied by the
commission.
