In a battle against an organisation with the scale and power of the Premier League, Everton have needed all the help they could get.
And whilst there was a quiet realisation that it might not come from everyone they might have hoped, with the initial silence as fans protested against the board, there have been some brave heroes who have stepped up.
Andy Burnham is one such shining example, but even the likes of Phil Jagielka have recently emerged to dispute the fairness and legality of the ten-point deduction.
However, few have remained as consistent in their alignment with the Toffees than Alan Stubbs, a boyhood blue and what seems like an all-around decent bloke.
He quite clearly adores Everton, and would do anything for them; a sentiment he has not lost since his two stints playing for the club.
This is outlined through his personal defence throughout this saga…
What Alan Stubbs said about Everton’s points deduction
Speaking to the More Than A Game podcast, Stubbs would comb through his entire career, detailing the highs enjoyed at Everton and Celtic, and the lows suffered when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
A true inspiration of a man, he ended the chat by touching on the points deduction which has left him and many other fans enraged.
The former defender claimed: ‘It should never have been allowed to be in a position that we are now. It’s sad, but I’m just hoping that once we get this points fiasco drama resolved, whichever way it is, I just want to move on from it. The uncertainty is the bit that kills you.
‘Do I think we’ve done wrong? Yes, we’ve done something wrong. We have to hold our hands up because we have gone about things in a way that we all know is wrong. But have we been harshly punished because of what we’ve done? 100%.
‘Do I think the points deduction is unjust? 100%. How we’ve been given this points deduction beggars belief, and how they’ve come to this scenario.
‘So, I’m hoping that, whether it’s today, whether it’s next week, the outcome is favourable in our way, and then we can try and move on as a club. And if it is favourable, then the second charge is quashed straight away.
‘And then, we as a club can try and focus on ourselves and try and move forwards the best we can. And then we’ll move on to the next saga then of new owners!’
Alan Stubbs has made himself an Everton hero again
Having enjoyed a relatively impressive two spells playing for Everton, in which he captained the club the a fourth-placed finish during his first, the 52-year-old was already a well-liked figure amongst the fanbase before he began his personal campaign against all who oppose the Toffees.
However, since first fighting the board whom Evertonians sought to drive out of the club, and now moving onto the Premier League, his unwavering commitment to providing a mouthpiece for the unheard has been integral.
To have someone of his stature speak so openly about issues many others were scared to was a breath of fresh air, but then again, that was Stubbsy all over.
He has always been an uncompromising man, and even through his play style that spirited defensive mentality was clearly always present.
It has just now been directed elsewhere, rather than keeping the balls out of the net like he tried to do during his playing days.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
