Finance expert says Everton’s appeal could win, predicts their new points deduction

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It feels like Everton are merely treading water until the outcome of their appeal is finalised.

After all, the decision that the independent commission come to could have huge ramifications for the makeup of the Premier League, with a full reduction set to send the Toffees back up to 12th, where they belong.

And whilst that is unlikely, there is a quiet confidence building among some supporters that there could still be a positive outcome; a rare ray of optimism for an otherwise downtrodden fanbase.

Well, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has sought to shed some more light on the situation, with another reason for fans to be cautiously positive.

Kieran Maguire predicts Everton’s appeal outcome

Speaking to Guilia Bould for BBC Sport Merseyside, he was asked what the outcome might be, and what his personal feeling on the topic was.

Laughing at first, he would go on to claim: ‘I’ve got no qualifications, but I think my gut feel is that when I heard and I think when the majority of people heard of the initial tariff, the feeling was that it was on the harsh side.

‘So perhaps a reduction from say ten to six points and perhaps they would say ‘It’s going to be six points plus four suspended, you’re on our naughty step, we are monitoring you very carefully, we want to work conjunction with you, we know that there’s been some changes at the top of Everton so there’s a case of a changing of the guard, we’ve now got people in who are more in line with the Premier League’s aspirations’.

‘That would be a settlement which I think would be acceptable to fans; ideally, you want it all wiped out but I think fans realise it’s going to be some form of deduction and at the same time is seen as being enforcing the rules.’

Everton have grounds to get even more back

Although that small remuneration in itself would provide a huge boost for Sean Dyche, there was certainly grounds for them to push to get even more back.

After all, numerous arguments have emerged, forged by the everyday supporter, which go about eradicating any competency or trust that the Premier League had built.

From using stadium loan interest costs in the PSR calculations to the nature of the cobbled-together policy with which they were punished against, it has been a farcical trial throughout.

So, with one of the game’s most revered barristers heading the defence, KC Laurence Rabinowitz should have had a field day when picking apart the sanction.

The appeal was heard last week, from Wednesday to Friday, and an outcome is expected to be published by mid-February.