Manchester City's punishment still must be decided after they were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules but they have launched an appeal
Frank Lampard
Coventry City may not benefit from any Manchester City punishment(Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
One Premier League owner does not want to see Coventry City benefit from any financial windfall the division receives from Manchester City in the aftermath of the club being found guilty of breaching financial rules from 2009 to 2018.
City are appealing the Independent Commission's decision to find them guilty of 114 out of 115 allegations, but clubs are keenly awaiting the sanctions that could await. Punishments could range from a fine to a points deduction of even expulsion from the Premier League.
One investor has called for City to put £1billion into a pot that would be distributed to teams depending on the damage they suffered, reports The Athletic. They believe such a measure would prevent a 'waterfall' of lawsuits being made.
According to the Athletic, a Premier League owner believes that not all sides in the top-flight are entitled to an equal split of such a pot. They suggested Coventry, having not been in the Premier League during City's offending period, should not receive any windfall.
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It is argued that the likes of West Ham United, Southampton, Stoke City and Leicester City would be more worthy of compensation. However, there is some consensus that City must receive a sporting punishment in addition to financial punishment, and that personnel within City's boardroom should not escape without sanction.
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Shaun Harvey, a director at Wrexham, believes allowing City into the Championship would also be a punishment for the division, however. "I can understand the sanction and penalising City [if guilty upon appeal] but… if they were to be relegated to the Championship, that is one promotion place gone for next season," he said.
"Clubs have been investing for that opportunity. So how do you square a punishment on City that then turns into a punishment on 24 other clubs?"
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard
Coventry boss Frank Lampard, who played for City for a season during the offending period, gave his view on the situation. "We've all seen the news, it's obviously big news, Man City are appealing," he said.
"I guess my reaction is that, right? What can you say when an appeal is going on? I'm not inside the story, I'm outside it completely.
"I played for Man City a long time ago now, for one year. We'll wait and see what the result of the appeal is and onwards. I don't know the timelines at all."
He added: "I have a small affiliation with City because I had a great time there for a year [as a player] and everybody treated me amazingly. That's probably about as much as I've got to say about it. You treat as you find, how people are with you and they were with me. So I'm not part of this story now. I'm part of this doing this job."
Coventry City writer Andy Turner
Coventry City writer Andy Turner