A National League North club's chief executive has said he would welcome Manchester City to England’s sixth division if their guilty verdict is withheld under a new independent commission.
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The eight-time Premier League champions were found guilty last month on all charges relating to serious breaches of the league’s financial rules, and the majority of those in relation to their cooperation with the investigation.
Manchester City deny any wrongdoing and labelled the commission’s findings as “Premier League opinion”, subsequently filing for appeal last week.
It means a new, three-person commission has 12 weeks to conduct a five-day hearing, after which a second verdict will be reached, and potential sanctions will be handed out.
A statement issued by Manchester City has confirmed the club's 'comprehensive' appeal against the Premier League's 'opinion' and verdict issued earlier this week.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Confirm Comprehensive Appeal Against Premier League Opinion and Verdict
A statement issued by Manchester City has confirmed the club's 'comprehensive' appeal against the Premier League's 'opinion' and verdict issued earlier this week.
We’d 100 percent welcome Man City to the National League North, says Marine CEO James Leary
James Leary, who is the chief executive of Marine, told The Telegraph: “We’d 100% welcome Manchester City to National League North. Bring it on. That’d be fantastic.”
On what would be a hugely bizarre and outlandish move from the Premier League, Leary added: “We all know there will be repercussions for what they’ve done - I’m not sure it’ll go that far - but we’d love it to happen”.
Although the charges have brought forward many questions as to what City’s punishment will be if the initial verdict is withheld, there is no indication as to how damaging it will be for the club.
From the several suggestions, there is a great chance that Manchester City will have to pay a large fine to cover all inflated revenues, undergo a lengthy transfer ban, and receive one or multiple points deductions, resulting in subsequent relegation.
There is the possibility of titles being stripped from the club’s history, but that is highly unlikely as it would disregard the integrity of the game and display little merit for those who would benefit.
What would have happened if Man City didn’t inflate their revenue?
The ongoing dispute between the Premier League and City remains the headline as club football returns this weekend, with Enzo Maresca’s side facing Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
City spent over £440 million in the summer transfer window, and no one really batted an eyelid due to the frequent success and revenue the club generated while winning trophies every season under Pep Guardiola.
However, had the club accurately reported its finances during the nine-season period from 2009 to 2018, City would have posted catastrophic financial losses year after year.
It was determined that actual external sponsors added up to around £119.25 million, according to ESPN, which is marginal in contrast to the £830 million that was found to be disguised owner funding.
As a result, it is highly unlikely that City would have even gone so far as to convince Guardiola to join, given that a collapse would have occurred much sooner under Roberto Mancini.
UEFA would likely have banned City from the UEFA Champions League, and elite players such as Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and David Silva may never have joined because the club couldn't have covered wages or played European football.