Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers watch on as Manchester City await the outcome of their legal battle with the Premier League.
Comments
Sport
Inside the stadium before the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City face 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial breaches with a verdict expected soon
(Image: PA)
Aston Villa, Wolves and all other English top-flight teams have been told when Manchester City could get the final verdict of their legal battle with the Premier League.
City's manager, Pep Guardiola, disclosed in February that he anticipates a verdict 'in a month' following their hearing before an independent panel into 115 charges of alleged financial breaches. The club robustly refuted all accusations.
Speculation is rife regarding the potential consequences for City should they be found guilty. Predictions vary from relegation and financial penalties to points deductions and even the removal of titles.
And Stefan Borson, the former financial adviser for Man City, suggested on talkSPORT that it would 'make sense' for both parties to learn their fate this month when asked if the dispute could be resolved during the current international break.
"It would make a lot of sense, wouldn't it?" He said. "If it was in court you'd say 'well that is complete irrelevant' because the judges don't care about whether it is convenient commercially for the parties, but remember this is a commercial arbitration of sorts.
"And therefore they may well be minded to fit within the two parties' preferences and you would think that the two parties' preferences would be this week, or next week the international break.
"That would make some sense. That said, there are a few sort of indicators that it is not imminent.
"Our friend Lord Pannick was not busily reading a draft decision that had been presented to him last night. He was in the House of Lords looking very pleased with himself, talking about expensive lawyers in a debate about the independent football regulator.
"He was a very active participant in that, so he was not in Chambers busily reading any decision provided to him in advance of a release. So we will see, as I say it would make sense for it to be in the next few days, but equally it is not certain. It could still be quite some time away."