Manchester City could be in line to receive millions from the Premier League if they are found not guilty of their alleged financial rule breaches.
There is an expectation that the three-person independent commission that heard their case last year will deliver a verdict soon.
Man City continue to deny any wrongdoing, and if their innocence is proven, they seem set to save themselves much of the costs they spent on their defence. The club had Lord David Pannick KC representing them during a hearing between September and December last year. Precedent suggests that the 'winners' may make much of their costs back.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, former Man City financial advisor and football finance expert Stefan Borson said: "Whilst we know from the published Everton costs hearing that there is no restriction on the Independent Commission in terms of costs, it is likely to be asked to, and will, treat the proceedings akin to High Court commercial litigation.
"In doing so, the general rule is that it is fair for the unsuccessful party to pay the successful party's costs. This is especially so where a party fails to prove serious allegations of fraud where courts generally award the highest percentage of recovery (known as indemnity costs).
"Likewise, a finding of fraud against City is likely to give rise to the Premier League getting the vast majority of its costs from City.
"The complexity can arise where, as in City's case, there is a range of allegations and where the decision may not be binary.
"In those cases, the courts (and therefore the Independent Commission) will look, as a matter of substance and reality, who has 'won.'
"Then it considers whether, despite one party having won in the significant sense, there are any matters which the other party has succeeded on which took a significant amount of additional time and resource to contest. This might include the co-operation charges.
"From there, it is for the party claiming costs to show that its costs claimed are reasonable and proportionate except if one side is awarded the indemnity costs as could be possible in this case.
"In summary, if City were to successfully defend all the substantive allegations regardless of the co-operation outcome, they could expect to recover 80-90% of their costs."
On the likelihood of Man City being able to counter-sue in such a scenario, Borson stated: "Despite the immense frustration which will accompany a successful verdict, City are unlikely to be able to mount any case for compensation against the Premier League or other clubs.
"Only a finding by the Independent Commission suggesting that the case was brought in bad faith (which simply is not going to happen) would give rise to the potential for a claim for damages beyond costs.
"Even a hint that the case had elements of vexatiousness would not assist City on this.
"In short, costs recovery will be the best City can do."