Fans trust ‘robustly challenges’ club to explain its position
SUPPORTERS GROUP SEEKS MEETING BEFORE ACCOUNTS PUBLISHED
LEICESTER City’s Supporters’ Trust has spoken with the club as it looks to bring more clarity to a fanbase left anxious by financial fair play rules charges, writes Joseph Chapman.
City are alleged to have breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) rules.
The Foxes have been placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL and have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League for failing to submit audited finances.
The club have launched legal proceedings in return against both leagues.
The commission could hit City with a points deduction if they are deemed to have not co-operated.
City argue the Premier League has no jurisdiction while the club are in the EFL.
The club’s accounts are due to appear on the Companies House website by the end of this month or the very beginning of April.
Foxes Trust and the club are due to meet next week. Ahead of that, the trust issued a statement saying it “had dialogue with LCFC subsequent to the issuing of sanctioning statements by the English Premier League and English Football League and has had further dialogue with the club today (Saturday).”
The statement said. “Given the legal nature of the situation, we have to be careful in our approach by not stating anything publicly which could harm our club’s position, but we have robustly challenged the club to explain the current situation to the trust.
“We will be meeting with the club during next week to discuss the 2022/23 accounts just prior to their publication and will again raise questions about the financial consequences of relegation from the EPL, compliance with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and the likely impact across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
“Like the majority of Leicester City fans and football supporters in general, we are frustrated by the lack of clarity about the current situation regarding financial regulations and sanctions for breaches – both the purpose and implementation of the rules and how these affect Leicester City’s current position.
“We are currently monitoring all the statements being made by all parties, not only in our case, but relating to PSR breaches at other clubs, too (such as, the statement recently issued by the Everton Fan Advisory Board).
“The trust has in the past been assured of the financial viability of our club and is proud of its aspirations and success.
“The need for the club to take legal action is clearly concerning and raises further issues about whether this will be to the detriment of any sanctions levied.
“This demonstrates the failure of the EPL and EFL to adopt a cohesive process that is clear to all parties involved.
“The trust regards this as another situation that proves the urgent need for an independent regulator.
“The trust thanks Jonathan Ashworth MP for his open letter to Richard Masters, EPL chief executive, regarding this matter and calls on the other Leicestershire MPs to press for more transparency, too.
“It is more important now than ever that the fans get behind Enzo and the team for the remaining games, and to be that 12th man to help get us back into the Premier League.”
It is more important now than ever that the fans get behind Enzo and the team
Foxes Trust