Nuno: It’s a mess!
FOREST BOSS HITS OUT AS CLUB WAITS FOR OUTCOME OF APPEAL OVER POINTS DEDUCTION
NOTTINGHAM Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has described the situation surrounding the points deductions for the Reds and Everton as “a mess”.
Both clubs have been sanctioned for breaking Profitability and Sustainability Rules, otherwise known as Financial Fair Play, but there is still a lack of clarity over their final punishments. And taking into account the appeals process for both, there is the possibility of the saga dragging on beyond the end of the season.
Forest have appealed against the four points they were docked and are expected to hear the outcome later this month. Having already been hit with a 10-point deduction earlier in the campaign – reduced to six on appeal – the Toffees were this week docked another two points for a second PSR breach and have indicated they will also challenge that punishment.
The Premier League have put in place a backstop date of May 24 for resolving both cases – five days after the final round of fixtures. With both teams involved in the battle for survival, it means there is the potential for the relegation picture to still be up in the air after the last games have been played.
“That’s a lot of uncertainty, an appeal going on, we’re still waiting,” said Nuno, ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers (3pm).
“There’s nothing much to say about that, let’s focus on what we have to focus on and wait.
“I never experienced this situation, none of us have experienced this before. It’s a mess.
“So much is going on, we cannot clearly know what is going to happen. Let’s wait. Me and the players are only focused on our task.
“We have played since this issue came around. It’s always there. What we try is to put it away from our focus and pay attention to things we can control. But it is there.”
Forest immediately clawed back the four points they were docked by drawing with Crystal Palace and beating Fulham. However, they are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference as they head into their final six games.
With so much at stake, Nuno is keen for the appeal process to be concluded swiftly.
He added: “It’s very important we have the decision sooner. It’s better for us and it is better for the competition so it doesn’t create mess, confusion and uncertainty, because this is what we are experiencing now – so much going on, so much talking, appeal after appeal. We don’t know.
“For us, it is vital we focus on our tasks, and the players’ task is to play, to be focused on the game and try to ignore everything else.”