Aston Villa told how to escape points deduction after £120m reveal – Keith Wyness
Former Aston Villa chief Keith Wyness has insisted the club’s financial “problems” will be “answered right there and then” if Champions League qualification is secured.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – suggested the Midlands giants are “in a marginal situation” as the Premier League crack down on financial breaches.
Aston Villa announced their end-of-year accounts earlier this month (4 March), revealing an overall loss of almost £120million after tax for the 2022-23 season.
The Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) state that top-flight clubs cannot exceed losses of £105million over a three-year period – with breaches resulting in points deductions or financial punishments.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have already been hit with respective six and four-point penalties this season for breaching PSR.
Champions League qualification will solve Aston Villa’s FFP problems, says Wyness
However, Aston Villa sit fourth in the Premier League and are well-placed to secure Champions League qualification – which would provide a healthy boost to the club’s finances.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I’ve looked into this, and Villa are in a marginal situation. It can be controlled.
“They have assets they can sell domestically, their timing is a lot less urgent than Chelsea’s – and it’s nowhere near the same scale.
“Certainly if Villa do make it into European football for next season, a lot of their problems will be answered right there and then.
“That shows it isn’t such a big problem overall, and I think Villa can handle it.”
In other news, Aston Villa plot transfer U-turn following recent transformation.
For more Aston Villa and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.