Aston Villa given 'very tough' treatment amid Premier League rule change - Keith Wyness
Aston Villa's financial problems will not be eased at all by the Premier League's new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules.
That is according to former Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who has labelled the rules as "silly" and feels they are detrimental towards clubs who are looking to develop.
The Premier League's new restrictions will allow clubs to spend up to 85 per cent of their revenue on their squads, but those who are in European competitions must also adhere to UEFA's own 70 per cent cap.
It has been suggested that clubs like Villa could overspend the UEFA cap and put up with their more lenient punishments, but Wyness believes that in reality, his former side have not gained any more "leeway."
The rules are designed to provide long-term financial security for clubs and prevent reckless spending, but they have also been criticised for limiting development outside the established elites.
Villa have been toeing the line in terms of the Premier League's restrictions for the last few seasons, and things are not about to get any easier for them.
Aston Villa dealt 'very tough' hand by SCR rules
Villa's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that it isn't feasible for the second city outfit to just disregard UEFA's cap and spend to Premier League standards.
The Scottish businessman is clear that the slight change to SCR won't allow Unai Emery and Co. to loosen the purse strings at all.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he reiterated his stance that the restrictions are "very tough" on clubs like Villa.
"I don't think it gives them any extra leeway, until we can harmonise at 85 per cent both ways, then it might help a little bit," Wyness said.
"It is a very confusing situation, but still UEFA are saying 70 per cent is the barrier you've got to meet once you're in there, and so Villa once again are going to be very tight.
"I've campaigned for many weeks, as you know, for a bond to allow people, owners that have got the money to be able to spend more than these silly rules.
"We've seen that Villa have had to move very fast in the market, selling their prime asset. So it's very tough on Villa and clubs like that. Emery is going to have to work his magic again in Europe this this season."
Unai Emery in 'confrontation' with Aston Villa hierarchy
Former Villa scout Bryan King recently told Football Insider that he heard there has been a "confrontation" of sorts between Emery and some members of the hierarchy at Villa Park.
The ex-recruitment man outlined that the Spanish boss is "frustrated" with the way that his team's transfer window has gone so far this summer.
Villa have lost the established trio of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, the latter two for relatively small fees, and have only brought in three new additions.
The boss knows that he needs added quality for the club's return to the Champions League, but that has proved a point of contention behind the scenes.