Chelsea’s real reason for Premier League abstention revealed by Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Chelsea may be “playing politics” after abstaining from a key Premier League vote.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – suggested the Blues may be looking for further concessions from top-flight chiefs.
Premier League clubs voted in favour of developing plans to introduce a spending cap on Monday (29 April).
Chelsea were the only abstention, while Man City, Man United and Aston Villa voted against the proposals.
The spending cap would limit outlay on transfers, wages and agents’ fees – reportedly to around £500million per season.
Chelsea preparing fight against new spending rules, says Wyness
Wyness claimed Chelsea are just “reserving their position” and will “fight this battle” later on in the process.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I’ve been following this closely.
“You never know whether clubs are playing politics on other issues, rather than voting on this particular issue. That could be the case with Chelsea.
“We don’t know if they object to the anchoring idea, or if there’s something else that Chelsea want from the Premier League.
“That’s what went across my mind.
“An abstention won’t affect the vote, it will go through. The details haven’t been resolved, and for this – the devil is definitely in the detail.
“Chelsea are reserving their current position and probably have an eye on fighting this battle down the road.
“It’s going to take a lot of negotiation between the clubs, and there’s a two-day meeting being set up this summer specifically for this issue.
“It seems there are enough clubs in favour to get this change through.”
In other news, Mauricio Pochettino sack update emerges from Stamford Bridge.
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