Everton FFP: Critical update as January announcement looms – sources
Real-time monitoring of clubs’ compliance with spending rules will be among the core proposals of an independent football regulator in a move that will help the likes of Everton avoid future sanctions, Football Insider has learned.
This site revealed on 22 December last year that the government will set out its plans for an independent regulator in a white paper by the end of January.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has since accelerated its search for new policy advisers, with four new aides expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.
The white paper will broadly define the proposed remit of the regulator but will not outline specific policy.
However, a financial source has told Football Insider that real-time monitoring is all but certain to be codified into profit and sustainability rules across the English pyramid in the coming years.
This system would allow the regulator to intervene before a club either falls foul of spending regulations or charts a course towards financial oblivion in the style of Bury or Macclesfield Town.
Everton have been involved in quasi-real-time monitoring in recent months, liaising with the Premier League to ensure that they remain within the division’s defined financial parameters.
But as reported elsewhere, the now-concluded discussions were held on a voluntary basis and not mandated by the top flight.
The Toffees have recorded losses of over £370million in the last three seasons alone and have only avoided penalties because of pandemic-related exemptions.
Elsewhere, a real-time monitoring structure has already been set up by both Uefa and the Football League.
The Premier League meanwhile is expected to soon mirror Uefa and introduce a new financial fair play system which ties wages, transfers and agent fees to turnover.
In other news, Everton set sights on luring Perkins from Tottenham.