Keith Wyness ‘surprised’ as Premier League clubs ‘unite’ against Man City
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted he was “surprised” to see such a strong backing of the Premier League’s amendments to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules despite opposition from Man City.
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 – claimed English top-flight clubs have shown “unity” by defying City’s lobbying to vote through the rules.
The Premier League won a significant victory against Man City on Friday (22 November) after clubs voted decisively to change the APT rules.
City had lobbied for a more widespread change to the regulations and wrote to all 19 other top-flight clubs.
The club launched legal action earlier this year against the rules, but only three aspects were found unlawful – the most significant of which being interest-free loans from owners, which will now be considered APTs under the new regulations.
Only Aston Villa, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest sided with City with Wolves and Chelsea changing their original stance to vote in favour of the changes.
Premier League clubs gang up on Man City in ‘surprise’ move, says Wyness
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “This has been a protracted, complex situation.
“I was surprised to see the vote taken so quickly in the Premier League meeting. The news had already broken by 9:30 in the morning.
“It was 16 votes to four and that really backs up the Premier League’s position – these APT rules will now be amended.
“It was considered a loss for Man City because they had lobbied to postpone the vote, so to have it supported clearly by 16 clubs did surprise me.
“But it showed a degree of unity, which is pleasing.
“We now have these rules in place. They’ve been amended, and they appear to be legal – so these clubs can have some certainty, and can act accordingly.”
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