Keith Wyness tells Premier League to close Chelsea loophole – ‘these deals stink’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted the Premier League must move quickly to close “loopholes” exploited by Chelsea to avoid punishment.
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 the sale of club hotels and the Blues’ training ground “have a stink about them”.
The Times revealed last month (17 July) that the Premier League will review the takeover of Chelsea Women by the club’s parent company to see if it complies with the rules on associated party deals and fair market value.
Stamford Bridge hotels and a portion of the club’s training ground have also changed hands to provide the club with one-off profits to ease the risk of breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Fans of rival clubs have been outraged by the moves by Chelsea, who have continued spending lavishly in this summer’s transfer window.
Premier League chiefs must move to stop Chelsea, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the rules have “got to be tightened up” by the Premier League.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “This is all around the PSR requirements.
“The valuation of these deals, the hotel and the training ground, are the issue.
“I’m unclear as to whether those sales have been approved by the Premier League.
“I know they’ve been under analysis by the Premier League, and I’m yet to hear the final outcome of those discussions.
“It is an issue, there’s no doubt about it.
“These things have got to be tightened up, the related party transactions. These deals just have a stink about them – something is not quite right.
“If we’re going to have a genuine competition with integrity, then these loopholes have got to be resolved.
“Common sense tells you that these things are not right.”
In other news, Blues will accept £20m defender bid as Aston Villa swoop.
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