Andy Burnham to turn back on UAE 'shortfall' after Man City threat - Keith Wyness
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is likely to side with the Premier League over the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing saga surrounding Manchester City.
That is according to former Everton chief executive and ex-Premier League board member Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who expects the PM to turn his back on the UAE's threat and accept any "shortfall" that follows.
This comes after the Middle Eastern nation have threatened to withdraw billions of pounds of private investment out of the UK in the aftermath of City being found guilty of 114 financial breaches.
However, Wyness believes that the Premier League's value to the UK economy is too precious for the country to lose, and expects Burnham to take their side as a result.
The matter is complicated further by recent reports that Burnham oversaw taxpayer loans to UAE-owned businesses during his previous time as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The debate is raging on as to how City should be punished for their wrongdoing, but the final verdict is also set to have huge implications beyond football.
Keith Wyness: 'Integrity' of Premier League is vital
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that it is vital that the "integrity" of the Premier League is retained as much as possible as the saga continues to unfold.
The Scottish businessman warned that if people lose faith in the league's integrity in a sporting sense, then it could have a hugely damaging effect on the wider UK economy.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that he believes Burnham is ultimately likely to take the league's side over the UAE's.
"You've got to look at this in terms of the Premier League. If people stop believing in the integrity of the Premier League, then you stand to lose the revenue that the Premier League is making for the UK," he said.
"And that, I think overall, could be more than the potential shortfall of any UAE investment that would come in. So that's got to be looked at on the whole over a longer period of time as well. It's a difficult one.
"And certainly, Burnham's got his hands full in terms of his Manchester revival, and how the UAE played a role in that as well. So, there are a lot of things still to come out."
Insider shares verdict on Man City political interference
Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that suggestions of "political interference" in City's appeal process much be taken with a "pinch of salt."
The football finance expert strongly believes that the entire process surounding the club's charges simply wouldn't have got this far if political interference was in play.
Borson is adamant that it is not a "significant" issue when it comes to the ongoing saga surrounding his former club.
He made it clear that he fully expects the City appeal to be carried out and judged fairly, without any involvement of any third or outside party.