Man City scandal: Insider shares update on Etihad triggering 'exit clause'
Manchester City's main sponsors Etihad have no intention of turning their back on the club despite the saga surrounding their financial breaches.
That is according to former Everton chief executive and ex-Premier League board member Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the airline intend to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the Citizens until the very end.
The UAE-based company have even threatened to take legal action against the Premier League, as they believe that the league's guilty verdict against the Citizens has created damaging implications for them.
Wyness is adamant that Etihad will have the option of triggering an exit clause as part of their contract, but he does not expect that to even be on their radar.
City are facing a possible relegation as a result of their 114 financial breaches, but have already opted to appeal against the guilty verdict.
Wyness made it clear that Etihad stand alongside City as one of the UAE's "flagship" investments, and will remain tied together for as long as possible.
Etihad relationship to protect sponsorship
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 the close relationship between the owners of City and Etihad will protect their sponsorship deal moving forward.
The Scottish businessman is adamant that it will take something extreme for the two parties to go their separate ways.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Etihad will have no consideration towards triggering any exit clause.
"It will have something in there in terms of a normal sponsorship clause where, if there are extreme patterns of behaviour or things happen, then they probably could (exit), but given the situation and the closeness of Etihad and the Man City owners, I would not expect them to be going anywhere," he said.
"I think they will stick shoulder to shoulder and will fight this through together. That's what I'd expect, and I don't expect Etihad to break away or change anything at all.
"They're in it together. They're two of the main flagships of the UAE investment. So no, listen, it's something that I think they'll just see it through together and fight as best they can."
Tottenham have 'strong case' to claim '£50m' from Man City
Wyness told Football Insider earlier this week that Tottenham have a "strong case" to claim up to "£50million" in compensation from City as a result of their breaches.
The Lilywhites missed out on Champions League football by one place in four of the nine years of City's breaches, with the Manchester giants finishing above them in all four instances.
Wyness believes that the Premier League could potentially distribute a huge fine against City between the other clubs, as a way to compensate them.
Several sides are currently weighing up legal challenges against the Citizens, but Wyness expects that the league could potentially take a blanket approach.