Newcastle don’t have PIF backing in Man City battle – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed the Saudi Public Investment Fund will not want Newcastle United to join Man City in the fight against the Premier League.
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 – suggested PiF and other top-flight American owners will want “cost control” at their clubs as there is not “unlimited money” to spend on players.
Man City started their two-week legal action against the Premier League on Monday (10 June) as they bid to end the top-flight Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.
APT rules currently prevent clubs from inflating commercial deals to boost revenue.
Football Insider revealed on Saturday (8 June) that Man City will have unlimited spending power in the transfer market and beyond if they win their case against the Premier League.
Newcastle owners PIF won’t join Man City fight, says Wyness
City and Newcastle are the only two nation-state-owned clubs in the English top-flight, but Wyness claimed PIF could see “competition and integrity” as more important than spending big.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s been rumoured that several clubs do support Man City, but no one has come out and said it because there will be a backlash if they lose.
“I don’t necessarily think PIF will back Newcastle to join this fight, and I don’t think the American owners will be backing their clubs either.
“I think they’ll want to see a certain cost control element at these football clubs.
“There isn’t unlimited money to spend on players and clubs, so common sense says there should be some element of cost control.
“If City do win, then we lose that – and it may be that they go ahead and win the league every year and we just start the season with them in first place.
“But the other owners, I hope, see how competition and integrity is best for them in the long run.
“I think cost control is just as relevant to the likes of PIF as spending big every year.”
In other news, Newcastle could accept points deduction in stunning twist, says expert.
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