At the same time when Aston Villa and Wolves are contemplating difficult choices, the reality of the Premier League FFP is brought clear

Due to the fact that Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions, Aston Villa and Wolves have been attempting to circumvent the Premier League’s rules regarding profitability and sustainability. This raises the question: is it time for such expenditure constraints to be eliminated entirely?

At first, it was Everton. Then Everton once again, with Nottingham Forest thrown in for good measure during this match. At this moment, Leicester City is sitting on the receiving end of a possible deduction of points from the Premier League. When it comes to the scourge of profitability and sustainability, who exactly is safe from its effects?

a scourge because that is what the regulations are rapidly evolving into going forward. Officially, they are in place to protect clubs against themselves, to make certain that none of them run the risk of overextending themselves in some kind of wild quest for fame (although for Forest, it was more about survival following promotion). However, the club that is probably responsible for doing that, Manchester City, who won the treble, is still waiting for the decision of a drawn-out process that involves at least 115 charges alleging that there were financial irregularities.

The question of what the long-term repercussions of profitability and sustainability will be for the Premier League and its members is, however, a more pressing problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

Aston Villa has owners who are quite wealthy, and they have demonstrated a strong desire to achieve a position in the top six, and who knows, maybe even a fight for the championship one day. In what ways have they been wasteful? The appearance of things does not suggest that this is the case. Is the revenue they generate satisfactory? When you consider the television deals that top-flight clubs are able to enjoy, the revenue that they receive from sponsorships, and even the money that they make from filing Villa Park every other week, it would appear that this is the case. Despite this, we are made to understand that they are considering selling players in order to bring the books into balance after their most recent accounts that were less than impressive. That can’t possibly be the case, can it? It is not in a league organization that is competitive. During the time when your owners are loaded?

Wolves appear to be in a similar situation, as spending issues have already resulted in the departure of one manager (although the departure of Julen Lopetgui in the summer and the appointment of Gary O’Neil at Molineux has been unexpectedly excellent news, even if it was by accident rather than by plan).