Sean Dyche believes a speedy resolution to Everton’s appeal against their 10-point deduction is required “for the good of football”.
Everton were deducted 10 points in November after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules during a four-year period culminating in the end of the 2021-22 season.
The Toffees immediately signalled their intention to appeal against that penalty, which plunged them into the thick of yet another relegation battle.
Everton moved ahead of Luton Town on goal difference to escape the relegation zone on Monday, with Amadou Onana heading a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.
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All eyes at Goodison Park are now on the outcome of the club’s appeal with their final penalty set to be clarified in the coming days, and Dyche believes that announcement cannot come soon enough.
“I don’t know the date or anything, we’re just waiting. For the good of football, I think it needs to be speedier for everyone,” he told Sky Sports after Monday’s game.
“I don’t think anyone wants these cases to be dragged out, whatever it’s going to be, we just want to get on with it.
“It’s not in my hands, though. Last time, I was in Dubai during the international break and I just got a phone call, so who knows? The sooner it is, the better for everyone.”
Only Arsenal (11) have scored more goals from corners in the Premier League this season than @Everton (10) ????#EVECRY pic.twitter.com/MQQjnkTdwR
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 19, 2024
Despite Everton moving out of the bottom three, Monday’s draw was viewed as a disappointing result by many as the Toffees failed to take the game to a Palace side who saw manager Roy Hodgson stand down earlier that day, with his replacement Oliver Glasner watching on from the stands.
Dyche believes the next step for his team is to be more proactive against the sides around them, saying: “Sometimes it’s about mentality, the hardest fight to win is the one that everyone thinks you should.
“We’ve got to grow with that. In my short time here, the crowd do expect a lot but you’ve got to row towards that and there were signs in the second half that we did.
“It was, ‘let’s be braver in possession and ask more questions of the opposition’. We let in a bad goal from our point of view, but there was a lot of good in that second half.
“Our mentality has been key in the last few weeks and will be going forward.”