Man City given ‘should be starting in the National League’ warning as ex-Premier League star reacts to 115-charge FFP case & potential for Erling Haaland & Rodri to form part of mass exodus

The hearing into supposed monetary mismanagement by the reigning Premier League champions has been opened. A ruling in that case, which includes as many as 130 charges, could be delivered by the end of the calendar year or early in 2025.

Various punishments for City have been speculated on – from points deductions to expulsion from the English top-flight – with it even being suggested that they could be removed from every domestic and continental competition.

Former Premier League star Stan Collymore – who represented the likes of Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Aston Villa in his playing days – believes the harshest of penalties should be handed out, as a mass exodus from the Etihad Stadium is sparked. He has told CaughtOffside: “If they are found guilty they should be starting, in my opinion, in the National League. Getting relegated to the Championship and having two or three windows where they’re not allowed to compete in the transfer market isn’t likely to see any of their big names leave. If, however, you’re kicked out of the Premier League and you’re kicked out of the Football League, that really sends out the strongest possible message. And the reality is that the National League would welcome them with open arms, because it’s Man City, and they would generate a significant amount of revenue.

“Allegedly, it’s taken the club a number of years to run roughshod over the rules in order to be able to get a competitive advantage over other clubs, so it has to follow that it takes a number of years to get back up to the Premier League. Erling Haaland, Rodri and Jack Grealish et al aren’t staying put if their best years of their playing career are spent in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid. If we look back in 10 years and see City have dropped down one division whilst winning 15 trophies, the owners of other big clubs are likely to think that’s a risk worth taking.”

City have made history by claiming the last four Premier League titles, with an era of remarkable success under head coach Pep Guardiola including a historic Treble in 2022-23. It remains to be seen if they will remain in contention for the most prestigious of prizes in upcoming campaigns.