Everton's drawn-out points deduction appeal has turned the relegation battle into a circus - the Premier League's integrity risks being ruined if farcical process isn't fixed fast

On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Everton have had their 10-point penalty for breaching the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) reduced to six points on appeal.

Consequently, Sean Dyche's struggling side have jumped from 17th to 15th in the table and are now five points clear of the relegation zone rather than just one. In addition, Luton are suddenly four points from safety. 

The terrible thing is, though, this is far from over. Everton are facing a second charge relating to the PSR assessment period between 2019 and 2023, meaning another points deduction remains a very real possibility. 

To complicate matters even more, Nottingham Forest, who have dropped to 17th following Monday's news, are facing a charge of their own that could see them fall into the drop zone. 

Justice has to be done, of course, and due process must be followed in cases of such a serious nature but there is understandable frustration at just how long they are taking to be resolved. 

As if anyone needs reminding, it's not just the relegation battle that is now shrouded in uncertainty, it's also an absolute farce that Manchester City, who are presently bidding to win a fourth consecutive title, and a sixth in seven years, were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations last March. 

Incredibly, that trial has yet to even begin. Premier League CEO Richard Masters said in January that a date has been set but then bizarrely added "I can't tell you when that is" without any further explanation.

Clearly, the gravity of the charges facing City are on a whole other level to those brought against Everton (and Forest), so the case was always going to require far more time to resolve.

However, it's not in the least bit surprising that other clubs, managers and supporters are both publicly and privately expressing dismay and disgust at how long all of this is taking.

It's also rather inevitably led to suggestions that it's one rule for the Premier League's poorer clubs, and quite another for its elite, who have bottomless wells of oil money and armies of lawyers capable of tying up administrators in red tape.

Those accusations aren't going to subside any time soon, either, as even the more 'straightforward' cases involving Everton and Forest could drag on until April - and maybe even beyond, casting a long shadow over the entire relegation battle. 

At the end of the day, nobody will really know where they stand until all of the appeals are heard, which is just an embarrassing position for the Premier League to find itself in.

Even worse, who goes down this season might be decided by what happens in a court room rather than on the pitch.

Again, everyone agreed to abide by certain financial regulations, so if those regulations are breached, punishment is imperative. Otherwise, the whole system collapses and reckless owners could end up bankrupting clubs.

However, it's impossible to shake the suspicion that the Premier League have left it far too long to start enforcing the rules, and that the recent spate of charges are rooted in a desire to convince the United Kingdom government - which is considering creating an independent regulator to run English football - that it is capable of keeping its own house in order. 

The fact that the PSR rules are set to change next season anyway has also added to the sense of frustration among fans of Everton, who believe that their club is being unfairly made an example of and that it shouldn't have taken three months to learn the outcome of their appeal. 

Other clubs' supporters have also alleged that these regulations are also more about maintaining the status quo by making it impossible for smaller sides to spend the kind of money required to break up the Premier League's 'Big Six'.

The Premier League will obviously argue that everything about this entire process has been just and handled as quickly as possible.

But such cases clearly have to be managed in a more transparent and swift fashion, because the current situation is just not good enough. There is just too much confusion and uncertainty surrounding the standings right now.

Make no mistake about it: this is a PR disaster for the Premier League, with fans from an awful lot of clubs losing faith in the competition and its organisers.

There is an old adage in football that the table never lies but the worrying thing is that, in England, that no longer rings true.