‘Real people & real jobs’ - Man City warned of mimicking Man Utd in FFP case as ‘well-kept’ secret poses cost-cutting threat

The Red Devils, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS co-ownership group overseeing football matters at Old Trafford, have faced plenty of criticism this season for implementing controversial cost-cutting measures. There is the threat of more to come as United struggle to generate positive results.

City have no financial concerns at present, with billionaire owners overseeing an era of remarkable success, but an 115-charge Financial Fair Play saga is threatening to undermine efforts on the pitch. Guilty verdicts on the back of an independent hearing could lead to costly points deductions – which may leave the Blues sweating on their top-flight status.

There is no indication that a final ruling there is about to be delivered, meaning that gossip continues to rage. City’s former financial adviser, Stefan Borson, has told Football Insider: “I do think the Premier League and City to an extent could have done a better job. I think this could have been agreed with all the parties. I have said it right from the start there should have been a published timetable, at least with estimates as to when we can expect the hearing itself, the decision to come out, the next phase, and the explanation of what the process is.

“At the moment, what you’ve got is a situation where it might happen at any point. Something that’s very significant not just to the future of football but to the future of Manchester City employees because you would think that, if a lot of this stuff goes against City, then there would have to be some adjustments to City’s cost base, which as we know from what’s happened at United can involve real people and real jobs.”

Borson added: “I don’t think it’s been well handled in that respect and I don’t think that there was a particular problem in giving a bit more guidance as to when we could expect the decision to come out. We sit here today thinking this week would have been a possible time to release it. Next week could be a possible time to release it. But equally, it is perfectly plausible that this doesn’t come out until the summer or even later, so we really don’t know.

“I can tell you from lots of conversations I’ve had over the last week, nobody knows. This is a very well-kept secret, and nobody has got any indication of definitively when it’s coming. Nobody believes that it’s close because of things they’ve heard.

“That’s not to say it won’t come today. It may come today, but if it is coming today, it’s not because two or three people in the media or close to the club have heard it’s really close. It will just drop. It doesn’t feel like the best way of doing things from the Premier League and City’s perspective, but that’s the process we have. That’s what we thought we were going to get. That’s where we are.”

City would have to tighten collective belts if they were to tumble out of the Premier League, with several leading stars likely to move on. There would be inevitable job losses at the Etihad Stadium, but the reigning champions of England maintain that they have done nothing wrong.