EFL latest: What happens if Man City are expelled from the Premier League?

· Sky-PL

Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent commission.

What happens if Man City are expelled from the Premier League?

Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent commission.

The club have until Friday to appeal the judgement, and they have already indicated their intention to do so.

Possible sanctions, which can include unlimited fines, points deductions, transfer restrictions, or, in extremis, expulsion, will be decided at a further confidential hearing.

While it is not clear what any sanctions will be, Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett has outlined possible scenarios IF the club are given a points deduction or they are expelled from the Premier League.

Who decides the possible sanctions?

It will be the independent commission that decides the sanctions against City, and those options include a fine, points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League (PL).

Because this case is unprecedented, there is very little for the commission to use as guidance for the punishment it will hand down.

The independent Premier League commission does not have the power to relegate them two divisions, or one division - their only option is expulsion from the PL, or a big enough points deduction that would make relegation likely or inevitable.

The independent panel also cannot make recommendations on where the club might have to re-enter the pyramid.

How can Man City be relegated?

Man City can only end up in the Championship if they are given a significant enough points penalty, which means they go on to be relegated from the PL.

What happens if Man City are expelled from the PL?

Expulsion means they are no longer a Premier League (PL) club, not that they have been relegated. City will then have to go to The Football Association (The FA) and apply to rejoin the football pyramid further down.

Then the problem of re-integration lies with The Football Association and the English Football League (EFL).

The FA will have a huge part to play in deciding where City play their football next, in this scenario. Where that might be is unknown, and very complicated and political.

Will the PL decide to negate all City’s results for this season, because it has happened mid-season? It’s something they will have to decide upon.

How would Man City enter the EFL?

Written into the EFL laws: any new member who joins the EFL has to join at League Two.

The EFL, like the PL, is a collective of its member clubs, and so any decision to re-enter Man City at a certain level, that is, any level from the Championship or below, would have to be ratified by a vote of the member clubs.

If it went to a vote, it would be passed or rejected by a simple majority, a vote that involves all 72 EFL clubs.

That was the system for when the Championship play-offs were expanded from four to six teams last season - it required a majority of the 72 AND a specific majority of the Championship clubs.

Will clubs in any division be keen for a club of Man City’s power to join their league?

What would happen to the PL's missing place?

It certainly causes problems in terms of numbers in each competition – leaving only 19 clubs in the PL.

This will almost certainly mean that only two clubs are relegated from the top division that season.

Forest Green Rovers confirm Savage has been offered Peterborough job

Forest Green Rovers have confirmed Robbie Savage has been offered the job at Peterborough United.

A statement from Rovers chairman Dale Vince said:

> “We have given Robbie Savage permission to speak to Peterborough. > > "He wanted to leave the club for personal reasons, reasons which we understand and respect. > > "He’s been offered the job, and we’re now in a negotiation with Peterborough on the terms. > > "We wish Robbie the very best.”

The former Wales midfielder will not take charge of Forest Green’s match against Wealdstone in the National League on Tuesday evening.

'It was an unbelievable moment' - Bristol City's Ballard describes his wondergoal

> "It will probably be the best goal I ever score, if I'm brutally honest. It was a really good goal."

Some claim to make as a striker who only turned 21 this year. But if you saw Dom Ballard's goal against Birmingham City you would probably understand.

Audacious is an undersell. A remarkable piece of imagination, mixed in with athleticism and dexterity from the Bristol City forward.

"I saw Rio [Cardines] put a ball in the box maybe a minute before and it was a very similar delivery," Ballard - who won Sky Bet Championship Goal of the Month for August - tells Sky Sports. "I just got ahead of it.

> "It happened again, I got ahead of it again, but this time I got myself in a position where I felt I could guide the ball towards the goal. It was instinctive. It was very much off the heel.

> "I felt it come off flush and as soon as I did that, I just knew it was in. It was an unbelievable moment.

> "I did see it go in. I think that's what made it so nice because it made sure that people didn't think it was an accident or whatever. I felt it come off the heel and thought it had a chance.

> "I turned the other way and saw it go in. It was quite satisfying, quieting down all the people who said that!"

Ballard has enjoyed his time in the Championship so far. His headed winner against Watford in their last game before the international break was his third in a time where he has just three starts.

His experience at Leyton Orient last season, where he was League One top scorer, has helped him adapt to the step up.

"My job is very much about moments," he says. "When I get a chance in front of goal, it's just whether I take it or not. I don't think that differs massively between how good the keeper is or how good the defenders are. If I'm on top of my game, I believe I'll score goals at any level.

> "There are definitely parts where teams are harder to break down and the players are probably a bit younger and sharper, even the defenders. There are little adjustments that I have to make to my game to score in the amount that I did last year.

> "I am a firm believer that if I'm on top of my game, I can score goals against anyone."

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Norwich announce passing of Michael Wynn Jones

Norwich City have confirmed the passing of honorary life president Michael Wynn Jones.

Jones was an honorary life president of Norwich City with his wife, the former television cook Delia Smith, and was previously the Joint Majority Shareholder of the club alongside Smith from 1998 to 2024, leaving the board in 2025.

In a statement on their website, the club said:

> "Everyone at Norwich City is deeply saddened by the passing of our honorary life president, Michael Wynn Jones. > > "Michael died peacefully at home on Monday morning, aged 85. He will be greatly missed. > > "His family are grateful for the wonderful care provided by the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice. > > "Our deepest condolences are with Delia and Tom, and with all of Michael’s family, friends and loved ones. > > "At the family’s request, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."

Forest Green give Savage permission to speak to another club

Forest Green Rovers have given permission for manager Robbie Savage to speak with another club, reportedly League One side Peterborough United.

The former Wales midfielder will not take charge of Forest Green’s National League match against Wealdstone on Tuesday evening.

Forest Green are 10th after 10 games, having lost in the play-off eliminator round last season during Savage’s first year in charge.

Paterson: I need to play in goal before I retire!!

Callum Paterson has done so much in football, but there is still one pathway he is yet to conquer.

"I've not played in goal yet!" he tells Sky Sports. "I really need to do that before I retire.

> "Twice it's happened where our goalie has been sent off and I've not been given a glove. So I've got a bone to pick with a few people."

The Scotsman is a forward now at MK Dons, but he has played all over. "I'm kind of a jack of all trades," he adds. "It's been a hindrance as well as a good thing.

> "I just like to play. I've played a lot of games in a lot of different positions, so I've got a lot of, not useless knowledge, but a lot of knowledge of how to play the game and hopefully I can use that to spur on and help my team-mates.

> "But I would like to nail down a position and think I'm probably more useful to my team as a striker."

It can feel strange when a 31-year-old with hundreds of appearances from the Scottish Premiership to League Two and the Premier League is talking about hoping to nail down a spot.

But we are talking about Paterson, a forward who made his starting debut for Cardiff City in 2017 under Neil Warnock as a right-back.

"Straight after the game, he went to the press, like, ' this guy's not a right back, never has been, never will be for my team ever again.'" Paterson recalls with a smile. That season he would go on to win Championship promotion, one of four so far in his career.

He admits that he has often not done enough to enjoy his achievements, something he hopes to change.

"I've not really reflected on anything," he says. "I'm not really sort of drunk in the promotions or I've not really absorbed them.

> "I think it'll all hit me when I retire eventually, but I need to try and change that mindset and enjoy things as they happen."

Retirement, he hopes, is a long way off.

He adds: "750 games would be a nice achievement personally. I want to play until I'm 40, so it's a case of trying to find clubs that I work with when I'm that old.

> "I've got two kids and I want them to come and watch my games and understand what's happening and take them on to the pitch and that type of thing."

Preston confirm appointment of Alexandar

Preston North End have confirmed the appointment of Graham Alexander as manager.

Alexander, 54, joins Deepdale from his position in charge of Bradford City - who are currently top of League One.

He had led the Bantams to promotion from League Two in 2025.

Alexander spent nine years as a player at Preston in two separate spells. He replaces Paul Heckingbottom, who was sacked earlier this month with the club in the bottom three of the Championship.

A Preston statement read:

> "Preston North End are proud to confirm and welcome home Graham Alexander as our new manager. > > "'Grezza' returns to lead North End as manager, 14 years after hanging up his boots as a player at Deepdale back in 2012 and now with a wealth of managerial experience under his belt. He also brings in former North Ender and his long-term assistant Chris Lucketti."

While Alexander added:

> "It’s a special feeling to be named manager of this football club. After speaking to Preston, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. I had an amazing time here as a player and it’s great to be back. > > "At previous clubs, we’ve always improved league positions and created a team that people can appreciate and attach themselves to. > > "I want to win, I want to be successful, and a big part of that is having ambitions."

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Edwards would be prepared to take charge at Saints

Rob Edwards would be prepared to take over at Southampton should Tonda Eckert receive a lengthy ban from football, Sky Sports News understands.

Southampton are fully backing their German head coach amid his FA charges for instigating Spygate 2.0 last season, the result of which is expected during the current international break following Thursday's hearing.

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