Former Newcastle director Amanda Staveley calls on Premier League rivals to 'build bridges' with Man City - as club prepare for appeal after seismic verdict over 'sham' sponsorship deals

· DailyMail

Amanda Staveley urged the Premier League to exercise caution before imposing a significant sanction on Manchester City for their financial rule breaches.

Amanda Staveley urged the Premier League to exercise caution before imposing a significant sanction on Manchester City for their financial rule breaches.

Staveley, who brokered Abu Dhabi’s £200million acquisition of City in 2008, hinted the parties should reach a settlement rather than a punishment City would inevitably contest.

City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules after a seven-year legal process which brought 115 charges.

City maintain their innocence and have appealed the ruling but could face relegation if unsuccessful. Their sanction will be decided by an independent commission where nothing is off the table.

But Staveley, who most recently was a director at Newcastle United , wants City and the Premier League to focus on ‘building bridges’ to avoid a doomsday scenario.

Speaking at sports industry conference Leaders Week London at Stamford Bridge, Staveley said: ‘You’ve got so much pressure on football. I think we should just focus on the future, getting it right and trying to build bridges with our neighbours.

> ‘I think it will get resolved. The Premier League had a difficult thing, an opportunity (to bring the case).

> ‘You've got to put yourself in their position. You've got 20 clubs. Half of them are shouting at you to do one thing, the other 10 clubs are shouting at you to do another.

> ‘As an executive, you're always pulled, you're always being threatened to be sued by one club.

> ‘Clubs are meant to be co-owners of one league. So, to navigate all of that is really tough.

> ‘With how important the Premier League is, we have such an exciting league.

> ‘European football is potentially the most watched sport in the world and we should really nurture this asset.

> ‘We should nurture our fans and do everything we can to resolve the issues that exist today.’

Read the original

Related