Peterborough United boss Grant McCann hints at the possibility of avoiding relegation amid a potential further points deduction at Reading.
Speaking after the Posh had ended the 2021/22 season with a surprise 5-0 victory over Blackpool at the Weston Homes Stadium at the weekend, he hinted that there is still rumblings going on behind the scenes at the Royals.
As reported by Peterborough Today, Reading could still be in danger of further sanctions for ‘financial misdemeanours’ and there is still hope that the Posh can benefit from that.
🗣️ Grant McCann on another potential points deduction for Reading that could see Peterborough stay up…
“There is something going on in the background with Reading which we are aware of, but it’s just a bit of hope more than anything.”#PUFC | #ReadingFC
(via @PTAlanSwann) pic.twitter.com/ZLVsKNWGDr
— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) May 9, 2022
Reading finished the season just four points and one place above McCann’s side, and it weren’t helped for Paul Ince’s side due to being deducted six points in November with a further six point deduction suspended in case the club make additional breaches.
Latest accounts published by the Berkshire outfit in February this year revealed pre-tax losses of £35.7million, yet the English Football League only allow a maximum loss of £39m across three seasons.
Talking to the media after the final game, McCann said: “There is something going on in the background with Reading which we are aware of, but it’s just a bit of hope more than anything. I don’t really want to go into it. You can never say never though.”
If there was going to be a further points deduction, Reading are more likely to have it added onto next season.
This is what the EFL did with Derby County which led to legal action from Wycombe Wanderers for 2020/21. The Chairboys finished in 22nd place just like the Posh, though Wycombe now have eyes on winning the League One playoff final, and might just replace Derby County. Funny how things could play out, especially when Wycombe felt they should have stayed up instead of the Rams, who instead got points deductions for the 2021/22 season instead.
Reading have already been deducted six points by the EFL for breaching its profitability and sustainability rules, with a further six-point deduction suspended until the end of the 2022-23 season.
On the 4th of August 2020, Wigan’s relegation to League One was confirmed after they lost their appeal against a 12-point deduction for going into administration.
Wigan appealed against the punishment on the grounds of ‘force majeure’, yet an independent arbitration panel ruled against them, meaning Barnsley stayed in the Championship. Fast forward to 2022 and the two will switch leagues again.
Force majeure events are usually defined as certain acts, events or circumstances beyond the control of the involved parties, such as natural disasters, war or a pandemic.
The timing of Wigan going into administration meant their penalty was applied after their 1-1 draw with Fulham on the final day of the season.
Without the punishment, the Latics would have finished 13th in the table, but once the points were deducted they ended up second-from-bottom. Wigan thought they had put in a strong case, but failed.
“It was a great goal to open the scoring and in the second-half I just told the players to go and enjoy the game and end the season on a real positive. Can we get more goals?
“We’re playing against a very organised Blackpool team who have done really well considering they came up last year through the play-offs.
“But all in all it was a really good day’s work.
“When we lost the ball I was really happy with our reaction. Our counter-press was good and we were on the front foot with everything we did. We limited them to very few opportunities at our goal.
“Today was about sending home our fans happy with a bit of positivity, so this was for them.
“We felt a bit embarrassed, a bit ashamed walking around at the end, but we’ve shown our appreciation to the fans. Hopefully next season we can walk around with a different feeling.
“This leaves us with a real sense of positivity heading into the summer break.”
Fans reacted as the Peterborough boss hints at avoiding relegation amid a further points deduction at Reading…
@blakedcfc: Please 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
@barmylad34: The merry go round at the #EFL continues
@ConnorOwen2: Don’t you fucking dare deny us of our first derby in 20 odd years @EFL
@ForeverAYellow: I mean, the EFL make the rules up as they go along, so you never know. But I’d be surprised, again though the EFL have left me feeling just that many a time lately
@SuperPosh7: Ffs, we’re going to become like fucking Barsley 🤣🤣🤣 #barnsleyfc
@DcfcFansTalk: This would be the icing on top of the cake. Messed about last game of the season and then this.
@L1N4R: the process could still work 🤪😜🤪
@jmDCFC: Not this shite again. Get after-the-fact points deductions in the bin. Football being played in ivory towers & courtrooms yet again 🚮🚮🚮
@LewisBP5: I can’t imagine Peterborough fans or Alan Swann would want this though. They’ve always been so clear that they want promotion and relegation decided on the pitch……
@hall_robert: Good luck to em hope they throw the book at Resding and all the other cheats . Either the EFL show some backbone amd implement punishments for their rules or step down and let’s have an independent body who will
@owskie81: Yes please – save Peterborough says any Championship fan over the prospect of another trip to the Select Car Leasing stadium!
@KieranUTP: Wishful thinking
@PaulGC84: I was under the impression once a season has concluded, any points deductions have to be carried over to the following season? 🤔
@BFerraby7: Please, just so we don’t have to do the worst away day in the league again 🙏🏻
@Denton_james: This is fantastic keep them dangling as long as possible please. Its the hope that kills you
@Ben_Horrocks: Won’t happen. Be deducted start of the season. Take the relegation then go for the title charge.
@Jonatha05884996: Wouldnt hold my breath Derby had the same but Karma seems to be sorting that out Wycombe are 1 game away from being back and Derby are down
@a_wooden_spoon: Karma wouldn’t be Wycombe going up. After the PPG fiasco, karma would be Wycombe going into administration and the whole town being sold off to the EU.
@TommyTh90429067: Hope Peterborough get to stay up & send reading down 🙏
@steamedpluto44: Fully deserve to stay up after a amazing last 7 game run of form
@thomasutr_: the season is 46 games not 7
@lewie74: We have a business plan set by the EFL, everything we do or did this season has to go through them. The suspended 6 points is for next season if we don’t reduce our wage bill. So McCann is on another planet. With the players leaving this summer1 will knock that off the wage bill.
@wb_15: You still couldn’t catch us even with our -6. How on earth can you complain that you were at a competitive disadvantage.
@tkdomh: I for one hope they stay up on a technicality. Saw a lot on here from Posh away and it look like a good day out (apart from the result)
@Andy__Mac: Just to humiliate us even more 🙁
@petebryant76: McCann in talking shite shocker!
@AdamHumphries96: I see #PUFC are still trying to pull this one out. Ok I’ll bite: We were deducted points and given a set of rules which had an extreme detrimental affect on our squad. You were still unable to finish above us after that. I’m afraid it’s time to prepare for league one. #readingfc
@stevenhickman91: I said when they got only 6 point taken I was a slap on the wrist surly it should have bin 15 points min with a 10 pending for further rule breaking
It’s 2022 and this bloke still begging for other teams to be relegated 🙈🙈🙈 you’ve had your ride now enjoy relegation #pufc https://t.co/vEkohdDXBz
— Craig Winter (@CraigGoater87) May 9, 2022
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