David Moyes says Everton’s points deduction has ‘frightened’ football owners into cutting back on spending as the West Ham boss questioned the decision-making process behind their original sanction.
The Toffees were deducted 10 points in November for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules but an independent appeals commission reduced that penalty to six points this week.
Moyes, who takes his West Ham side to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon, admitted Everton’s charges have had a knock on effect but that it is difficult to have faith in the system.
‘It’s probably frightened all the owners about how much money we’re going to be able to spend and how we spend it,’ Moyes said. ‘Everybody’s got a bit frightened by it.
‘What’s more disappointing is that a panel of some of the top QCs have probably sat and got this wrong in some way. It’s a bit like if anybody goes to court, you’re hoping that the people in charge will do their job right. The first panel’s said “it’s ten points”, the second panel’s said “no, there should be a reduction.”
‘I don’t know how they’ve got to the points but we shouldn’t be getting it wrong. It was the feeling right away when it came out that everybody thought this might change.
'That meant Everton must have had a good enough case to say reasons why it’s unfair. You’d have thought the panel would have considered that when they were dealing with it.’
West Ham will be hoping to build on their 4-2 victory over Brentford on Monday, which saw Jarrod Bowen score his first career hat-trick - taking his league tally to 14.
‘Jarrod was on a different level from where he’s been,’ Moyes said.
‘I’ve not set him a target but, in my head, if he can get to 20 goals it would be a great record for a centre forward at West Ham.’