05 Oct 2026 20:33:23
Dear members, serious question please. What is the path forward/advice for young players like Cavan Sullivan (the top rated youth player in the U. S.) at Manc? Will they have legal precedent to asked to be released contracts? Cheers, YNWA.
05 Oct 2026 21:55:45
If I was a young player at City right now I'd be thinking I could get my opportunity really soon.
05 Oct 2026 22:05:31
Cavan Sullivan isn't a Manchester City player.
05 Oct 2026 23:21:03
@Fifth, Sullivan has a agreement to join City in 2027 fro Philadelphia. I'm just asking what educated opinions are here if he wanted to get out of that although early reports in the Athletic are he is still on track to join, we all know that could change.
{Ed666's Note - I think this is an unprecedented happening in British football and everything’s up in the air. Literally anything could happen and not even Rasputin in his prime could predict what’s going to happen. What I will say is say with a degree of certainty is that some of the city squad will probably be questioning their futures
06 Oct 2026 03:03:42
From an agent friend of mine -
In the event city are found guilty and the appeal fails all their players will find it legally permissable to break their contracts and leave for free without any penalties due an implied trust aspect of all contracts, that trust being both parties will not do something to damage the others agreement, trust or image. Contracts have been broken for far less.
{Ed666's Note - That’s a set of Bosmans on steroids! Imagine what Haaaland will get a week on a Bosman? Eye watering
06 Oct 2026 06:33:19
Are there any clubs who would be able to pay Haaland what he's earning now, much less more than that? We could still see an exodus of players leaving the club however.
There could be players who'd be willing to stay on too. As we saw with Juventus when they were relegated, they managed to go up the very next season due to the quality of players who stayed behind. But the loyalty Del Piero, Buffon, and Nedved showed back then isn't the kind of loyalty I'd expect the City players to show now.
06 Oct 2026 09:21:40
The difference with Juve is that there's a strong indication that the football league may not let City join if they're found guilty and expelled from the Premier League as they would consider the decision from the Premier League stands for them because they have similar rules. So City may have to start again in non league football. Can't see many staying for that.
06 Oct 2026 09:36:30
My prediction:
The charges will be upheld
City will negotiate with the PL over punishment in return for dropping further legal action.
All but a few players will play out their contracts.
06 Oct 2026 10:16:22
Fifteen PL clubs would have to vote for City to be expelled from the PL. There is a chance that that won't happen.
That's just the PL. The other seventy two teams in the EFL would also vote on whether to allow City to join it.
Would that happen?
06 Oct 2026 10:42:24
I believe the 15 PL clubs could vote to expel them but I don't think the EFL will automatically admit them.
I don't think that punishment will be considered simply because of City's owners connections.
It'll be a moderate points penalty every year for several years. It'll won't automatically relegate them.
06 Oct 2026 10:43:36
Really can't see City ending up in non-league because of all this. Big points deduction, but let's face it even with a 50 points deduction there's every chance City could stay up.
06 Oct 2026 11:45:43
I agree with Ron.
They will negotiate a points penalty that will see them relegated for one season. They will pay a fine which will be used to compensate the losses of other teams and cover the PL legal expenses ( probably in the region of £300m). Maybe some of the bosses will fail the fit and proper test and will be replaced.
06 Oct 2026 12:25:00
Fingers crossed Vik, but I don't think they will get the punishment they deserve.
06 Oct 2026 13:39:55
I think they should be expelled. If they don't like the rules they agreed to playing in the PL, then don't play in it. Just my opinion.
06 Oct 2026 13:53:49
Woah. All I can say is that this is all one ton (it's clearly not a can) full of worms.
The permutations are endless.
I'm actually wondering if the PL will consult the other teams in the EPL before handing out the decrees. I guess they don't have to and not obliged to, but it would be in the PL's interest to get past this scandal asap, and avoid as much blowback as possible afterwards. I would be curious to know what the teams that were most affected would say (if they are consulted). I suppose there is some honour amongst "thieves", but even then we are talking about millions here, not to mention the livelihoods that were changed as a result of the perpetual cheating.
06 Oct 2026 15:01:42
Not many things I would take from American sport but perhaps one would be tying the club contracts to the Governing Body. I. e. club breach of Premier League or FA rules is breach of employment contract, meaning the player can leave on a free.
Very similar rules in the NFL, NBA etc. Might also mean no further repeats of City's behaviour because it is far too much of a risk.
06 Oct 2026 09:43:28
Indeed, Ed666. This is the biggest scandal in football history (imo) and since there is no precedent for it at any level, this could go in any direction.
That being said if the PL does it's job (as they have been doing and credit to them) then, the punishment should be very, very severe and will serve as a deterrent to any club/owner who even begins to imagine how he/they can do this.
PL? Over to you.
{Ed666's Note - if City are found guilty by the independent appeal committee I expect them to fight tooth and nail so I doubt there will be any resolution anytime soon unless they take a plea. I think this saga will rumble on for a while yet.