Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has admitted he will be rooting for Everton after the club were hit with an unprecedented Premier League points deduction.

The Blues have been docked 10 points after being found to have broken the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. There has never been a bigger sporting sanction in the competition's history.

Having previously been in mid-table safety, the penalty has plunged Everton into the relegation places, level on points with basement-boys Burnley. And while Sherwood believes that manager Sean Dyche can now create a "siege mentality" at Finch Farm, and that his side can still escape the drop, he is unhappy at the severity of the punishment handed down by an Independent Commission.

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Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show, Sherwood, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title during his playing days, said: "I thought it was excessive and while it sounds ridiculous, I think it plays into Sean Dyche's hands.

"Anyone who is a neutral out there, who loves the big clubs in the Premier League... I'm certainly an Everton fan now moving forward. I don't want them to get relegated with this 10-point deduction. I really don't.

"He (Dyche) will have that siege mentality, he will fix bayonets, and they will come out fighting. I think he's very fortunate to be in a league with the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United, Luton and Bournemouth. I think they'll finish above them anyway.

"It's going to make it a lot harder of course but he seems to have got a rhythm there now and a style of play. I thought it was excessive, I really did."

The Blues have already confirmed they will appeal against the points deduction. Interim chief executive Colin Chong has also vowed that the club, players, staff and fans “will stick together” and will be “standing up for Evertonians and our great club”.