Peter Reid believes the 'excessive' punishment Everton have received for breaching profit and sustainability rules is going to reunite those connected to the Goodison Park club.
It was confirmed on Friday morning that the Blues had been docked ten points after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. The punishment was imposed by an independent commission following a disciplinary hearing last month.
No sooner had the outcome been announced, Everton confirmed they would be appealing against the penalty, believing it to be a 'wholly disproportionate and unjust sporting sanction'. The appeal must be heard and concluded before the end of the season.
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The Blues return to action on Sunday against Manchester United, and Reid believes the atmosphere inside Goodison could reach the levels it did when Everton welcomed Bayern Munich for the second-leg of their European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final back in April 1985.
“Everton has been a fractured place, and, at first, this shoddily handled punishment felt like the all-shattering blow, but 48 hours on, I firmly believe this moment will re-unite the club,” Reid wrote in the Mail.
“Ask Sean Dyche, ask Frank Lampard, and they will tell you the supporters have kept Everton up over the last two seasons.
“There's good reason why Everton are called the people's club and the people want to fight back because it's in their DNA. The harshness of this points deduction has created a siege mentality: it's us against the rest.
“I can't wait for when Manchester United come to Goodison Park. I'd wager that the fans will pack the streets around the stadium before kick-off to make sure that desire to fight transcends to the players on the pitch. It could evoke the spirit of Bayern Munich in 1985 all over again.
“Whoever faces Everton between now and the end of the season is going to be in for a very difficult day.
“I was with some of the club's staff on Friday, ladies who work hard behind the scenes, and the news had floored them. It could cost jobs, but by the end of our conversation even they were like 'let's show them!'
“If Everton have broken the rules then the club have to face the consequences but the way this decision was leaked and handled was disgraceful. The club will appeal but will the commission back down? I don't see it happening.
“The punishment is excessive and there's no doubt other clubs will be feeling anxious. We all agree we need more transparency, so let's see the books of every football club.”
