I was sad after Everton appeal outcome - Farhad Moshiri spending claim was a huge understatement

The club say “we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction” but rather than viewing this outcome as a major victory, like many Evertonians, wading through the pages of the board’s report just made me feel incredibly sad.

What a sorry state of affairs this all is. Just how did it all come to this?

Everton have got four of their 10 points back but they must still face the implications of a second profit and sustainability charge this season, along with Nottingham Forest. Forest’s case appears very different than the Blues given that they broke the bank with an eye-watering transfer outlay of more than a quarter of a billion pounds on over 40 players after winning promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

At the same time, substantial belt-tightening was being implemented at Goodison Park with the club dropping down to the bottom three of the top flight’s net spend tables but Everton are now paying the price for their wild profligacy during Farhad Moshiri’s earlier years at the club. Back in the summer of 2022 when those by the banks of the Trent were celebrating their top flight return, Moshiri was apologising to Evertonians, admitting: “We have not always spent large amounts of money wisely.”

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Talk about an understatement. Forest gambled on splashing the cash to ensure they were able to keep dining at the top table after a generation out of the limelight and so far it’s just about paid off for them. Who knows whether Manchester City’s 115 charges will ever catch up with them but