Exclusive: Big Nottingham Forest points deduction update

Nottingham Forest could learn the verdict of their points deduction appeal before the 25 May cut-off date, sources have told Football Insider.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the Reds could hear the verdict early, but warned the decision-making process could “drag on”.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were hit with a four-point deduction last month due to a breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

They exceeded their allowable losses by £34.5million for the three-year period up to the 2022-23 season but launched an appeal on 25 March in an attempt to reduce or remove the potentially devastating sanction.

Could Nottingham Forest learn appeal verdict before 25 May?

Forest are hopeful that they can have their sanction altered similar to how Everton’s 10-point deduction was reduced to six, but finance expert Kieran Maguire exclusively told Football Insider (2 April) that the club should only expect to receive one point back at most if their PSR appeal is successful.

O’Rourke was hopeful that the verdict will be determined before the final day of the Premier League season, 19 May, so relegation-threatened clubs will know which league they are in as soon as the fixtures are settled.

“There’s a chance the appeal could be completed before 25 May,” he told the Inside Track podcast.

“But these things can drag on.

“25 May is the cut-off when a decision must be delivered.

“We can’t second guess with these independent commissions and the Premier League.

“But by 25 May, everything must be clarified and clubs must then put in their registrations as to what league they will be in.

“Clubs could be on holiday not knowing what league they’re in!

“Hopefully these appeals can be heard quickly and we can get some clarity before the end of the season.”