Everton's punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules was "incredibly harsh” but there is a silver lining, according to Alan Shearer.
Sean Dyche's side currently sit in the relegation zone after receiving a 10-point deduction for breaking FFP rules.
The Toffees were "shocked" and "disappointed" by the ruling, and have already communicated its intention to appeal the heaviest points punishment in Premier League history.
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Things are looking bleak for Everton as Burnley, Leeds, Leicester and Southampton look set to take legal action against the club. In fact, senior figures held talks last week to reaffirm their plans to sue following Friday's verdict.
But former Newcastle forward Alan Shearer has pointed out some small positives in what is ultimately a largely negative situation.
He believes there is no better time for Everton to receive a points deduction as the standard of the Premier League's bottom teams is "as bad as it’s been for a long time."
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Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, he says Dyche's side have a "realistic chance" of staying up this season.
“To me, it seems incredibly harsh when you’re talking about a figure of £19.5million,” Shearer said. “When you look at the grand scheme of things in Premier League football, £19.5million and to be docked that many points, that to me is incredibly harsh, is it?
“In terms of sending a message out with the 10-point deduction, which is obviously I think hugely harsh on them, but if there is going to be a time you are going to be deducted 10 points, then this is probably the season that you think at least we have got a realistic chance of getting out of the mess we find ourselves in.
“The standard at the bottom is as bad as it’s been for a long time. I think they will recover and they will get out of it. With the manager and players that they have got, they have already shown that they have got enough ability. If there is a season it is going to happen, perhaps this is the season.”
Another former Premier League player, Jamie Carragher, has also weighed in on Everton's points deduction.
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"The 10 point deduction for Everton is excessive and not right, considering they have been working with the PL about this for the last couple of years," he said.
"Would it have been better to be evasive and try and drag it out like other clubs? No doubt relegated clubs will have put big pressure on the Premier League to deal with Everton, but when you consider 6 clubs tried to leave the Pl and there was no sanction at all it doesn’t feel right.
"Until other clubs are sanctioned Everton will feel they are being used to show there is no need for an independent regulator, and they are right."
Featured Image Credit: BBC - Getty ImagesTopics: Alan Shearer, Premier League, Newcastle United, Everton
