Sean Dyche admits his shock at Everton’s 10-point penalty for breaching Premier League financial rules that plunged them into the drop zone… but insists his ‘job hasn’t changed’

Sean Dyche has admitted he was shocked by the severity of the 10-point penalty imposed on Everton but insisted it will not change his focus even after they were plunged back into the relegation zone.

Dyche had a break during the international window interrupted by news that Everton had been handed an unprecedented sanction for breaches of the Premier League‘s financial rules – a punishment that Everton will appeal against.

‘I think like everyone, certainly in these parts, I was shocked and seemingly from the wave of noise after that, most people in football are shocked by the enormity of it,’ said Dyche, as he addressed the matter for the first time publicly.

‘Disproportionate is a word used by the club. Obviously we feel a bit aggrieved by that, but on the other hand it doesn’t change the focus. The focus since I got there is sorting things out on the pitch, getting the team to win.

‘I think we were on the right lines, delivering strong performances. This has just given us a push backwards to come forwards again. The job hasn’t changed. It’s just made it more difficult under the current circumstances until the appeal.’

The Toffees find themselves in the relegation zone and facing a fight to survive the drop 

Everton had been showing encouraging signs before the penalty, winning six out of nine in all competitions to climb up the table, but have now dropped to second bottom – level on four points with basement boys Burnley.

‘I spoke to the group and said, ‘look, the league table is one thing but I don’t change my story very often and I believe the final league table is the truth of the season, and I’m not going to change now’,’ he said.

‘For sure, it changes the viewpoint but it doesn’t change what we’re doing. In fact it enhances what we’re doing. We need to go harder, stronger. This is what it is. It’s been about refocus as much as anything.

‘The group have been very good in themselves. With the characters we’ve got – Seamus (Coleman) is a good voice, (Ashley) Young, ‘Tarky’ (James Tarkowski), Jordan (Pickford) and many others by the way – Gana (Idrissa Gueye) with his experience.

‘All the senior boys particularly are rallying. It is what it is. Let’s get on with it.’

Everton strongly deny they breached PSR and their financial losses were due to the building of a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock

Toffees supporters are expected to voice their frustrations with their 10-point deduction