Ex-Everton chief executive Keith Wyness fears stars like Jordan Pickford could seek a move away from the club amid an “environment of uncertainty” caused by the 10-point deduction.
The 66-year-old, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009, suggested the lengthiness of the appeal process could mean top Toffees players choose to move on.
Earlier this month, Everton were ruled to have breached the Premier League’s financial and sustainability rules and handed a 10-point deduction.
The punishment has dropped Sean Dyche’s side to 19th in the table joint-bottom of the table with four points – five adrift of safety.
The Merseyside club have confirmed they will appeal the decision after stating that the outcome of their case was “wholly disproportionate and unjust”.
According to Transfermarkt, Everton’s most valuable players include Pickford, Amadou Onana and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Wyness claimed that players could choose to pursue moves away from Goodison Park amid concerns over the lengthy appeal process.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, he said: “Players are going to be looking at the appeal and will be uncertain about whether Everton can stay up.
“We’re not likely going to know the outcome of the appeal until late on in the season.
“Players like Pickford for example, on the basis of not knowing what the future holds, may decide – with their agent – that they want to make a move away.
“Whereas if they knew that the appeal was going to be successful, players may not choose to do that.
“This punishment goes way beyond in terms of how it penalises the club and how it messes with the integrity of everything that is going on right now.
“It’s so dangerous, and the ramifications that go beyond just the 10 points create an environment of uncertainty which is damaging.”
In other news, Everton have “strong interest” in Championship star.
