adminLeicester City know their position in the Championship table would still be “unacceptable” even if the club had won their appeal.
It has been confirmed that the club’s six-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will stand after their appeal was dismissed this week.
This means their fate will now be decided by the performances and results of their final five games of the season.
Manager Gary Rowett welcomed the clarity of the decision, even though it leaves the club in the relegation zone. The deduction has increased the danger of relegation, with two of their earned wins effectively wiped out.
Rowett believes that even if the team were sitting 19th with those six points restored, it still would not be acceptable for a club of Leicester’s stature.
Speaking on Thursday, he said:
“I wasn’t too worried about whatever happened. The fact that nothing has changed gives great clarity to the group for the last five games.
“I’m pleased it’s been resolved now rather than later in the season when it could have had a bigger impact. It’s game on as normal.
“We’ve got enough to focus on. It hasn’t been a distraction. It could have been used as an excuse for not winning games, but we haven’t done that. Now it’s about full focus.
“If you’re a player, you understand what six points means. You can see where we would be in the table.
“But the group knows this season hasn’t been good enough. That’s the main feeling. Even if we were 19th with those extra points, that still wouldn’t be acceptable.
“We have to move forward. The first 41 games haven’t been what the team, the club, or the fans wanted. Now the focus is on making these last five games count.”
Rowett also made it clear that players are not dwelling on the points deduction.
“I’ve not heard anyone saying, ‘If only we had those six points back.’ The players know we are responsible for where we are, and we haven’t performed well enough. The focus now is to improve.”
Leicester City face Swansea this weekend in a crucial match as they attempt to climb out of the relegation zone. To move out of the bottom three, they must win and hope results elsewhere go in their favour, with Portsmouth and Oxford needing to drop points in their respective fixtures.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
