Sam Allardyce believes Manchester City could "end up like Rangers" by being relegated to the bottom of the English football pyramid if they are found guilty of the numerous charges held against them.
City were charged by the Premier League with over 100 alleged financial breaches, a statement on Monday the culmination of four years of investigating activity dating as far back as 2009. Those in charge at the Etihad vehemently deny the allegations and have hired top lawyer Lord Pannick to assist their defence.
While the Premier League's claims are yet to be proven, speculation has engulfed the club regarding potential punishments which could range from a relatively small fine to a points deduction and even expulsion from the top flight. And speaking to the William Hill and Footy Accumulators podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, Allardyce believes Pep Guardiola's side could end up suffering a similar fate to Rangers, who were forced to re-enter via the Scottish Third Division in 2012 after being liquidated.
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“It’s foreseeable that they could end up like Rangers,” Allardyce said. “They could end up in the bottom league and have to work their way back up again. As the owner of City – a conglomerate that owns numerous different football clubs and sports franchises – what if they decide to pull out?
“If the owners get upset and think their reputation is tarnished, they may want to be seen doing the right thing, they could say they don’t need this anymore. City is not a huge slice of their business model; they could just pull the plug.
“From my point of view, I hope they haven’t done it. There will be nothing worse than the bad publicity it is going to bring to Manchester City and the Premier League. It’s a great shame it pops up in the middle of the season again and dominates the headlines instead of the beauty of the game and the entertainment value that City bring.”
City boss Guardiola came out swinging in his Friday press conference, claiming his side have not been given a chance to prove their innocence before warning other clubs to "be careful" in the future.
And Allardyce added that he believes other top clubs in the Premier League are jealous of City's success over the last decade.
“Of course there is jealousy – all the other clubs will be rubbing their hands together wanting Man City to be found guilty, as we’ve seen in the press. Football has always been unfair. The fact that if you have more fans, you have more money to spend, that’s what it was like when I played. The ones that had the most fans had the most money, and that’s how they grew.
"Football is a business now; as long as it’s the right money coming in, why not welcome it? It seems like the owners and the chief executives want City kicked out of the league which is not the right thing to do. I hope they aren’t found guilty and prove the other side and come out on top."
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