"It's inevitable that one way or the other, there's going to be a relegation of some sort"
Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser at Manchester City, has delivered a stark assessment of the club's position: relegation from the Premier League is now an inevitability. The only question is which division they fall into — and how much else comes with it.
City have lodged an appeal against the 114 charges the club was found guilty of, and the process is expected to run for a long time yet. Borson, who has followed the case closely from the start, believes the punishment will be severe.
"We're just not at that point yet. They're obviously going to be severe. We've spoken about it many times. From the very first day, I explained to people that the punishment would be severe and that City would be relegated."
He added: "I think people now maybe understand that and maybe didn't understand it when I said it. But it's just inevitable that one way or the other, there's going to be a relegation of some sort."
The appeal will determine the mechanism and any additional sanctions. Borson was clear on the scale of the setback: "But as we sit here right now, they couldn't have expected a worse outcome from this hearing."
League Two? Unlikely, but not impossible
Supporters across the Premier League have been baying for blood since the verdict, with suggestions ranging from points deductions and transfer bans to stripping titles. Some have floated expulsion to League Two — a move that would mirror the SPFL's decision to dump Rangers into the third division in 2012.
Borson can understand the uproar, but he thinks that particular punishment is a long shot. "Well, it's obviously pretty unlikely, but there's a storm at the moment and I think it's very hard to pick through what those sanctions might be," he said.
Even so, he refused to rule it out entirely. Expulsion to League Two is unlikely, but clearly not impossible.
If the club were relegated to League Two, especially with a multi-window transfer ban attached, they would essentially be forced to start over. That would mean leaning heavily on an academy that has already produced Phil Foden, Nico O'Reilly, James McAtee and Liam Delap.
Ryan McAidoo and Josh Wilson-Esbrand are currently pushing for senior involvement, while several others are catching the eye on loan. Jaden Heskey at Sheffield Wednesday, Jeremy Monga at Swansea City and Divine Mukasa at West Ham United would all make an impact at the Etihad if called upon.
It's a grim picture, and one that won't be resolved quickly. The appeal process is likely to drag on, leaving the club — and its supporters — in limbo.