Manchester City and their Premier League counterparts could be left in limbo for another year awaiting the verdict on the 115 charges levelled against the club. Ex-Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea chief Christian Purslow reckons there's still a long road ahead as all parties anticipate a ruling - but reckons a points deduction could be on the horizon.

The legal wrangle between City and the Premier League is yet to reach a conclusion despite the independent hearing having concluded. The club stands accused of allegedly violating financial regulations from 2009 to 2018.

City continue to assert their innocence, facing up to 130 potential breaches even though it's often referred to as 115 charges. Between 2009 and 2018, the club won three Premier League titles.

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Despite the proceedings already being protracted, Purslow doesn't foresee a swift resolution. Speaking on 'The Football Boardroom', co-hosted by journalist Henry Winter, he said: "This first panel has shown that predicting timetables is a fool's errand.

"In the scenario that there are any guilty findings, and in that scenario, Manchester City choose perfectly reasonably to appeal under Premier League appeal rules that will move forward, and that could be another three, six, nine, or 12 months at least.

"Crucially, at the same moment they are reviewing the decision, even in the scenario of any guilty findings, then the question of sanctioning would most likely be pushed down the road."

Purslow has also clarified that any potential penalty or settlement won't be straightforward. "I don't think these matters get resolved, by the way that the APT [Associated Party Transaction] case did, in an out-of-court settlement between the Premier League and Manchester City," he said.

"I want to be really clear on that. I think it would be a terrible mistake for the Premier League to be tempted ... both sides think, 'You know what, let's just reach an agreement for a reasonable sanction, a reasonable settlement, and move on'.

"I think that would be a terrible mistake. It would be impossible to keep everybody happy. The smart decision is, if I'm the chairman of the Premier League, let's leave it to the lawyers. Let's leave it to the process, which everybody signed up to.

"My point is a simple one. When this is left to the judges, however frustrating it is that it takes so long, it will be in the land of precedent.

"The precedent is sporting sanction. The sporting sanction is likely to be major points deductions, which ultimately could translate into relegation."

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