JibrinSimon Jordan has weighed in on the news that Leicester City have appealed against the six-point deduction that has been imposed on them by an independent commission.
Thanks to their deduction, the Foxes are in the Championship relegation zone with 14 league fixtures remaining.
Leicester have also been knocked out of the FA Cup courtesy of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Southampton, who also beat the King Power Stadium club 4-3 in the Championship on 10 February.
The Foxes have responded to their relegation worries by appointing former Oxford United boss Gary Rowett, who successfully steered the U’s away from trouble last season.
Simon Jordan suggests big punishment if Leicester City lose point-deduction appeal
Leicester have not won in the Championship since their 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 5 January, epitomising the hard work that must be done by Rowett to ensure that his new club avoid back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One.
Meanwhile, as reported by BBC Sport, the Foxes have challenged the decision to deduct them six points for breaching the EFL’s financial rules.
Discussing the developments live on talkSPORT on Thursday, Jordan said: “I hope there is a consequence for running a spurious appeal, and I hope if they lose the appeal, they get another three points. I do, because there’s either rules or there’s no rules.”
Rowett’s first game in charge of Leicester sees them face Stoke City on Saturday.
The Potters remain just five points adrift of the Championship play-off places despite sitting 14th following a run of six league games without earning a win.
Gary Rowett should have what it takes to achieve Leicester City safety despite deduction
Leicester’s punishment has the East Midlands outfit staring at the serious possibility of dropping to League One for the first time since they won promotion from the third tier back in 2009.
However, Jordan’s claim that the Foxes should be hit with an additional three points if they lose their appeal appears unlikely to be inflicted on Rowett’s side in practice.
Meanwhile, if the King Power Stadium side hadn’t been docked six points, they would be 19th in the Championship, showing that they are good enough to avoid relegation, even if they don’t win the appeal.
Leicester’s deduction has clearly taken somewhat of a psychological hold on the squad, as they squandered a once-commanding 3-0 lead when they were beaten 4-3 by Southampton in their last home game.
However, Rowett’s career suggests that he is more than capable of steering the Foxes away from trouble, as he has accumulated vast Championship experience with the likes of Oxford, Birmingham City, Millwall, and Derby County.
Furthermore, Leicester’s squad boasts significantly more talent than the Oxford side Rowett oversaw until last December.
The 51-year-old should be looking forward to mentoring gifted players who were plying their trade in the Premier League last season, such as tricky winger Abdul Fatawu.
Rowett’s new club are in very real relegation danger for now, but the former Derby boss will remain confident that his players are good enough to pull themselves away from trouble.
Jibrin
