Everton have had their ten point deduction reduced on appeal to six, edging them further away from the relegation zone, but Rob Edwards says that it makes no difference to Luton who have never taken it into account in their bid to beat the Premier League drop.
The Toffees were initially docked ten points in November – the biggest punishment ever in the top flight – for breaking the league’s financial profitability and sustainability rules in the three-year period from 2021 to 2022.
It had meant, the Merseysiders sat one point above the Hatters, who are in the relegation zone, but now the reduction lifts Sean Dyche’s team from 17th to 15th, five points clear of Town.
But Edwards said: “We’ve been going off a league table with no deductions anyway. It makes no real difference. We were in the bottom three before it. We are now. Albeit now, it looks like we’re behind Forest, four points behind with a game in hand, so the situation is the same from our point of view.
“We’ve been dealing with it without deductions, because that can’t be the thing that keeps us in the league. We’ve got to try and make it in our own hands.
“So, in a way it’s good that there’s a bit of clarity.”
Luton are now four points adrift of Nottingham Forest – who are yet to hear the result of financial charges against them – with a game in hand and still top play both Everton and Forest at Kenilworth Road this season.
“It’s going to be hard anyway,” said Edwards of Town’s battle to stay in the Premier League, adding: “We’re in a difficult league that’s been tough from day one. If there are more charges it’s completely out of our hands and our control. What’s in our control is our performances, how hard we work. I wish we could control results, but we can’t.
“It is important what other people do, but if we don’t do our job, it doesn’t matter at all any way. We knew this was always going to be a really difficult task. That’s always been the case and that’s not going to change.”
Both Everton and Forest are facing further charges from the Premier League but Edwards said: “I won’t comment on what could happen in the future but I suppose (it would be good) for clarity on a number of points. If the rules are there, they need to be adhered to, but there needs to be clarity on what the penalty is for that. That would help anyone. Going forward, that’s stuff that’s out of our control and is nothing to do with me at the moment.
“We can’t bank on that (further points penalties), or use it. That’s completely out of our control. What is is how hard we work, the commitment to what we’re trying to do and try to perform as well as possible.”
