Everton were forthcoming and helpful during their first brush-in with the Premier League’s financial authorities.
After all, they ran their every transfer by them for years, only to have that trust spat back at them last November.
Well, having been found guilty of alleged breaches again just yesterday, they have not been quite as kind.
They have no plans to cooperate, and no qualms about throwing the full force of their club at the governing body. After all, they truly believe that they are being mistreated; a notion which few could argue with.
So, in an effort to bolster a legal team that is set for one hell of a battle, reports emerged suggesting that they had finally appointed KC Laurence ‘super silk’ Rabinowitz to spearhead their appeal.
His success is yet to be determined.
Who is Laurence Rabinowitz?
Described by The Times as ‘one of the UK’s top barristers’, Rabinowitz’s appointment highlights the importance that the Toffees have already placed on winning this latest trial.
The fact that it came just a week before this latest bombshell is also indicative that Everton might have expected this outcome.
As a lawyer who specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration, banking and finance, company law, competition and professional liability, he is expected to play a huge role in any legal success earned in the coming months.
In fact, that aforementioned report even suggests that his capture is seen as a huge coup by the club, set to rival Manchester City’s Lord Pannick KC.
Even Amadou Onana, who was snagged for a mere £33m and is now being touted for an exit of over £50m after nearly two years of fine performances, cannot compete with the potential importance of this latest signing.
Why have Everton hired Laurence Rabinowitz?
Well, to put it simply, to get them off the hook.
Everton have already spent too long trying to fight their own battles, to little success, and have brought in the big guns in an effort to overturn two alleged breaches.
Having tried to be forthright with the Premier League at first, offering up their books and complying at every turn, they threw that faith back in their face, slapping them with the harshest points deduction in the history of the top flight.
It seems that this appointment proves that there will be no more niceties, and that for the Toffees, playtime is over.
Their Premier League status now hangs in the balance, and for once it is not because of their performances on the pitch.
