Steve Cooper explains transfer 'frustration' of Leicester City PSR verdict
Leicester City’s transfer window could have played out differently had the decision over the club’s PSR appeal come sooner, manager Steve Cooper has suggested.
City discovered their fate at the very end of the window, with the judgement released publicly last week. An appeal board upheld the club’s argument, meaning they cannot be deemed in breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules for the 22-23 season, and so preventing the Premier League from punishing them with a points deduction.
Speaking on the decision for the first time, Cooper was naturally pleased with the outcome, but spoke of “frustration” that it may have had an impact on the club’s summer business. There is a feeling that the uncertainty over a potential points deduction may have seen targets decide against joining City.
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“It’s obviously a positive thing,” Cooper said at his press conference on Thursday. “Even before joining, the club were calm about the situation. It was an obvious question to ask for anybody joining the club about what might have been a difficult situation. The club, in general, have been really calm.
“In terms of day to day and training with the players, it hasn’t been too much of a distraction. It’s something we spoke about with the team, not letting it interfere with our work if there’s any noise around it.
“It is obviously a positive thing but it probably does add a bit of frustration in terms of things that may have been different in the window. It may have affected certain decisions. It would have been better if the decision came earlier, with the club deemed to have done nothing wrong.
“But I’ll have to get over that. I’m really happy with the squad, and we have ended up bringing in players, albeit some were later than we would have liked and we are playing catch-up with that.”
The news of City’s successful appeal has been received differently across Premier League fanbases. Supporters at clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa, those who are frustrated that PSR stops their clubs from showing their financial might, were pleased to see the Premier League defeated. Fans at Nottingham Forest and Everton, whose clubs were punished, are not happy that City avoided a breach on a technicality.
Whatever the opinions around the country, City have to “stand up and fight” for the club, Cooper said. They can’t let negative perceptions affect them.
“There’s been a lot of talk (externally) about it,” Cooper said. “It’s good for the supporters and for the game that there’s clarity. But we haven’t let it interfere with our work.
“We were ready, as a group of players and staff, to stand up and fight for the club if it had been a negative decision. And now the decision has gone our way, we’ve got to make sure we’re still together as a club, and if there’s any opinion on the decision, that we show how strong we are as a club.
“We need to be aware of it. I’ll speak to the players about representing the club for its history, its values, and what it stands for, and that includes the present day. We are the current team, and the context in that at this moment in time is dealing with a perception around that (PSR).
“We’ll show our supporters that whatever the opinion is, we won’t let that interfere in our togetherness. When I came here, I was ready to roll my sleeves up no matter the decision. It’s the same for the players. That’s what you need from the manager, staff, and players, it’s that we need to stand up for the club.”