Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has called for the club’s board of directors to step down following an independent commission’s finding that the Premier League club committed serious financial breaches. The ruling, announced on September 29, concluded that Manchester City engaged in “sham” commercial contracts designed to artificially inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million over nearly ten years.

Manchester City has denied any wrongdoing and stated it will appeal the decision. The club has until October 2 to submit its appeal, and no sanctions have been imposed yet. Possible penalties range from fines and points deductions to potential relegation, though the disciplinary process could take several months to fully resolve.

Bernstein, who was chairman of Manchester City from 1998 to 2003 and presided over the club’s return to the Premier League from the third tier, described the situation as “beyond awful.” Speaking to talkSPORT, he emphasized the responsibility of the current board, including the chief executive, who has been with the club for many years.

“I can’t think of a penalty strong enough for this, really. I mean, this is absolutely terrible,” Bernstein said. He questioned whether the club’s directors could credibly continue in their roles given the severity of the findings. “If this was a public company of some sort, I think the directors, with something as serious as this, would have to stand down or be suspended pending the outcome of all this… appeal or no appeal.”

Bernstein also expressed concern about the potential length of the ordeal, stating that prolonged uncertainty could negatively impact all parties involved. “If it drags on for a year or two, heaven forbid, that would be the worst thing for everybody,” he said.

Regarding the likely consequences if the sanctions are upheld, Bernstein suggested that fines alone would be insufficient. “If these charges stand now and let’s say the appeal does not happen or fails, then I’m afraid for the club I love, that they’ve got to come out of the Premier League.”

Manchester City did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside of regular business hours. The unfolding situation marks a significant moment in English football, with implications for governance and regulatory oversight within the Premier League.