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And we’re a team with question marks! Any manager who takes the Leicester job is doing so without knowing how much money there’ll be, and what points deduction we’ll start with. It’s a great job because it’s PL and good owners, but it’s a gamble.

Because they have a better squad, which could play Enzo’s style without conceding goals.

I've been wondering about the timing of sales etc. As I understand it, our transfer embargo continues until 6th June, so we can't really do much till then. But presumably as soon as that is lifted, we can start negotiating contracts . But doesn't the season (from a financial perspective) end on 30th June? So maybe we'll be trying to sell players like KDH quickly, so the money can appear in the bank before 30th June, potentially reducing our FFP punishment?

I’m amazed people are miserable already. Yes I know we’re facing financial struggles, points deduction, losing players, and probably getting battered every week in the PL. But can’t we just be happy for a couple of weeks at least?!!

Do you think we'll win the battle?

Word of warning. I’ve just renewed, and before paying, the website says if you want plastic tickets then you will get information about this in the confirmation email. But of course there’s nothing about plastic tickets in the confirmation email. Turns out you have to log back into the website and buy them from a separate bit.

Loads of seats left, and it’s now at all STH level.

I actually think it’s worse playing first. The opposition then know what they need to do - whether they have to push for a win, or whether a draw will be enough. The fact that at the moment we keep getting Friday matches and early Saturday kick-offs makes it harder for us.

Out of interest, does anyone look on the Leeds and Ipswich forums? I wonder how those fans are feeling. My guess is that Ipswich are buzzing because they've surpassed all their expectations, but Leeds fans are feeling as anxious as we are.

Last year was stressful but for much of the season there was a sort of inevitability about it. We all hoped for a miracle, but deep down we knew we were very likely to get relegated. It was disappointing when it happened, but we'd had months to adjust to the idea. This season feels more stressful because we've had promotion in our grasp for the entire season, and it's looking as if we're going to bottle it in the final weeks. And of course all the financial stuff is adding to the misery.

Obviously we all want to win the league, but are there seriously people who'd like it to happen on the last day? Because they must be wired differently to me!! I would just like us to win every game from now on, and Leeds/Ipswich to lose enough of theirs for us to secure promotion asap. I don't want the last game of the season spoiled by uncertainty.

I’m certain this won’t sell out. Anyone who wants tickets will be able to get them.

Yes it definitely will, 100%.

Really angry about this. We were going to go, but won’t be able to now.

I thought it was in the loan deal that we bought him for 10 million if he played x number of games? Maybe not illegal, but certainly breach of contract if we don’t.

How bizarre that Forest rolled over and accepted blame, got a reduced penalty as a result, and are now appealing against the ruling! With the same lawyer advising them all along. It makes no sense. If they thought they were innocent, why did they capitulate? And if they thought they were guilty, why aren’t they just walking away relieved that they only got a small points deduction?

My interpretation is that we can’t register new players. But he’s already registered as a player, on loan, with a legal obligation to buy if he plays a certain number of games.

Why on earth would he leave? He’s fairly new to management, he was given the best team in the championship to manage, he’s got a shot at the premier league. If we get promoted, even with a points deduction, it would be career suicide to quit. Managers are meant to be strong enough to deal with that. No sign of Sean Dyche quitting when Everton had 10 points deducted was there. If we stay in the championship it’s a bit different, he might be more inclined to look at offers. But realistically who would be trying to get him (and pay the money we’d demand for him breaking his contract)? He wouldn’t exactly be oozing managerial genius would he, if we’d been top of the league for most of the season and then bottled it.

I’m confused that they’re even allowed to issue a punishment (transfer ban) before we’ve been found guilty. But one of my thoughts was maybe they’ve done it deliberately to speed us up. Before the transfer ban, it would be in our interests to drag out the investigation as long as possible, to delay any punishment. We could appeal, appeal again, get new lawyers - all sorts of things to slow down the process. And in the meantime, we could carry on as we liked. By giving us a transfer ban, they’re basically saying no you can’t carry on regardless, and you can’t drag this process out to delay punishment.

It’s almost like they’re backing us into a corner, forcing us to breach P&S. It’s likely we were planning to sell players in June so that by the end of the month we’d come closer to balancing the books. But with a transfer embargo hanging over us, it would be risky to sell, knowing that we couldn’t sign anyone. So we potentially end up keeping players, thereby breaching P&S.

That’s what I’m confused about

My understanding is that it is theoretically possible, but in reality pretty much impossible. The independent commission have to meet, discuss the case, look at our appeal (which we have to prepare) - and get all of that done in the next 6 weeks. We’re not subject to the newly established fast-track punishment (that has led to Forest being punished so quickly), because we weren’t in the PL when it was voted in.

Can you post a link that confirms that? (I have a vey stressed 14 year old!!)

Does anyone know if we could actually have points deducted this season, or if that is completely impossible? I’m hearing different things. Some people say we can’t be punished for a PL “crime” while we’re in the championship. But the BBC seems to imply that a points deduction this season is possible. They say it’s unlikely, because we get to appeal etc and that’s unlikely to be done before the season ends - but not impossible.

Yes, it’s hard to imagine how non-Big 6 clubs can ever succeed in the long term. Like Leicester, they might have a great season, after some shrewd buying and everything falling into place. With success comes player demands - higher wages, other teams sniffing around. And then qualifying for European football needs a bigger squad, more good players, also on high wages. But unless you’re a Big 6 team, immune from FFP sanctions, it’s impossible to sustain. Eventually you lose some games, drop out of Europe, players get injured, FFP worries mean you can’t buy new players - and gradually it goes wrong. I actually thought Newcastle had bought their way in to FFP immunity, but it’s seems not. Outside the Big 6, you’re never safe.