Alan Shearer believes the points deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules was “harsh” on Everton.
The Blues discovered their punishment on Friday when they were docked 10 points after an independent commission agreed with the Premier League that the club had broken the rules.
Losses exceeded the permitted £105m over a three-year period by £19.5million, resulting in the most severe sporting punishment in Premier League history.
READ MORE: Inside the Premier League's case against Everton and angry club's response to 'double standards'
READ MORE: Duncan Ferguson makes Everton prediction after 10-point Premier League deduction
Shearer has called the outcome unjust but expects Sean Dyche to drag Everton out of trouble. Positive results in recent weeks means the Blues are only two points adrift from safety with the deduction in place.
“To me, it seems incredibly harsh when you’re talking about a figure of £19.5million,” Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast. “When you look at the grand scheme of things in Premier League football, £19.5million and to be docked that many points, that to me is incredibly harsh, is it?
“In terms of sending a message out with the 10-point deduction, which is obviously I think hugely harsh on them, but if there is going to be a time you are going to be deducted 10 points, then this is probably the season that you think at least we have got a realistic chance of getting out of the mess we find ourselves in.
“The standard at the bottom is as bad as it’s been for a long time. I think they will recover and they will get out of it. With the manager and players that they have got, they have already shown that they have got enough ability. If there is a season it is going to happen, perhaps this is the season.”
