Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested that Manchester City are unlikely to face automatic relegation down the football pyramid even if they are found guilty of the 115 charges levelled against them.

The club's legal dispute with the Premier League remains unresolved, despite the independent hearing having concluded. City are accused of allegedly breaching financial regulations spanning the period from 2009 to 2018.

They have consistently protested their innocence, though, and while commonly outlined as 115 charges, there are said to be as many as 130 potential violations. During those nine years, City won three Premier League titles.

City released their latest financial accounts in December as they referenced the ongoing wait for the independent commission's verdict. The statement read: "On 6 February 2023, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.

"In response to the charges, the club issued a public statement that it welcomes the review of...