Potential major off-field boost emerges for Reading FC in Barnsley and Derby County relegation battle

Barnsley CEO Khaled El-Ahmad has conceded that he doesn’t think fellow relegation battlers Reading will receive a further points deduction this term, speaking candidly to the Yorkshire Post.

The Tykes’ official previously wrote to the EFL last month asking for more clarity surrounding the Royals’ compliance with their profitability and sustainability rules, with Paul Ince’s side still active in the transfer market in the last 12 months despite the embargo they were placed under.

This embargo was brought in due to their breach of these financial rules, with the Berkshire outfit exceeding their limit by a considerable margin and as part of this punishment, they were also made to agree to a business plan that means the club will need to work within strict budget limits in the summer.

If they are unable to stick to this plan, they will be sanctioned with a further six-point deduction next season, something they will be keen to avoid as they look to rebuild and improve their fortunes when the upcoming window comes along.

El-Ahmad previously hinted at legal action if the Royals weren’t remaining within their financial limits and they stayed up at the expense of the South Yorkshire side, with the former’s midweek win against Stoke City making this outcome a real possibility now.

However, the Tykes’ CEO has now admitted that a further punishment for Ince’s side is looking unlikely now as he spoke in depth to the Yorkshire Post.

He said: “I don’t think so. I have not pushed it that hard. That was not necessarily the intention.

“The intention is to ask questions of the (general) situation.

“I am curious as to how the mechanism works – that certain teams can lose millions, millions and millions and how the regulatory thing works.