'There needs...' - Gary Neville makes FFP claim Newcastle United supporters will love

Gary Neville believes Financial Fair Play restrictions should be changed as they stop clubs like Newcastle United becoming a force.

The hot topic within English football in recent weeks has centred around transfer restrictions and how clubs’ balance books are governed. Everton and Nottingham Forest were charged on Monday with breaching the Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

The Toffees were docked 10 points - the most in the competition’s history - for failing to comply with PSR restrictions earlier this season. From a Newcastle perspective, CEO Darren Eales admitted players may need to be sold to create “headroom” for incomings due to financial restrictions.

That is despite the Magpies being backed by a sovereign wealth fund worth an estimated $700billion. The debate around FFP and PSR has become a major issue, with reports suggesting the Premier League might adjust their regulations in the summer.

Former Manchester United defender Neville expressed he is not a fan of current restrictions - making reference to how they handicap Newcastle and "protect" the "elite" clubs. The 48-year-old also urged the top flight to speed up their case with Manchester City to give other clubs clarity.

"I would like to see an amendment to FFP,” Neville told The Overlap. “I never agreed with it in the first place, the way that it currently is. It stops clubs, like Newcastle United with wealthy owners, from being able to get up to the top.

"It was brought in by elite clubs to protect the elite clubs as they are the highest revenue-generating teams. I don’t like it and there needs to be a change to the rules. One of the diversion tactics is that they say that the Premier League are only picking on the small clubs, what about Manchester City? That’s the big elephant in the room, that City’s charges haven’t been brought forward.

"Accepting that it’s a lot more complex, I was uncomfortable that Richard Masters said there has been a date set (for a hearing), but he couldn’t reveal when it was. This told me that, and I might be wrong, we’re not going to like the date, it's maybe going to be in the summer, beyond this season.

"It’s in the interest of Manchester City, and everybody, to bring that case forward, accelerate the process and do it quicker. It can’t go on, and it’s damaging to the Premier League."