Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson has claimed that the EFL should have been ‘harsher’ regarding Reading FC’s latest points punishment.
Simpson was speaking to the media ahead of his team’s clash with the Royals this Saturday at Brunton Park.
Reading won the reverse fixture 5-1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, while the side currently occupying 24th spot in League One will be looking for revenge to try and find some hope of survival.
Reading’s latest points penalty of two points and two more points suspended has put them down to 20th position and just three points above the drop zone heading into the weekend.
“We know it’s not the players’ and staff’s fault, or the coaching staff’s fault that they keep getting points deducted,” said Simpson.
“But there’s something not right at the football club there. It keeps happening.
“And I also think there’s something not right that the Football League aren’t doing more about it if I’m going to be really honest with you.
“We all would rather spend more money than we’ve done or than we’ve got, knowing that it’s not going to be punished severely. But we don’t because that’s not the right way to go about it.”
Simpson elaborated that he believes that the EFL should have been harsher with their sanctions on Reading.
He continued: “I can’t really concern myself with what’s the right sanctions. I just think if there are repeat offenders then it can’t really just be a softly, softly approach
“I think there needs to be stronger punishment. It’s not for me to make those decisions.
“And again, I’ll say that I feel for the players, the staff and the supporters because they’re not the ones who’ve done it.
“It’s a strange situation. I just think the EFL need to come down heavy on teams who are doing that because it makes an unfair playing field if they’re spending more money than they can actually afford.”
