Everton and Nottingham Forest news a warning to Ipswich, Southampton and Leeds | OneFootball

Everton and Nottingham Forest could be in for severe punishments if they are found guilty of their recent Financial Fair Play charges, which could have Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Southampton worried.

Recent reports claim that both clubs have been charged with breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules and could face a subsequent points deduction, which may play a hand in seeing them relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.

While both clubs will appeal the decision in an attempt to prove their innocence and there is undoubtedly a long, long way to go before we know for certain what the lasting outcome will be, the potential of both Forest and Everton dropping down to the Championship next term has to be a warning for those clubs chasing promotion this term.

It tells Ipswich, Leeds, and Southampton, who are locked in a three-way battle for the second and final automatic promotion place at the moment, that next year's race for the top spots could be even more competitive and so going up this term will be even more important.

Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton will be worried

The Championship table is as tight as ever, with Ipswich, Leeds, and Southampton all battling for second place in the table, and the illustrious automatic promotion spot.

With Leicester City already looking a shoo-in for promotion back to the Premier League, the battle between the three trailing sides is likely to keep going until the end of the season.

Ipswich started the season fantastically and were challenging Leicester for the title until a recent set of poor results knocked them them back a few paces and they now sit seven points behind the league leaders.

They are just three points ahead of third-placed Southampton, who are currently on a 19-game unbeaten streak in the Championship and will be desperate to keep riding on their momentum to pip Ipswich to the automatic promotion spot come the end of the season.

Whilst they are currently seven points behind Ipswich, Leeds can't be written off just yet, such is the immense talent in their squad that could see them push until the very end for automatic promotion.

All three sides will be desperate to avoid the lottery of the play-offs this season and if they need any extra motivation, the prospect of having to battle for promotion against the likes of Everton and Forest, along with whoever else comes down, will surely provide it.

The Toffees would likely still back themselves to avoid the drop even with another points deduction, such has been their impressive form this term but were the worst to happen, they would surely be favourites to storm back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Forest have not been afraid to splash the cash since their promotion to the top flight and would boast a scary squad were they to drop back to the second tier, even with the likely player exodus.

That pair coming down would mean going up next year would be a tougher ask than it is in 2023/24 so the recent news should be a warning to Ipswich, Leeds, and Saints that they need to make the most of their chances this term.