Fans are still waiting to see what kind of sanction will be handed to Manchester City following the guilty verdict, but a new report today points to one part of the club becoming extremely important.

The Daily Mail has put out a report today about Manchester City, who have appealed the findings of the independent Commission.

As per the official statement from the Premier League: “An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.”

But following talk about City potentially being hit with an expulsion that would see them start again from League Two, the Daily Mail are now suggesting sanctions may not be so severe, although still serious.

They say this scenario is ‘unlikely’, but that a heavy points deduction that will guarantee relegation to the Championship is possible, ‘plus a huge fine’. City could then start the next season with a points deduction, effectively keeping them in the second-tier for that campaign.

With the Championship potentially being City’s new league for the foreseeable, that could make the CFA extremely important to the club.

Man City have confirmed that they are appealing the recent guilty verdict in relation to breaching Premier League regulations. How do you expect the appeal to go?

Man City CFA could become crucial as Daily Mail report suggests possible sanctions

Of course, City have appealed the verdict and it remains to be seen if the club can somehow get themselves in the clear.

But if the appeal is unsuccessful and City are hit with a points deduction that results in relegation, then the City Football Academy is going to become hugely important.

City losing their top-flight status is going to result in a great many players in the squad leaving. A rebuild will therefore be required.

But City have made sure to invest heavily in the CFA over the years, and currently there are many fantastic young players who could potentially play a central role in helping get the club back in the Premier League.

We’ve already seen the likes of Ryan McAidoo, Floyd Samba and Kaiden Branthwaite play for the first-team, and these guys could all become crucial in the event of a heavy punishment for City.

Then there are the likes of Divine Mukasa and Max Alleyne, who are currently playing in the Championship on loan at West Ham United and Burnley. Reigan and Jaden Heskey are two more promising youngsters, who are at Koln and Sheffield United respectively at the moment.

Plenty of fans and some in the media want to see City crumble in light of the verdict.

But the irony is that, should City drop into the Championship as the Daily Mail suggests is likely, then it will just lead to a squad being extremely united, and comprised of young players who have been itching for a chance and love the club.

While any forced relegation would be a bitter pill to swallow, there’s something incredibly defiant about the prospect of a golden generation of young talent marching us straight back into the top flight.