Nottingham Forest have released a strongly-worded statement towards the Premier League after they were handed a four-point deduction on Monday.

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Forest found to be in breach of PSRHanded four-point deduction on MondayClub release statement slamming Premier LeagueGetty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The club were found to be in breach of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) after months of investigation and were handed a four-point penalty as a result after their successful appeal. Forest have since broken their silence on the ruling, slamming the "tone and content" of the league's submissions and highlighting their "extreme disappointment".

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A statement posted on the club's official website read: "Nottingham Forest is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Commission to impose a sanction on the Club of four points, to be applied with immediate effect. We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission. After months of engagement with the Premier League, and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has harmed the trust and confidence we had in the Premier League. That the Premier League sought a sanction of eight points as a starting point was utterly disproportionate when compared to the nine points that their own rules prescribe for insolvency.

"We were also surprised that the Premier League gave no consideration at all to the unique circumstances of the Club and its mitigation. In circumstances where this approach is followed by future PSR commissions, it would make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for newly promoted clubs without parachute payments to compete, thus undermining the integrity and competitiveness of the Premier League.

"Whilst the Premier League may have called into question the Club’s business plan, the Club maintains that it responsibly balanced compliance with PSR with important investment into the squad to give us the ability to compete in the league for the first time in over 20 years. We believe that the high levels of cooperation the Club has shown during this process, and which are confirmed and recorded in the Commission's decision, were not reciprocated by the Premier League."

Getty ImagesWHAT FOREST SAID ABOUT 'EXREME CONCERNS'

Forest sold star forward Brennan Johnson to Tottenham on deadline day in the hopes of alleviating some of their financial trouble. However, the statement continues that even that move was not taken into account before Monday's ruling. The club used this example to raise concerns over systemic issues within the Premier League, adding: "Even after the Club had missed the PSR reporting deadline, it still took steps to ensure Brennan Johnson was sold before the end of the transfer window. That was a clear demonstration of our respect and support for PSR.

"The Commission's decision raises issues of concern for all aspirant clubs. The player transfer market is a highly specialised trading environment that cannot be compared to the sale of normal products and services. There will be occasions when a player transfer cannot be completed in the first half of a transfer window and can only be completed at the end of that window. This should not be a reason for the condemnation of a club. For this not to be recognised by the Commission or the Premier League should be a matter of extreme concern for all fans of our national game.

"Of wider concern for all aspirant clubs is the disturbing effect this decision will have on the operation of the player trading model. This is the only model by which clubs outside of the small group at the very top end of the Premier League can realistically advance up the football pyramid. The rationale of the Commission is that clubs should only invest after they have realised a profit on their player development. This reasoning destroys mobility in the football pyramid and the effect of the decision will be to drastically reduce the room for manoeuvre for all such clubs, leading to the stagnation of our national game."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While Forest's statement issues a warning to future Premier League clubs, the ruling has a direct effect on their league standing at present. The four-point deduction sees Nuno Espirito Santo's side drop into the relegation zone on 21 points. They are one point behind newly-promoted Luton in 17th and four behind Everton – who also received a 10-point penalty for PSR breaches that was reduced to six on appeal – in 16th, who have played a game less.