Man City to discover relegation fate earlier than expected as hearing into 115 charges brought forward
Manchester City will discover their fate at some point this season
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Manchester City's hearing into their 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations has been moved forward two months.
The Premier League first charged the reigning champions around two years ago, with the case looming large for the English top flight.
City have strongly denied all 115 charges against them with Pep Guardiola previously stating he would leave if the club's hierarchy had lied to him.
The hearing was originally scheduled to begin in November, but it's now been reported that it has been moved forward to the middle of September.
Manchester City will discover their fate at some point this season
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An independent disciplinary commission is set to conduct the hearing, which is expected to last a few months.
No definite deadline has been set for a conclusion to the hearing, but there's an expectation that the result will be known by early next year.
It's been suggested that the hearing has been moved forward due to City's legal action against the Premier League getting underway in the next few weeks.
Masters refused to give a timeline for either case, but wants a resolution to come swiftly.
"You're asking me to speculate on the timing of it, and I simply can't do that unfortunately," he told Sky Sports News.
"I think it does need to be resolved.
"It's not in our hands. It's in the hands of an independent panel.
"They're in charge of the timing and running of the process, and we must let them get on with it.
Richard Masters wants the saga to be over
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"The way that our rules work is we announce charges, and we announce the decision when that process is completed, and that will happen.
"I have confirmed publicly that a date has been set but I can't be drawn on when that date is or the substance of the case itself."
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Manchester City head into the new season as favourites to win the title again
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City were charged on 115 counts of financial irregularities relating to a 14-season period from 2009-10 onwards.
The club claimed in response to the charges that they had 'irrefutable evidence' to clear their name.