Manchester City and the rest of the Premier League are still stuck waiting. It could be more than a year before anyone gets answers about those 115 charges hanging over the city's head. Christian Purslow, who used to run things at Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Chelsea, doesn’t see this wrapping up anytime soon. Everyone’s just hanging around for a verdict.

City’s been locked in this legal fight with the Premier League for ages, and even though the independent hearing wrapped up, there’s still no end in sight. They’re accused of breaking financial rules, supposedly between 2009 and 2018. The city says they’ve done nothing wrong. Actually, people throw around the number 115, but if you count everything, it’s closer to 130 possible breaches. By the way, during those years, City picked up three league titles.

You’d think things would pick up pace by now, but Purslow isn’t holding his breath. On ‘The Football Boardroom’ podcast with Henry Winter, he pretty much said predicting when this will end is pointless. If City do get found guilty and decide to appeal, which, honestly, why wouldn’t they? Thatappeal, the whole process could drag out another three, six, nine, or even twelve months. And while they’re reviewing any guilty verdict, the actual punishment gets kicked even further down the line.

Purslow doesn’t think there’s a quick fix coming, either. “I don’t see this ending the way the APT case did, with an out-of-court settlement between the league and City,” he said. He’s dead set against the idea of both sides just shaking hands and agreeing on a punishment just to move on. He thinks that would be a huge mistake and, really, impossible to keep everyone happy. In his eyes, the smart move is to let the lawyers and the legal process handle it; everyone signed up for this system, after all.

Bottom line, he says, is simple. As slow and frustrating as it is, letting the judges decide is the only way to set a real precedent. And if you look at how things have gone before, that means sporting sanctions. We’re talking big points deductions, maybe even relegation.

James Trafford says he was pretty surprised when Manchester City brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Trafford had just come back to City for £27 million after turning down Newcastle, and it looked like he’d finally landed the number one spot, especially with Ederson on his way out. Pep Guardiola seemed ready to trust him long-term.

But then things shifted. Trafford started the first three league games, but on deadline day, City snapped up Donnarumma from PSG. Since then, the Italian’s been the first choice, and Trafford’s mostly found himself playing in the domestic cups.

“I didn’t see it coming, but that’s football,” Trafford said. “Stuff happens. You keep working hard, and when you get the chance to play, you give it everything.”

He’s still in the early days of a five-year contract, less than a year in, but with the way things are, Trafford doesn’t know what’s next.

“I’m just taking it day by day, working hard, and whatever happens, happens,” he said after playing in City’s FA Cup win over Salford. “I’ve got a contract, but I don’t know what next season brings. All I can do is keep trying to get better.”

Not playing regularly could hurt his shot at making England’s squad for the World Cup, and Trafford knows it.

“Everyone knows my situation,” he said. “When I play, I’ve just got to play as well as I can.”

He insists there’s no friction with Donnarumma. “He’s a great guy, honestly. We both train hard and push ourselves. He’s already had a fantastic career and sets really high standards.”

Some people struggle with setbacks like this, but Trafford just gets on with it. “I try as hard as I can and focus on what I can control.”

On the bright side, he’s been part of City’s run to the Carabao Cup final, and, unless something goes wrong, he’ll get his chance at Wembley against Arsenal next month.

“That’ll be a great game,” he said. “All I can do is play my part, help the team, and stick to the plan.”