Sean Dyche has called for an immediate decision on Everton’s appeal against a Premier League points deduction insisting the uncertainty is having a “psychological impact” on his dressing room.

The outcome to Everton’s fight against a 10-point penalty for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules, imposed last November, is expected from an independent appeals commission imminently.

But Everton manager Dyche said he had no doubt the initial punishment and drawn out appeals process has already had a negative effect on players battling to escape the clutches of the relegation zone.

“Everyone in football at the moment is transfixed because we keep waiting thinking ‘go on then, tell us what’s happening’,” said the Toffees boss. “Whatever day it comes, whatever the moment, everyone is just ready for it. I think football is ready for it. But it affects everyone – everyone is sitting around waiting and wondering.

“The focus from the players has been good but the bit I am talking about is the subliminal bit when you are driving in your car and you are wondering.

“I can’t control that. I can control the training programme, the health and wellbeing around what we do, but I can’t control every inner thought.

“Going into games, are they thinking that, are their agents thinking that, or their advisors, their families, their friends? What kind of noise goes in all of the time?”

Everton were plunged from mid table into the relegation zone when the deduction hit back in November. Despite an initial bounce fuelled by the sense of injustice, results have tailed off since with the club winless in eight Premier League fixtures since mid-December.

Dyche believes the downturn in fortunes – having accumulated just four points from a possible 24 – could be down to delayed psychological scarring.

“They take those 10 points off immediately so you keep looking at that table and you keep getting asked about being in the bottom three, four, five,” said Dyche. “They don’t leave you up there, so how do we know how that affects the psychology?

“It changes the perception, it changes the feel, it changes the fan base, it changes the feel of performances. That’s just a fact. We all measure it differently when the team are there, top, middle or bottom.

“Does that affect the team whilst the process is going? At first everyone says obviously not because you win four. But you could argue there is a delayed effect.”

Everton have been referred to a second independent commission over further alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules relating to accounts for 2022-23 but that second case cannot be heard until they receive the verdict on the first.

Amid such uncertainty Everton clash with Brighton at the Amex Stadium tomorrow sitting in 17th place ahead of Luton on goal difference but hoping Monday’s come-from-behind draw against Crystal Palace can slingshot them to a much-needed win.