Manchester City should promote unity and communicate candidly with players after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, sports psychotherapist Steve Pope told Reuters. The Premier League said the club used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) over nearly a decade. City denied wrongdoing and said it would appeal, potentially extending uncertainty over sanctions, which could include relegation. Pope said players needed contingency plans, frank discussions and a common purpose to limit anxiety, protect performances and discourage departures. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be really concerned if the Abu Dhabi ownership group led by Sheikh Mansour sold the club, praising its investment since 2008 and its contribution to Manchester's development. Burnham said he would not intervene in the disciplinary process, citing his former role as mayor of Greater Manchester and Everton's separate financial dispute.