Everton have dropped their appeal over a two-point deduction for breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules after judging their prospects of success remote.

Everton lodged the appeal after suffering a second points deduction of the season on 8 April for a £16.6m overspend up to 2023. They were previously docked 10 points, reduced to six on appeal, for a £19.5m breach up to 2022.

An independent commission was due to begin hearing Everton’s appeal on Monday but club lawyers, having reviewed the reasons for the rejection of Nottingham Forest’s attempt to overturn a four-point deduction, have decided not to proceed. Everton have secured their Premier League status this season thanks to a stirring finish that has brought Sean Dyche the manager of the month award for April.

Everton face another hearing into their 2023 PSR breach and the possibility of a third points deduction after the last commission was unable to rule on a dispute between the club and the Premier League over stadium interest payments. The Premier League alleges that Everton were not entitled to capitalise £23.46m in stadium interest payments in their accounts, an argument the club reject.

A club statement on Friday said: “Everton Football Club has withdrawn its appeal of the decision by a Premier League independent commission to impose a two-point deduction on the club for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules for the accounting period ending in June 2023.”