Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has called for a rapid and transparent resolution to the Manchester City financial charges case, warning that "speed is essential" for every club and individual touched by the long-running saga.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations across nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The findings included accusations of fabricated commercial agreements designed to artificially inflate revenues and mask costs. The commission also upheld most charges relating to Manchester City's failure to co-operate fully with the Premier League investigation. Manchester City deny any wrongdoing and have lodged an appeal; any potential punishment remains undecided.

Carrick's personal stake

Carrick, who spent the bulk of his playing career at Manchester United, acknowledged the case carries personal weight for him, given that he competed directly in Premier League title races against Manchester City's teams during the relevant period.

"I've got my own questions about it. It's affected me personally in different ways over a period of time," Carrick said. "What I will say, the sooner it gets sorted, I think for everyone's benefit, is essential."

Yet the United boss was careful to separate the formal outcome from the emotional memory of competing. "Regardless of anything, a medal anyway, in any sport in history, I think later on you get the medal — it's the moment that you strive for, to win and achieve in that moment," he said. "That doesn't bring the feeling of whether you initially win or you don't win. That's essentially what we're all in for."

Carrick underlined the broader stakes of the delay. "Speed is essential for everyone to be clear, to be able to deal with it, to be able to move on, whatever happens," he added. "It's a unique situation to be in at this level, with such a huge impact in so many ways. So we all need to know what's going to happen."

Other managers speak out

Carrick is far from alone in urging a swift conclusion. A range of Premier League and Championship managers offered their perspectives in the wake of the commission's verdict.

Bournemouth manager Marco Rose urged caution without full information: "I'm not this kind of guy who blames someone with not enough information. I trust in the guys who are involved in these kinds of things and situations, and then we will see what happens."

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said his focus remained on his own side: "I can't control anything from that. Hopefully it will be dealt with, but I have enough topics to mention."

Coventry manager Frank Lampard, who previously played for Manchester City, said the ongoing appeal made comment difficult: "Man City are appealing the situation, so what can you say when an appeal is going on? We'll wait and see what the result of the appeal is."

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke declined to be drawn in: "It's not my topic, my topic is football and there are more qualified people to speak about this."

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola stressed the importance of patience: "Uncertainty is not good for anyone involved but there is a process ongoing and we have to be patient like everyone else and see what happens at the end."

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle kept it brief: "As a manager of another club I am not able to judge. There are authorities taking care of it and there is a clear process now."

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner called for patience but also urgency: "We all hope for the integrity of the game, for the integrity of the Premier League, that the final word is spoken soon. But we also know it takes quite long to read thousands of pages and find the final verdict."

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris made a pointed appeal for fairness: "Football has rules, on and off the pitch. You have to respect those rules — when they are broken they should have consequences, otherwise it's not fair. The relevant authorities have to be relentless otherwise you lose the value of the competition."