Moshiri expected to increase his stake at Everton

, 28 February, 45comments  |  Jump to most recent

Everton's new major shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, could eventually complete a full takeover of the club over time as new reports following the announcement of his investment in the club suggest he will prioritise a resolution of the stadium issue.

Moshiri emerged yesterday as the man behind the purchase of a 49.9% stake in Everton that sees him out leisure tycoon Robert Earl's position and the respective holdings of Bill Kenwright and Jon Woods reduced. The sale of the Iranian-born businessman's own shares at Arsenal to his long-time associate Alisher Usmanov paved the way for his purchase of almost half of Everton, pending the formality of ratification by the Premier League.

It is believed that he will work alongside the Chairman for an interim period before ultimately looking to purchase more of the club to give him overall control.

Reports in The Guardian and The Telegraph point to Moshiri having paid around £85m for his 17,456 shares which would value the club at £175m, although other sources claim it was significantly lower, enabling the 60-year-old billionaire to plough money into resolving either the long-standing need to redevelop Goodison Park or get the ball rolling on a new stadium elsewhere in the city.

Either way, Moshiri is expected to provide funds to bolster Roberto Martinez's team-building efforts, perhaps as soon as this summer, and the hope is that the new possibilities afforded by his presence at the club and his financial resources can persuade some of the Toffees' star players to stay at Everton even though the dream of achieving Champions League qualification has been put off for another year by a disappointing League season.

Both of the afore-mentioned newspapers report that new contract offers are planned for John Stones and Ross Barkley this summer, while the newly-structured board will do all it can to rebuff efforts from other clubs to tempt away Romelu Lukaku.

Optimism from Mayor Anderson

Meanwhile, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has welcomed Moshiri's investment in Everton and expressed his optimism that it could be the kind of development that could finally push the Blues forward and back to the top of the English game.

The city council leader had something of a public war of words last year with the club over the fate of the Walton Hall Park proposal but he revealed that he had positive talks with Kenwright in London last week.

"It's great for Everton and as a supporter myself it brings you optimism," Anderson is quoted as saying. "Hopefully it means that as fans we don't have to worry as much about our best player being sold and instead we can look up.

"One of the biggest concerns I had was for the close season meaning players leave because there was no investment on the horizon to keep them and attract other big talent.

"If the new investor is serious about taking the club to the next level then it's vital to retain these talented young players we have."It's great news for Evertonians and good news for the city.

"It was good to see Bill looking so well when we met. He updated me on what was going on and that a deal was close.

"Let's really hope that the club can achieve big things now."

 

Reader Comments (45)

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Darryl Ritchie
1 Posted 29/02/2016 at 00:24:00
This all sounds exactly what we all have wished for. It’s almost "too good to be true stuff. For most of you, it’s old news, but I’ve been out of the loop for a couple of days, and I’m still trying to get my head around it.

Has Moshiri made a statement yet? All I’ve read so far is speculation.

Gordon Crawford
2 Posted 29/02/2016 at 00:24:56
All sounds very sensible to me. Very excited for the future.
Simon Bradley
3 Posted 29/02/2016 at 00:34:46
Darryl (#1), you have missed an incredible 24 hours.

You are right, and from what I have read there are not many, including those who have no time for Kenwright, who do not believe that he has played a blinder here. If Lyndon's report is spot on, we are in for a wild ride.

Exciting times to be a blue me thinks. We deserve it, we are the most patient football fans on the planet!

Jakob Herd
4 Posted 29/02/2016 at 01:07:48
Simon #3

I hope we’re not in for a wild ride.

I also like the look of this deal and hope it's now the start of the club being well run (in the Arsenal mode); I would much prefer evolution over revolution.

We have a great squad; now the shareholding is mostly settled, the club can now plan for the future, something that seems to have been lacking for the past 20 years.

Ernie Baywood
5 Posted 29/02/2016 at 01:14:57
I've been following it minute by minute but for the life of me I can't tell whether anything has happened in any of those minutes since the announcement.

All I can run with is two things:

1. It's new, and new feels good after so many years of standing still.
2. I've defended Bill for years. Not in the way the club has been run but that he is a blue trying to do right by the club. I'm sure we all hope that this deal is going to restore our faith in him. I'd hate for him to go with a doubt over him as an Evertonian. It's one of the worst things I can imagine.

I want it said at my funeral that I was a good blue. It will be said at my Dad's funeral, and I'd hope Bill wants the same. He's done a hell of a lot more than I have to deserve it.

Simon Bradley
6 Posted 29/02/2016 at 01:20:38
Jakob (#4)

I meant it in the best possible way. Yes, we do have a great squad and I honestly believe that this is the fresh start we have all been waiting for. The ambition, hunger and desire have never been missing, we have just needed the financial means and excellent commercial business sense to make the step up.

It may take a while, but I'm sure we will see positive steps in the right direction sooner rather than later.

Ron Marr
7 Posted 29/02/2016 at 01:25:43
It's raining cash at Goodison! The broadsheets and tabloids are awash with the news.

Players need to perform or wave goodbye at the end of season.

Garry Corgan
8 Posted 29/02/2016 at 04:29:14
This article and the others on the share purchase are all correct in that, beyond confirming the sell of some shares to Mr. Moshiri, anything else is speculation.

I would suggest, however, that nobody buys 49.9% of a football club without some sort of plan and, in Everton's case, surely that plan has to include something of a new stadium?

Phil Sammon
9 Posted 29/02/2016 at 04:41:12
I'm actually taking it as a huge positive that Moshiri hasn't been giving it the big licks in the media this weekend. He seems to be approaching the matter studiously, rather than a 'we're-gonna-sign-Ronaldinho' Venkys-type ego trip. That's got to be a good thing.
Christopher Nicholls
10 Posted 29/02/2016 at 05:21:18
Still all sounds very sensible and balanced. The careful management of the transition is the clearest indication of this and I definitely don't see it another one of Bill's machinations.

Mr Moshiri appears to be a formidable business man, but maybe one with an intelligence that allows him to see the positives in a structured secession rather than a sweeping change.

I'm optimistic and excited to see what the summer brings.
Colin Glassar
11 Posted 29/02/2016 at 08:11:05
I'm feeling increasingly optimistic about this and I hope our young stars are feeling the same way about the clubs future and give us another season after this disaster.

As for Martinez, I hope (if he's not sacked) he is given clear targets to achieve or else. Everyone at the club needs to be feeling the heat. Mediocrity must be stamped out

Kim Vivian
12 Posted 29/02/2016 at 08:16:53
''Broadsheets and tabloids awash with it...'', but the word 'Everton' only appears once on the first page of the BBC site and that is in the league table. Are they asleep, not interested or am I not seeing something?
Raymond Fox
13 Posted 29/02/2016 at 08:21:09
That's what we want to hear, Moshiri with 75% + of the shares,
I very much hope it happens.

Our first priority is the team, its no use short term having a shiny new stadium and a moderate squad.
A new stadium can wait a while yet.

Commercially we want a side that wins something and can seriously challenge the usual top 4 or 5 in the Prem.
Yes we have probably attracted some fans with our 'plucky underdog' tag, but we would be much more attractive to unattached fans and companies if we were seen as club that can truly hack it with the best on the field.

Whatever happens in the future we are better with Moshiri on board than not, it has to be seen as a positive for the club after all these years of banging our heads against that glass ceiling.
Here's hoping.

Mark Melton
14 Posted 29/02/2016 at 08:21:59
I'm pleased to hear Joe Anderson say Bill was looking well.
Les Martin
15 Posted 29/02/2016 at 08:58:05
We can only see this as a great move with Bill managing the gradual takeover to our new benefactor.

Yes, there will no doubt be a lot of cash about through the TV money alongside his share acquisition hence his statement about in being a more level playing field.

It will be more interesting to me as to how the new stadium issue is addressed, as billionaire or not, a new stadium will take serious cash. Would he be able to conjure on his own unless has additional backers as I doubt his Misses will want him to dip into her housekeeping.

Interesting times indeed...
Simon Jones
16 Posted 29/02/2016 at 09:04:08
I suppose it's now the season for wild speculation. I'm keeping my judgement until we see something happen, I'm sure too many of us remember Peter Johnson. I'm limiting my dreams to being able to buy a pie inside the ground that doesn't fall to pieces after three bites.
James Marshall
17 Posted 29/02/2016 at 09:36:07
So it begins - the last two days has seen everyone speculating, and a lot of people complaining about this deal - yet here we are only a day later, and the more balanced among us are already beginning to be proven right (much as I hate to say it!).

It was pretty obvious that a 49.9% stake was the beginning of a more complete takeover.

I'm of the opinion that Bill has done right by us exactly as he said he would all along (at least so far). He stabilised the club, and has now started a gradual process of handing it over to someone with more money than he'll ever have.

A gradual transition seems like a much more sensible way of doing business and I think we have cause for optimism.

Simon Jones
19 Posted 29/02/2016 at 09:52:14
There are a couple of quotes in this Express article
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/648034/Arsenal-shareholder-Farhad-Moshiri-takeover-Everton-deal
but that is about the only CONCRETE news I can find. The rest seems like wild, over the top speculation. Even the tweet I read where I found the above article said "£200M Takeover" then when I clicked, the headline reads "£175M Takeover."

But we already know about newspaper hype, right?

David Sheen
21 Posted 29/02/2016 at 10:43:52
I keep hearing that "Kenwright stabilized the club". Yet, what exactly did he do that "stabilized the club"? Apart from his appointment of David Moyes?
John Daley
22 Posted 29/02/2016 at 11:24:54
"...the last two days has seen everyone speculating, and a lot of people complaining about this deal – yet here we are only a day later, and the more balanced among us are already beginning to be proven right (much as I hate to say it!)."

Proven right about what exactly? What further proof about... well, anything... has emerged since the initial announcement was made? As you say, it’s not even been two days, there’s been no time for any new details, just speculation, possibilities, guess work and hopes. You may ’hate to say’ I told you so, but you certainly don’t hasten to rush to the front of the queue for the chance to do so.

Also, where did this ’more balanced amongst us’ mantle you’ve claimed for yourself come from? ’More balanced’ in comparison to who? These multiple ’complainers’ you mention? I’ve not seen anyone kicking off, decrying the deal or claiming ’we’re doomed!’ due to the events of the last couple of days. There’s some who are maybe disappointed it wasn’t the clean sweep they originally hoped for and others who have been advocating the position of let’s just wait and see. That’s about the extent of it. Hardly a fucking unhinged reaction when entering the realms of the unknown.


Derek Wadeson
23 Posted 29/02/2016 at 11:26:41
David (#18) I think you will find that BIll Kenwright did a lot of things behind the scenes that kept the club afloat on more than one occasion. He used other people's money to do this and now it is pay-back time for them.

But if what is starting to rumble is correct – that he and Jon Woods are not making any money out of their share sales and they are in effect leaving it the club to invest – speaks volumes of the men and their love for Everton FC.

Raymond Fox
24 Posted 29/02/2016 at 11:42:14
John, that’s more funny than some of your... let's say, ’unbalanced’ posts.

Keep them coming.

Duncan McDine
25 Posted 29/02/2016 at 11:47:49
David, do you honestly not remember the Peter Johnson era? I’m not going to defend BK on his countless cock-ups (mainly the Kings Dock move), but under his control, Everton have moved forward in a massive way since those dark days.

Even if you feel that appointing David Moyes was the only good move... it must have been one hell of a good thing, because he prevented us being another Sheff Wed / Forest / Leeds and now Aston Villa.

Craig Walker
26 Posted 29/02/2016 at 12:28:09
A billionaire investor. Tim Howard possibly moving to the MLS and the RS losing a final on penalties. What a great weekend!
Mike Green
27 Posted 29/02/2016 at 12:49:37
Ron (#7) and Kim 9#12 – The Times today has given over less than half of p.12 of "The Game" to the story.

To say it is a footnote is an understatement – they’ve given over as much to Louis Van Gaal falling over on p.6-7.

Admittedly there’s not much to go on since the announcement but if this was Liverpool / Chelsea / Man Utd they’d have a completely separate supplement to cover it off.

Jamie Barlow
28 Posted 29/02/2016 at 13:05:11
And Everton didn’t even play, Craig. Happy days!!
Helen Mallon
29 Posted 29/02/2016 at 13:25:36
If Bill Kenwright had supported Liverpool, as Peter Johnson did, he would have been kicked out the club years ago by the likes of you, Derek Wadeson & Duncan MacDine. The only reason he has survived this long as chairman is because he supports the team.
Tony Abrahams
30 Posted 29/02/2016 at 13:29:59
Jacob@4. "EVOLUTION OVER REVOLUTION", do for me mate!

John 21, funny mate. I was feeling a bit unbalanced myself until I read your post!!

Garry Taylor
31 Posted 29/02/2016 at 13:33:55
Reading between the lines, this is how I see things.

Moshiri has sold his shares in Arsenal for approx. £200m
Moshiri has acquired 49.9% of Everton shares.
Everton are reportedly valued at approx. £200m
Earl has sold his 23% stake in Everton with Kenwright and Woods each giving up approx. 13.5%
So Earl has pocketed approx. £23m and Kenwright and Woods approx. £13.5m each.

If Kenwright, Woods and Moshiri all put equal amounts (based upon shareholding) into a new Stadium. Kenwright £13.5m Woods £9.5m and Moshiri £50m – total – £73m – I don't think this is sufficient to totally fund a new stadium but it would go a long way towards it. If Kenwright and Woods are willing to reinvest the proceeds from the sale of their shares, you may even see Lord Grantchester or Abercromby stump up some investment also.

If this is the route they take, this would then leave Mr Moshiri with approx. £50m left from the sale of his Arsenal shares to hopefully invest, over and above the additional TV revenue to be received, in our playing squad.

It's early days, but the future looks bright, the future looks Blue!

Paul Kelly
32 Posted 29/02/2016 at 13:40:44
Spot on, Helen, some people don’t look past ’He’s a blue, the sun shines out of his arse’ mantra. If he was a red, he’d've been gone a long time ago. I agree, not too excited about this appointment as Bullshit Billy still has his fingers in the pie, it appears.
David Pearl
33 Posted 29/02/2016 at 14:15:05
Wide of the posts, Helen. Bill has done well...

I thought at the time that missing out on Kings Dock would haunt us forever. Now perhaps the Sky Money deal has given a few clubs a second chance.

Maybe if we found the cash for Kings Dock it would have sunk us... but we will never know. What we do know is that, when we needed to be cautious over the day of bringing in loans, only we were. Now Bill has delivered exactly what he said he would. Yet he is still Billy Liar, Bullshiter, Kenwrong and all the other bollox.

His detractors?? How many of them would not take a salary as chairman or not perhaps personally make out of this sale as has been reported?? I'd guess NONE of them.

So hats off to you, BK!!!

Paul Andrews
35 Posted 29/02/2016 at 14:24:42
"Maybe if we had found the money for Kings Dock, it would have sunk us."

Probably right. Playing in a brand new state-of-the-art stadium in the centre of a thriving city, on an iconic world famous waterfront would have been a disaster.

James Marshall
36 Posted 29/02/2016 at 14:39:07
John Daley@19

*dons shellsuit and silly wig/moustache combo*

Calm down, calm down!

David Sheen
37 Posted 29/02/2016 at 14:51:23
If I had to remorgage my house to takeover Everton, the club I love. I certainly wouldn’t. Why? Because it’s perfectly obvious I have no money to invest in the club if I cannot even afford to buy it. What TRUE Blue would??

And that is what we have witnessed at Everton since the late 90s ... NO INVESTMENT. This is why I don’t get why people say Bill Kenwright "stabilized the club". The reason the club underperformed was because of the managers.

He has all the credit in the world for bringing David Moyes to the club. But David Moyes should be thanked for getting blood out of a stone and staying for 11years doing it. Otherwise we definitely WOULD be in the Championship.

It's great news that we have a "new investor". But I am going to see what happens before getting my hopes up.

Dave Abrahams
38 Posted 29/02/2016 at 15:08:17
David Pearl (30),

I would love to know how much those loans cost Everton FC, have you any idea? Maybe some day Billy Boy will tell us... then again, most probably he won’t.

Paul Kelly
39 Posted 29/02/2016 at 15:36:40
David Sheen, ie remortgaging, "If I had to remorgage my house to takeover Everton, the club I love. I certainly wouldn’t. Why? Because it’s perfectly obvious I have no money to invest in the club if I cannot even afford to buy it. What TRUE Blue would??" Not Bill apparently, because he didn’t.

As for getting relegated, pure conjecture, as much proof we’d've won the league as been relegated with or without TGT.

Phil Bellis
40 Posted 29/02/2016 at 15:36:58
Paul Andrews 32;

Well said; it’s like the nagging, always there "what if" of a lost love – whatever Bill does/has done, losing Kings Dock will be his legacy, for me, anyway.

John Daley
41 Posted 29/02/2016 at 16:03:53
"John Daley@19"

*dons shellsuit and silly wig/moustache combo*

Calm down, calm down!"


James,

Given your last post proclaiming the square root of jack shit to be ’proof’ of... something... I’m sure you’ll understand when we refuse to take your word for it.

Pictures or it never happened.

(On a side note, might be a good gimmick for you to provide updates on what you’re currently wearing before every post from now on. Just to set the ’Marshall Mood’.)
Post 16 on this thread could’ve come with the header:

’Hurriedly slips into his ’Hunchback Of Notre Dame with accompanying self-inflated hump’ number, in an attempt to hide the hand shaped dent he’s about to prematurely hammer into his own back. Probably whilst declaring "They’re bells. They’re bells. They’re all just....bells").

James Marshall
42 Posted 29/02/2016 at 16:18:19
John, your impressions of Eugene are getting better. Keep up the good work.
John Daley
43 Posted 29/02/2016 at 18:08:27
"John, your impressions of Eugene are getting better. Keep up the good work."

Do you really think so James?

Thing is, a few years ago, inspired by 'Bend It Like Beckham', Eugene started running a 'Respond Like Ruane' class. For some reason everyone else thought he was just taking the piss when he told them the only way they would ever pass was if they painted his fence, waxed his car, and then hopped around on one leg with both arms held in the air, going 'WAAAANNNN-KA' whenever anyone he didn't like the look of walked past.

Hopefully now he might finally see fit to set me free, instead of just stomping straight past and saying "you fucking missed a spot".

James Marshall
44 Posted 29/02/2016 at 18:57:36
No, I don't think so.
John Powell
45 Posted 05/03/2016 at 21:08:45
Back in September I posted inside info about a Russian Billionaire who was buying our club. I was told at the time it was Usmanov.

After recent events, it seems I was correct with my predictions, as I believe Usmanov is the silent partner in this deal.

So to all you doubting blues on this site, not all taxi drivers talk shite. I told you and you were afraid to believe.

Michael Kenrick
46 Posted 05/03/2016 at 21:14:34
John,

So you said it was Usmanov. And it's not Usmanov. Er... this means you were wrong... sorry.

Usmanov cannot hold a major stake in more than one club, and he's bought up all of Moshiri's Arsenal shares, so there is no way that he can be the "silent partner" in this deal – that is utter tosh, spouted just so you can claim you were 'right'.

Sorry, lad, we're not buying it.

Gavin Johnson
47 Posted 05/03/2016 at 21:18:55
I'd be happy if Usmanov becomes the unofficial friend of the club. It sure beats Philip Green.
Andy King
48 Posted 05/03/2016 at 21:23:55
The conspiracy theory here is that the Russians will eventually own the club and will want to rival and take over from the Red Shite yanks for football dominance of our club in our city...

Bring it on!


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