Playing side to be bolstered by Moshiri

, 29 February, 53comments  |  Jump to most recent

While the precise details of Farhad Moshiri’s purchase of almost half of Everton FC, together with his future plans for the club, are not yet known, Roberto Martinez looks set to be afforded more leeway in terms of player recruitment and retention following the Monaco-based businessman’s arrival.

That is the inference from both the manager’s comments and media reports in the national media following Martinez’s press conference ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa.

Moshiri, born in Iran but the holder of dual British citizenship and a long-time associate of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, has agreed buy a 49.9% stake in Everton just days after offloading his 15% holding in rivals Arsenal in order to channel his footballing ambitions towards Goodison Park.

While question marks have been raised over why Moshiri has stopped short of taking a controlling interest in the club, the indications are that his initial investment will be just that – a first step towards acquiring up to 75% of the available shares and the Mail’s Matt Lawton (who first broke the news late on Friday night that a Middle Eastern buyer could be unveiled within days) suggests that “a mechanism” for such an eventuality already exists within the framework of the agreement.

Article continues below video content


Compared to The Guardian’s Andy Hunter, Lawton strikes a more circumspect tone regarding Moshiri’s imminent investment, which should be ratified by the Premier League this week, reporting that, amid "a curious degree of secrecy”, the Everton hierarchy have yet to elaborate on the brief statement issued on evertonfc.com on Saturday afternoon and how the share structure at the club will change as a result.

Planet Hollywood mogul Robert Earl is believed to have sold his entire 23% stake in Everton and is not expected to remain on the board of directors, while  Bill Kenwright and Jon Woods will see their holdings reduced from 26% and 19% respectively. That would give Moshiri control among the club’s major shareholders but would leave the safety valve for now of all of the remaining shareholders being able to out-vote him if the need arises.

That could well have been a stipulation insisted upon by Kenwright to allow Moshiri to run the club alongside him on an interim basis before, presumably, the Chairman stepped back by selling him more of his shares at a later date. That is certainly indicated by Hunter in his latest piece where he writes that, "Moshiri has an agreement to become majority shareholder."
 
Regardless, the 60-year-old’s backing will likely boost immediately Everton’s spending power in the transfer market and, in concert with the booming Premier League broadcast revenue, see the club’s hitherto rigid wage structure become a lot more malleable in order to fend off attempts by other clubs to prise away the likes of Romelu Lukaku, John Stones and Ross Barkley by matching the compensation on offer elsewhere.

“Of course it will help us keep our best players,” Martínez said in the print media part of his “presser” at Finch Farm this afternoon. “In our structure you’re always going to have some sort of limitations from a financial point of view. That’s where we are as a football club. Now, with a new investor this is a new beginning, it’s a new start for Everton. If we’re here, now we can go here [points up] internally in terms of budgets, in terms of facilities, in terms of wage bill. The new TV deal helps you up to a point. What we’re talking about here is a completely different approach.”

The Catalan, who has held discussions with Moshiri already, appears to be realistic about being able to keep the entirety of his squad together, particularly when covetous eyes from clubs better placed to offer Champions League football start looking their way in the summer. 

He makes no bones about the fact that the players have to want to stay at Goodison Park but stresses that it will no longer be because of financial considerations.

“We need to create a football club that the player wants to be part of,” he explained. “It is no good us saying: ‘Yes, we will keep such and such.’ If they don’t want to stay it will be the wrong investment. But if ‘such and such’ want to stay, can we make them stay? The answer now is yes. It is as simple as that.

"Every case is an individual case. Ross Barkley, for example, is an Evertonian. He can get at Everton anything he could get at another club. And it is his club. So that’s that answer. Everyone else, we don’t know what their aims are and what they want to do but we will never lose a player now because we are unable to give him what he deserves, put it that way.”

 

Reader Comments (53)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Andy Crooks
1 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:18:21
Surely a new owner will want a proper coach. All the money in the world can be spent on stadium, players and wages but the best spend must be on starting a new era and paying off Martinez.
Peter Larkin
2 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:19:45
Love it. Roberto is very clever here, he is saying, we can give you what you want if you want to stay. Ball firmly in Lukaku's and Stones’s court. Well played, Bob.
Alex Kociuba
3 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:21:46
I wonder whether Kenwright will choose, or be obliged to spend any of the money he is set to make from the sale of his shares whilst still remaining at the club?
Ian Robert
4 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:28:58
Alex (#3) – can't see it, can you? He will be paying off all those debts.
Anthony Dwyer
5 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:41:21
A new keeper, a top centre mid, a striker or left midfielder, depending on what Niasse is, a young, talented right back and possibly a new manager.

New contracts for Stonesy, Rom, Ross and Del boy plus any one else who falls into the bracket of under paid or under appreciated who should be a main stay of Everton FC.

All the above is brainstorming, mixed up, not in order but all very important.

The new owner has big decisions to make, firstly whether or not to trust Martinez with his money and club.

One person who has said the right thing of late is big Nev Southall, he says anyone at the club who is happy with being an average top 6 club should make way for ambitious people who strike to put the club on the map.

Mourinho, Gus Hiddink and Frank De Boer are all available plus Ronald Koeman is gettable, maybe one of them can bring that winning mentality to the blues and spend our new owners money on personnel who can push our club forward.

Ian Smitham
6 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:42:14
This 49.9% piece bothers me. Do people really think he is not in total and complete control? Most companies work on the basis that a 25% shareholder is a Controlling Director.

It has been stated on other threads about this takeover/non-takeover, that to out vote this new person will mean virtually everyone voting against him – and when I say 'everyone', there are apparently shareholders who cannot be contacted.

So, imagine the discussions when he calls in Bill for the daily meeting:

"Bill, I am changing the club shirts to be a shade of Red."
Bill says, "You can not do that!"
He says, "Bill, announce it or you are fired."
"You can’t fire me!"
"You're fired!!!"

Or Bill gets on his high horse and says "I will speak to the other shareholders and block you."

New man, says "Go ahead!"

Bearing in mind we here on ToffeeWeb fail to get much agreement about much, what are the chances of pretty well each and every shareholder, dead or alive, contactable or not, arsed or not, being able to be mobilised to stop the new man?

Face reality, he is in charge and my view is that Bill and maybe a few others will be kept in the circle for just long enough, to do the PR stuff some say BK is so good at, and then to keep things ticking over until the new team arrive. Love him or not, and here at ToffeeWeb many are close to the issues, but in the outer world, I believe a vast, vast majority of non-Evertonians think he is great, and keeping him as some sort of figurehead or face for the press is great business.

Bill, of course, will be well rewarded financially, and so will be happy to carry on with the charade.

Tony Draper
7 Posted 01/03/2016 at 00:56:23
Alex @3

Strong indications are that BK’s shares were deliberately sold below full value to Farhad Moshiri, with the clear intention to enable FM to "invest" the difference in the playing squad.

I’m not a BK hater, although I do have serious issues with some of his shenanigans, but deliberately not making profit for the good of the club is the action of a true Blue.

Paul Kossoff
8 Posted 01/03/2016 at 01:28:07
Andy 1, Completely agree with you on Martinez, it’s his style of play and tactics that have held this team back, not the squad.

There is no point in giving millions to him for transfers if he doesn’t change the way we play.

Yes he’s bought some very good players to Everton but they are no use if used wrongly.
Dave Southword
9 Posted 01/03/2016 at 01:48:07
One thing is certain, Tony; if it is true then Bill will certainly make sure we know about it!

And so he should, if true, as he would effectively be putting his money into the club.

If it’s true.

Eric Myles
10 Posted 01/03/2016 at 02:30:22
I don't see how there can be a mechanism in place to acquire 75% of shares unless he's already done a deal with some of the minor shareholders as the old board only owned 66% of shares combined.
David Ellis
11 Posted 01/03/2016 at 02:35:06
Tony (#7) – I don’t think Bill would have sold below value unless he had a formal agreement in place that Moshiri would spend the difference on investing in the club. Hopefully this is the case.

I am a shareholder (one share) and can confirm that no one has offered to buy it from me for £5,000 yet!

Mark Andersson
12 Posted 01/03/2016 at 02:40:40
Good points by all. New manager; demote Roberto to chief scout. Let the new manager bring in proper coaching staff and medical team.

I'm not a fan of Bill as a front man because he loves the sound of his own voice and is as cringeworthy as Bobby.

Let's just see how many games we win and see how low we finish in the league before I get too optimistic.

David Barks
13 Posted 01/03/2016 at 03:34:09
Nobody sold below value with pinky swears for buying players. Come on people, come back to reality. I know that flying unicorn is fun but it doesn't exist in the business world.
Garry Corgan
14 Posted 01/03/2016 at 03:46:54
Eric #9 - Grantchester has (had?) 9% and the estate of Phillip Carter around 3% too.
Eric Myles
15 Posted 01/03/2016 at 04:03:00
Garry, I think it’s more like 6% and 2%, so, like I said, he would already have to have an agreement in place if he’s sure of getting 75% as of now.

But he has to make a general offer so maybe 75% is only a target.

Malcolm Kitchen
16 Posted 01/03/2016 at 05:19:35
I agree with most the comments! Regards the team, come on Blues – stuff Villa then West Ham! Put us right back in the mix for 6th, then let's see where we can get to.

We probably would have to win every game to get 4th, 12 points we've thrown away, we should be level with City!!
Brian Porter
17 Posted 01/03/2016 at 06:01:36
I agree with Andy Crooks (#1). Surely the first priority for any new owner would be a top class coach, not a proven serial loser like Martinez. Then maybe we can look at attracting some big names on the playing side.
Harold Matthews
18 Posted 01/03/2016 at 07:21:21
Yes, Lyndon, getting back to the point of your article, Martinez did say we could now accelerate the process of building a Champions League squad, inferring of course that even without the extra funds he would have eventually got us there. Window by window we were becoming stronger and he was not the slightest bit concerned about losing two key players. Selling two to buy four was the plan.

Personally, I think it still is the plan. We didn’t shell out almost £14mil for a Lukaku backup. Niasse is, or was, a definite replacement and would have been told as much when we approached him. Lukaku is a young man in a hurry and I can’t see him hanging about till we get things right.

Ian Jones
19 Posted 01/03/2016 at 07:40:20
Ignoring all the bits about who owns what, or whatever deal has been done.

I appreciate that it’s all very much a 'what if' and 'watch this space' situation, and Roberto is right in indicating that "We need to create a football club that the player wants to be part of," and if they move on, it won’t be because of financial considerations.

In theory, if we have more money to spend on players or are paying more to keep the ones we have, then we still need to be able to produce football that is good enough to win trophies and get into the Champions League to satisfy the wishes of some players.

Even if we offered Romelu Lukaku £150k per week but were still not getting into the Champions League or winning a cup etc, then he surely would be off.

Although he says ’’Every case is an individual case. Ross Barkley, for example, is an Evertonian. He can get at Everton anything he could get at another club. And it is his club. So that's that answer. Everyone else, we don't know what their aims are and what they want to do but we will never lose a player now because we are unable to give him what he deserves, put it that way."

Yes, Ross Barkley is an Evertonian, but can he get at Everton anything he could get at another club!

Only time will tell – and the new investment at least makes it more interesting. On the face of it, without knowing all the ins and outs, it seems a good investment. Long term and whilst it would have perhaps been great for someone to come along and pour silly money into the club in one go, I agree with many of the posters who feel that we seem to be maintaining the heart and soul of the club, its identity etc.

It would be good to be able to sit back in 5, 10, 15 years time and say that actually, for all Bill Kenwright’s faults and the way that club seemed to be run, he didn’t too badly after all. (So says the guy who once suggested flying a ’Get well, Bill’ banner over Goodison Park.)

:)

Jon Withey
20 Posted 01/03/2016 at 07:51:05
Really hope we manage to keep Lukaku.

I can live without Stones if he wants to go elsewhere – although I’d prefer that we kept him obviously.

Would love Forster or Butland in goal competing with Robles.

Jim Jennings
21 Posted 01/03/2016 at 07:54:32
"We didn’t shell out almost £14mil for a Lukaku backup."

Maybe we did, if Bill knew this new investment was agreed at the time. Or else Niasse is a replacement for Naismith / Mirallas...?

Rob Hooton
22 Posted 01/03/2016 at 08:07:11
Hopefully the first thing our new man will do is to order Bob to get a new defence coach!

I still harbour hopes that he will come good and like the way he has put the ball firmly in the players' court, most of them seem to like playing for him (most of the time) so maybe he can keep his ’project’ alive?

Colin Glassar
23 Posted 01/03/2016 at 08:15:21
Any sign of a press conference by the new man? A press release? Statement? Anything regarding his plans for the club?

A photo of him at GP with an Everton scarf around his neck would do for me just now. I don’t like these prolonged silences...

Christopher Dover
24 Posted 01/03/2016 at 08:17:09
All the talk before the investment was if we do not get European football then Lukaku, Stones and maybe some others will be off.

So the chances are we will not get the Holy Grail... so wave good bye to the above? Or will a hefty increase in wages get them tapping the badge on their shirt?

I have been a blue all my life but times have changed; money (in most cases) talks the loudest – hence the exodus to China so they can tap the badge over there and say how proud they are to be playing for their clubs.

With all the "who sold what to whom", the bottom line will be more to invest in players and hopefully the ground – be it at Goodison or elsewhere. Those like me looking for answers will have to wait as there will be so much behind-the-scenes activity before things become clearer.

To those who say Bill should forsake his payout, I would just ask as no-one else stepped in, why should he? It is his love as well as a business and would just ask those who own their own property – when you sell, will you ask for less than market value or give any sort of profit to a charity? I am certain the vast majority will not.

Things are changing and I'm looking forward to the ride but – if one thing is certain – nothing is certain.

Denis Richardson
25 Posted 01/03/2016 at 08:58:20
I’m a bit confused here. I can see how the new owner can help in the stadium and commercial side of things. However, given FFP, how exactly can he pump cash in without breaching the rules?

We’re going to get about £100m from Sky next season anyway, if most of this is given to the manager for players then he would have increased player investment without putting any cash in.....

I just hope he gets a proper manager in, that’s all I want in the next 6 months. The rest, stadium and commercial side, will take a while to resolve.

Craig Walker
27 Posted 01/03/2016 at 09:36:20
I’d cash in on Stones whilst his stock is still relatively high. I like his footballing principles and composure on the ball but we need a leader, an organiser and someone who can help us defend set-pieces whilst offering a threat at the other end. The semi-final at Man City was the last straw for me with Stones.
Sam Hoare
28 Posted 01/03/2016 at 09:39:47
Never thought I’d say this at beginning of the season but think I’d rather lose Stones than Lukaku this season. Stones is or will be a higher class player one day but not sure he is totally suited to English football.

So let's get all Championship Manager for a moment.

Sell Stones for £50m. New contracts for Lukaku and Ross.

Butland for £15m. Koulibaly or similar for £15-20m. Then a quality ’creative’ deep lying midfielder to replace the ageing Barry and partner Besic for £20m (William Carvalho?). And of course Yarmolenko for £20m.

Dreamland perhaps but that would be in over-simpistic analyisis a net outlay £20-25m and would give us a squad more than capable of challenging at the very top...

Tony Abrahams
29 Posted 01/03/2016 at 10:07:45
Very surprised by your last sentence @post26, Craig.
Jim Potter
30 Posted 01/03/2016 at 10:25:58
The big positive to me from what Bobby said is that Ross looks like a fairly nailed on new contract. He appears to want to stay.

Stonesy – great if he does – but he if not we’ll get good money and a top replacement for far less.

Lukaku – ditto.

Ross – local lad, Evertonian, potentially world class and irreplaceable.

Harold Matthews
31 Posted 01/03/2016 at 11:17:40
Yes Sam, I watched Kalidou Koulibaly for Napoli last night. Absolute monster centre back. What a player. Has suffered much racial abuse in Italy and might like to join our own Senegalese lad, Niasse.
Tony Abrahams
32 Posted 01/03/2016 at 11:25:49
Nothing wrong with dreamland Sam, because the way you have just put that, it shows me that we are not that far away now, especially if we can make choices similar to the ones you’re advocating there.
Craig Walker
33 Posted 01/03/2016 at 12:14:25
Tony (#28),

My comment probably was a bit strong but for the controversial goal, he should never have let Sterling get to the byline. I thought he was at fault for the other goal too. I really think that was our biggest opportunity since drawing Wigan at home in the Quarter Finals of the Cup to get some silverware.

I think he’ll be a great player but he needs to stop showboating and get tight to attackers. He’s too often reliant on slide tackles. He should have given a penalty away in the Man City league game at the Etihad.

I’d take the money whilst he still commands a high transfer sum because more moments like that and he’ll be worth a fraction of his current valuation.

Liam Reilly
34 Posted 01/03/2016 at 12:21:46
There is another aspect to this new investment.

We'll have no need to sell players who the club want to keep; but this also brings an opportunity to exit aging and under-performing squad players in the summer.

The remaining games have just got interesting.

Tony Sullivan
35 Posted 01/03/2016 at 12:23:22
I think the clue to how this guy operates is in the open letter to the Arsenal board. They rated Wenger highly, they criticised the following aspects of the Arsenal strategy:

’self-financing’ financial model, rip-off ticket prices, selling their best players, only aiming for a top four place, poor support for the manager in the transfer market.

Bringing these principles to our club should be music to the ears of all long-suffering Evertonians. I am beginning to be optimistic about our future.

David Hallwood
36 Posted 01/03/2016 at 12:46:30
Just to wade into the Stones debate. Craig Walker(#33) I can forgive him for the Sterling cross but his positioning for the Aquero goal was, to use Merson’s summing up, atrocious – and it’s not the first time.

But to get back on topic, I’m hoping for evolution rather than revolution because IMHO (goalkeeper apart) this squad was good enough to challenge for the title this year of all years, with 4th almost as a consolation prize.

The squad is on a par with both Spurs and Leicester and look where they are.

Agreement all round, I’d break the bank for a top class keeper and yes I’d like an Ozil or young Arteta and a killer left-side player. I’d be happy with what we’ve got as long as we got the keeper situation sorted.


Anthony Lewis
37 Posted 01/03/2016 at 12:50:07
They would be some very nice acquisitions Sam.

It makes for interesting times, let’s hope we finally get to compete.

Ray Smith
38 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:05:49
If as has been reported that Kenwright has been courting Farshad Moshiri, and he has spent the last 18 months falling in love with Everton, and knows his football? He will have sussed Martinez out by now?

If so, is there a future for Martinez next season?

Also, what influence does Usmanov have in getting Yarmolenko in?

Interesting times ahead!

Guy Hastings
39 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:31:25
Did Jose M wake up this morning, sniff the morning air and think to himself, "Hmm, the scent of new-mown moolah is in the air, emanating from coordinates 53°26'20"N, 2°57'59"W"?

I'd bee amazed if the Mail, at the very least, don’t tout this one as a goer.

Ian Burns
40 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:39:33
Guy (#38),

I think you are going to be very disappointed. Not sure I agree with you on Jose M but the point is moot because Martinez is at Goodison Park for at least the rest if this season and the first half of next – depending upon league position.

Martinez has been laying the foundations for his future by recently fawning over Kenwright and in recent days polishing the brown shoes of Mr Moshiri. He knows how the game is played off the field does Roberto – it is a pity he doesn’t know how to play the damned game on the field!

Guy Hastings
41 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:47:00
Ian – I wouldn’t be disappointed in the slightest if Mourinho went to Man Utd, Man City, across the park... or Mars.
Lewis Barclay
42 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:48:59
There is an interesting paradox here ...

Now we have more investment, are we as worried about selling Stones or Lukaku for £40mill each?

My thinking:

Attracting other talented players to a club that possibly has a brighter future, than it looked 3 weeks ago, should be easier, right?

Therefore: Shouldn’t these players now be saying "Okay, next season I’m going to stay, on my existing contract and see who we bring in and if we can finish in the Champions League positions. This club is going places without too much of a change in the boardroom".

This seems like really really clever manoeuvring for Everton as a club.

I also like what Martinez says about Barkley: Essentially that he can get whatever he wants at Everton and probably nowhere else; certainly not at the moment.

Andrew Ellams
43 Posted 01/03/2016 at 13:59:01
If we are going to play Fantasy Football Managers, what about Pellegrini?
Chris Corn
44 Posted 01/03/2016 at 14:12:10
Andrew at 42, I don’t think Pellegrini is a fantasy. He has a track record of improving clubs such as Villarreal and Malaga.

He’s won trophies at the top level and been dumped on by Madrid and Man City. He’s not the first or last person that will happen to. If the price and the vision is right, why not Everton?

Andrew Ellams
45 Posted 01/03/2016 at 14:34:39
Chris, I’d love to see it but, now he has that Premier League title on his CV, I suspect we would have to fight off some serious competition. I wouldn’t be surprised if he replaces the Chelsea-bound Conte at Juventus.
Joe Foster
46 Posted 01/03/2016 at 17:17:54
It's all very exciting and on some levels hard to take in after all this time. But effing great.
Declan Campbell
47 Posted 01/03/2016 at 17:28:12
Conte is the Italy manager; Allegri is the Juventus manager.
Rob Dolby
50 Posted 01/03/2016 at 22:58:38
As someone posted earlier, we have a squad arguably better than leicester and comparable to spurs. We should be in the top four with the squad we have. The most vulnerable person after this takeover is Roberto.

I shouldn't moan too much after an away victory though his tactics never seem to dominate opposition and his subs are questionable at best. If the new guy does start throwing money around, it won't be long before he buys a new manager.

I’d like decent up-and-down left midfielder too.

Ian Linn
51 Posted 02/03/2016 at 01:04:34
We don't need 'more leeway in player recruitment and retention', we need a decent manager and a new fuckin' stadium.
Franny Porter
52 Posted 02/03/2016 at 16:09:00
If we've got all this money to spend as is being mooted, we should go all out for Mourinho.
Eric Myles
53 Posted 02/03/2016 at 19:39:57
Pellegrini will be looking for a new job in May, Franny... I’d rather have him.
Dennis Ng
54 Posted 02/03/2016 at 19:54:09
According to my gooner friends, maybe Wenger too, might be a good short term transition fix. Quite a few names that would be suitable so only worry is that RM manages to sell his worth for another season or two using his incredible glib.
Anthony Dwyer
55 Posted 04/03/2016 at 00:28:50
Can I please ask some Evertonians on here to think before the type total shite about Stonesy.

FFS, the lad is 21 and set to be a world class center half.

I agree that Mori and Jags look decent at the minute, but come on, we need more than two, and we are blessed to have Stones.

He won’t sit on the bench forever, he has pure ability, he will find a way of forcing his way back into the fold either by earning his place, or by getting his chance through injury.

Either way, Stones is top class and we are lucky to have him.

If we can push on now with our new owner, we may find we can afford to off Gibson, Osman, Hibo, Pienaar, Kone and Howard and replace them with top class players.

If we move about in these circles of signing quality, then Stones may stay and be Mori’s long term partner.

Let’s not be so bitter lads, last season it was Rom being a useless clown (apparently), this season it’s Stones.

We have a few young gems in Rom, Ross, Mo Besic, Del Boy and Stones, let’s hope these are the core of a wonderful team in the future.

Gordon Crawford
56 Posted 04/03/2016 at 00:38:29
I just hope Hibbert scores before he leaves.
Stones is a class act. But needs to get back to basics.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


About these ads

© ToffeeWeb