The importance of Everton’s new ownership

Why no mention of the other interested parties and what they can bring?

Everton have suffered by not creating the conditions for people to work effectively … in fact, not even working in tandem.

IMO, it is vitally important that the new owners have a vision and a plan and can bring in the people and resources to make that happen.

I can't imagine whoever buys the club will have a lot of time to spend on managing it.

We have yet to find a captain who can lead the whole club. Denise Barrett-Baxendale certainly wasn't that and we certainly don't need interfering egotistical chairmen.

We need a modern day David Dein who knows the football world and how to make it happen.

We have so often lamented the lack of marketing creativity and emphasis. We need a plan to open up all the commercial opportunities that the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock presents.

I see the club has appointed someone to manage sustainability. I mistakenly thought this was to be someone with their pulse on the finances… but no, it is just somebody to keep us green.

So we need someone to manage the finances so we are never again in a position of being hit by Masters and his cronies.

Our scouting system and network needs dramatic improvement. Other top clubs are recruiting some of the best Directors of football going. While I am relatively satisfied with Thelwell, we need to beef up the network and support.

In short, we need to go in search of excellence — something that has been in short supply for so long.

Thanks, yet again, for your input.

I believe you have posted that the Manoukian consortium is a non-starter?

Could you possibly give your thoughts on why their proposal would not be acceptable?

I certainly agree that Bell and Downing, with the backing of Dell ownership, would be the best outcome, but at this moment we have heard nothing from Moshiri about his intentions.

Bell and Downing have the business acumen needed to steer us from these muddy waters and create some stability, which this club have lacked during Moshiri's tenure. I don't want to be owned by someone who has other football clubs in their portfolio, we need owners who will be committed to Everton 24/7. Surely we have witnessed an owner who thought he could leave the running of the club from afar and that hasn't been very successful.

As you rightly point out, this will not be a quick fix and there will still be many challenges ahead, but I think our supporters are clever enough to know this club will take a while to get back to where we all want them to be.

I think the other big plus is I would imagine, with the business expertise of Bell and Downing and with Dell supplying the finances, they would have no problem passing the Premier League Directors and Owners Test.

There's nothing in it against other parties. The Esk can have an opinion on who he thinks is best for the club. Just like every other poster on TW.

Personally, I struggle to see that happening but the aforementioned poster will likely have a better insight than me.

What I wouldn't give to have a stable Everton once again.

The last 3+ years have been a train wreck and good news on the owner/financing front is much needed.

Thank you for the assessment, Paul, and for keeping Evertonians up to date.

Just as the UK has fueled a rampant, deregulated and parasitic financial sector since the 1980s, the Premier League is stuffed with rich owners who really are only in it for themselves.

Ultimately, the majority of owners are gambling on continued club asset inflation to make a killing down the line.

It is a Ponzi Scheme. It is not about fans or history or local communities.

Wishful thinking.

The only clubs to have won the Premier League are either loaded, or have been; the exception – Leicester – eventually got swallowed up because they lacked money to rebuild.

We need big money, oil sheikh money, to fulfil the above; fannying around with middle management speak and spreadsheets won't cut it. In fact, the various consortiums mentioned all have a whiff of Kenwright and his "jam tomorrow" era.

But yeah, let's be Brighton.

Andy and George??

Shurley a coinshidence???

Considering the Esk's previous detailed stuff, it concerns me that only one bidder is mentioned in this. The stuff conspiracy theories are made of.

Things can get better, it's not an easy road, 2016 villa relegated so it's took them 8 years.
We've not been relegated, we have a new stadium coming, we have to be realistic it's not 2- 3 years to right all the wrongs of the past.
New owners can have all the billions you want, you can't spend it all.

New owners need to invest in the management personnel, I've said before spend 10m on a top notch Cheif exec instead of 1 second rate player, pay the wages Dele has been getting to experts at growing income streams and revenue.

Above all as shown at villa, a manager is the key. The right manager at the right time can change everything, Emery has transformed them.
I'm not saying get dyche out, IMO he's the perfect guy for the job at the moment, stabilising the team but need to be ready to get the right manager at the right time for us.

It's still the most important job at any club !

"Hi, I hear your business is in trouble, heavily in debt. I can fix that for you. I'll buy your business, I'll sort the debt out and all will be well."

"Oh that's great, how will you do that?"

"Well I'll borrow the money to buy your business, I'll restructure the debt."

"Oh okay, anything else?"

"Well, I'll need to borrow the money to buy your business because I don't have enough to buy it. Oh one other thing, I'm going to use your house as security so, if it all goes belly up, you will lose your house, is that okay? You're an Everton supporter, aren't you, so am I, so don't worry, you can trust me."

Have you heard this one before?

The other aspect to what you’re rightly pointing out is the unsinkable can sink unexpectedly,

Blackburn “bought the league.” Months later they were in a relegation scrap under Ray Hartford they never bounced back.

Juve twice and Marseille in the 90s had City like domination until scandals undid them. Chelsea nearly went to wall before Bates came along and nearly did the same when Mathew Harding died. In stepped Roman who took them into the stratosphere until the Ukraine war ended all that. Teams like Malaga, Parma, Deportivo La Coruna and Anahi Makhachkala had periods where spending was plentiful, success sustained then boom. Not to mention Glasgow Rangers, the entire Chinese League. Lyon not so long had won the French league 7 years in a row. An owner dies, a scandal unfolds, a war breaks out etc. There are manifold reasons the status quo could unravel.

Hopefully if we have sensible owners who steady the ship off the field as Sean has on the field for a few years then we can be poised to step in as Inter Milan were when Juve, AC, Lazio et al got relegated, fined points deductions etc and suddenly Inter dominated for five years. Or going back further, George Grahams frugally run Arsenal stepped up when the RS and Everton unraveled.

Nothing gets past you, Sherlock, eh.

He was advocating for Moshiri to pick the local guys. Evertonians.

Of course, it was biased.

David (5) - Of course. Saying that, I'm "Team MSP" myself.

Steve (11) - No he didn't. Unless you can point out where he did.

Roy (12) - PQ was clearly advocating for the interested, local Evertonians group. Did you read Lyndon's piece? He covered all the known interested parties.

We're pretty much reliant on MSP largesse in agreeing to restructure the debt, I'd say, unless they become the preferred purchaser that is.

R&MF I see being in it for the long haul so no problem there… and then there's A-Cap's £200M. Given their potential woes, would it be better for them to convert that to equity and take a minor shareholding in the club and thereby have some enhanced security?

A piece I read in FT says that MSD have not yet agreed to back Bell and Downing, they are waiting and prepared to back the most credible buyer.

I too would like to hear why the only purchaser that doesn't need to borrow money to purchase the club is not a credible buyer?

Now he's pulled out as Moshiri wouldn't agree terms even while he still owns Palace and couldn't buy us anyway. That said, his track record is barely better than 777 Partners… so fuck him.

I think the main worry is can we strengthen, or at least get some sort of clarity about comings and goings in the transfer market while all this is dragging on?

Apart from the few who are out of contract and those who may be considered surplus to future requirements, we basically need to retain as many of our young, and also the experienced players alike, if we are to hopefully improve our league position.

I can't believe that we may get hit again by points deductions, if true, how can that be? Since Dyche has been here, everything has been running better and no rash forays into the market.

Getting back to Jay's point about lack of commercial activity, surely the time is right that this was rectified, especially with the opportunities the new stadium will bring in.

Surely this £400 million goes to Moshiri to purchase his equity so is not actually "funding" going into the Club?

Or are you suggesting that Moshiri will be nice enough to take nothing for himself on the condition that the purchaser provides the £400 million to keep the Club going?

Such is the beneficial structure of Everton ownership, I could not argue with him. Because to deal with the connections possibly involved would be breaking Government sanctions.

777 Partners are in court in numerous countries and parties connected with 777 Partners are fighting fraud charges in a USA Court. I suspect A-Cap is a follow-on replacement.
MSP Sports Capital's reluctance to go forward with their agreement and their extension of payment deadlines could be a sign of trying to use a get-out-of-jail card.

Any legitimate party's involvement could be a sign of giving up the ghost. The multiple parties now involved may suggest that the search is still on.

I think we are a very long way off what the senorio should be, as outlined by the excellent Paul the Esk.

But I suspect it will come down to resources and ultimately to Moshiri. He has no love for us and I doubt he feels much in the way of responsibility.

I hope he proves me wrong but I suspect that whoever offers him the best exit financially will end up successful and that could well come down to the wallet size of the buyer and might make the Manoukian consortium favourites.

Of course this is how we ended up in bed with 777 Partners but I'm not convinced that Moshiri is someone who learns from his mistakes quickly.

It's now obvious, to me, that he was simply a frontman for his Uzbek boss. He was also easily manipulated by the now former, greatest Evertonian of all time.

Plus, a man of his age who has a mullet and wears turtle neck pullovers is not a man who inspires confidence in my book.

“He and they’ve got us to this point. A point in which realistically, despite there having been alternatives, the only realistic outcome is insolvency. Whilst I’ve stated previously (and stick by) the belief that the acquisition by 777 Partners was the worst of all outcomes, the second worst, administration is seemingly inescapable.”

And another:

“There is no simple solution here. The scandalous way the club has been run, the choice of preferred purchaser in 777 Partners, and the delay in Moshiri realising 777’s inability to complete (a realisation only dawned upon by endless reports of their financial failings) has put us in this position.

Removing 777 Partners from the equation is only the first necessary step to a solution. More accurately, by their own deeds, 777 have removed themselves despite any further denials that may be offered. Their position is likely to deteriorate further in the coming weeks, again with considerable human cost – take the Bonza employee treatment as clear evidence of such.

Sadly, the idea that Everton can escape all of the above without administration is in my opinion, wishful thinking.“

Paul correct me if I am wrong.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone throw their name into the hat because it's just mainly been speculation, especially the Palace chairman, who praised Everton but then said our club would have already been sold before he was in a position to do anything.

Let's just hope that Textor was correct because something needs to be done soon and even Moshiri must be aware of this.

I was just being careful about wording, there's no need to be an arse about it.

Regarding Bell, Downing and MSD, it's true I know more than is in the public domain, and more than I can communicate openly. Why is that the case? Not because I have any financial interest, nor because I purport to represent the fan base in any capacity - I solely represent myself and my own beliefs.

I am party to some discussions given my knowledge of the 777 position, other creditors and MSD in particular.

Ultimately all I want is a successful or at least functioning Everton - I also very firmly believe that with two passionate local Evertonians, one well versed in property development that they represent a great opportunity for the club and also the regeneration of the area surrounding Bramley-Moore for the benefit of the club and city

Hope you don't mind me clarifying matters

I believe my comments regarding the prospect of administration were entirely correct and if you don't mind me saying so, given with some detailed knowledge of the club's finances.

The fact that we got to the end of the season with 777 Partners somehow still providing financial support, a slightly better than forecast final league position, and the upcoming opening of the transfer window with (and this is critical) the grace and goodwill of MSP extending their facility, stopped us from going into administration.

The MSP point is perhaps the most pertinent – had they chosen to take us into administration when we were technically in default or likely to go into default, then we had no defence. They chose not to, but that decision was never guaranteed nor could ever be relied upon until it actually happened.

All of my comments re administration were made for a considerable period of time prior to MSP's decision to extend their facility.

You have been a Godsend to people like me who don't have the inside knowledge. The business acumen, nor the understanding of law.

You clearly love the club and only have the best interest of everyone connected with it at heart.

Your work has been and is, very much appreciated.

To me, your post #27 is probably the most understandable thing I have read, so I certainly don’t mind the clarification, I’m very glad of it - thank you.

Thanks for a great summery yet again, I like Brian@33 is wondering how our accounts are for the previous 12 Months and if we will have to sell to stop us breaching again, have you any inside knowledge if we have gone over again.

Also I mentioned if we switched our accounts from June to July, would that be an option, or is there no option to switch so our end-of-year accounts are the end of July?

I'm sure some other clubs have switched in the past, but there might have been a ruling since then where all accounts have to be submitted end of June.

I believe all clubs have to submit their accounts by 30 June, it's part of the Premier League rules, so you can't unilaterally decide to submit your accounts any later.

I suspect we won't have any utterances from the owner until some sort of sale is "in the bag" which probably won't be until the cones are out for pre-season training at Finch Farm knowing how long it is likely to take for the Premier League to offer approval to our "fit and proper" new owners!!!

I'm sure I'm not the only TWebber that would love to know why the other reported interests are not viable?

The tricky thing about all the proposed fire sales at Everton, Forest, Villa, Leicester etc is the Euros and Copa America. Generally, national team managers don't like their tournaments being interrupted so players can negotiate deals.

Two of our three players who generate any kind of substantial fee are at the Euros. So unfortunately, that means Jarrad is best placed to be sold quick.

Toffee Ventures is a complete red (blue) herring to be honest — it has no impact on the deal.

Whilst Usmanov is not the flavor of the of the day in the UK, it's interesting to note that entities such as 777 Partners exist almost entirely on the secrecy afforded to the almost pragmatically bandit nature of their investors.

I think Farhad has always been a D-type excuse for an owner. This was always actually stupid because I think Everton was sold by Bill to a Russian money-laundering scam.

Football-wise, that means three things:

1. Intelligent player trading. It’s going to become harder to ‘do a Brighton’ as there are very few clubs who can afford to buy players for the sums that Cucurella, Sanchez and Caicedo went for, but we have to have a scouting network and DoF who can buy players that both improve the team in the short term and could generate trading profits in the long term.

2. Intelligent use of the free agent market. Player wage demands may be the stumbling block to this, but every year there are a few quality, experienced players who could have a positive impact but we rarely seem to take advantage.

3. Youth Development. The big one. Obviously we have produced some very good players over the years, but I’ve always thought that there is still so much untapped potential on Merseyside. We also seem to fail in that crucial 18-21 age group where players need to go from promising youngsters to first team footballer. There is expertise out there, including at the FA whose programmes have improved hugely in the last decade. We don’t seem to produce even decent squad players. The recent release of Lewis Warrington and McKenzie Hunt are a clear example. A couple of lower league loans and then released for nothing. I can’t judge these individuals as I don’t watch them much, but their careers don’t seem to be managed intelligently enough. Even just giving them some first team exposure occasionally would improve them as players and increase their value for sales, but we don’t seem to do it. I can’t believe that they’re so bad that they would have cost us points by coming on fresh in the second half of games when we were tiring. We could either raise ‘pure profit’ through sales or have a deeper squad of cheaper players who care more about the club if we get this right.

At the moment we seem to be fire-fighting both on and off the pitch, and we’re just about managing, but it’s costing us in terms of building anything for the long term. The new owners need a clear plan, which they can explain openly and honestly, about what small improvements are going to be made year on year.

Whilst it’s not what we dreamed of, it will be enough to engage me (and most Evertonians I suspect) to see that we are at least moving in the right direction. We will just have to accept that the destination is a long way off.