Bloomberg: 777 Partners close to Everton takeover deal

Lord have Mercy…

Is it a good thing?

Everton Football Club Close to Sale to 777 Partners

The level of investment needed at Everton certainly isn't one where 777 are the right profile of people to come to rescue us given the history of clubs they have acquired and the predicament they now find themselves in.

Right now, I'm more interested that we have a match against Arsenal on Sunday. That's the immediate concern and getting the first win of the season.

I genuinely think this could be the end of Everton Football Club.

It would seem unlikely that 777 Partners have the funds to complete a takeover but, if somehow they did, then it would most likely to end in tears.

It's hard to see a great move for Everton any which way, given that no sensible business mind will want to take us and our debts and liabilities on unless they have some sort of asset-stripping agenda.

Assets? we ain't got no assets, Moshiri can't show them no stinking asset... well maybe a half finished one.

When you strip an asset you're supposed to take money Out , they'll have to put money In before they take it out.

EFC – doing the hokey-kokey since 1878!

How does Pickford, Onana and Beto (if he has a good start) sound in January?

That's asset-stripping to the tune of £150 million.

I can't see Moshiri being bothered who he sells us to as long as he gets paid.

Then even if a deal is struck, the Premier League, might not allow 777 to be the new owners, if some of the reported transgressions by them are true. The only way is up isn't it? I'm not so sure about that anymore.

I expect Moshiri won't have any great love for Everton and so long as he can now walk away, he will. Not being pessimistic, just a realist. BMD will not be his legacy. His legacy will be " This is the mane man who played with Everton"

Hope this is just rubbish talk.

In addition to Wander pleading no contest for drug offences in 2003, 777 and sister company Sutton Park have been accused of multiple cases of fraud, offering illegal loans and failing to pay bills totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Dodgy bunch.

Although, it is ironic that the Saudi sovereign wealth fund passed the fit and proper ownership tests given their penchant for beheadings, oppression of women and the slaughter of dissidents who visit their embassy.

Who cares if Moshiri recoups a reasonable proportion of the money he spent, or not? That is surely his problem, and nobody else's.

"I think the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' is appropriate for many on here."

Agree, Dan. We've seen so many calls for Moshiri to go, without any idea of who would replace him. Sam's frying pan - fire @9.

Please please please can this be the end of Kenwright?

One of the owners of 777, Josh Wander, was recently quoted as saying "We believe there is a new commercialism coming to football and we won't just be selling hot dogs to the fans but house insurance and other products." So, from those comments it strikes me these aren't owners looking to grow the club.

I have never believed Moshiri ever wanted to buy Everton and only did so on the orders of his boss. I think initially Usmanov thought that Everton – a club under-resourced but usually finishing in the top 7 – just needed a cash impetus to make them Champions League contenders.

But the sanctioning of him with the war in Ukraine left Moshiri holding the reins and it wasn't what he wanted and the money from Usmanov now wasn't available. With the club needing more and more money just to keep it afloat, and with the stadium costing in the region of £750 million, it was obvious that Moshiri wanted out and will sell to anyone which allows him and his boss to get some of their money back.

This, it would seem is the last chance saloon for Moshiri and perhaps, for Everton FC. It's not all about the fans chasing the owner out of the club, which I'm sure will be the narrative if Moshiri does sell up. It's more about the inability of the British-Iranian and his board to have any foresight or contingency plans in place other than having Uncle Usmanov as the sole guarantor.

Come on… there must be one out there.

I think Usmanov has told Moshiri to get out of the club no matter what and we are down now to the lowest common denominator. Is this the plan: 777 can access loans at a better rate and get the stadium finished, then sell on again for a profit?

From a private equity journal:

“Back in March, Bloomberg reported that 777 had held exploratory discussions with PCP Capital Partners, the fund that part owns Newcastle United and which is run and was co-founded by Amanda Staveley.

The discussions were said to centre around 777 raising debt and equity with a view to expanding the ambitions of PCP to acquire stakes in more football clubs to create a multi-club portfolio, something that has grown in popularity in recent years as ownership groups look to find synergies, both financially and competitively, across their assets.”

What does that mean? These waters are very murky.

No. this deal is the mark of the man. He's selling us to the lowest of the low. Welcome to the Everton Family. There would be more suitable buyers he could sell to, but he is selling us to the people who give him an extra £10 million.

Does anyone think 777 are going to fund that stadium? Our only hope is the Premier League fail them on the fit and proper test.

Just look at the years the Newcastle fans protested against Ashley yet he didn't leave till he got the payoff he wanted.

The Man Utd fans have been protesting against the Glaziers for years, and despite them holding an auction which reportedly has seen bids rise above £5 billion, which is 10 times what they paid for the club, it seems like they are still stalling on whether to accept the bid.

So I am sure there will be fans who quite rightly would be prepared to demonstrate if 777 looked like taking control of the club. it will have little effect – if Moshiri gets the money he wants, he will be off.

And comparing them to Everton Football Club. It's quite astonishing really what Kenwright has overseen in his time as owner and Chairman.

That selfish bastard would spend his last breath telling (brainwashing for the fools) the fanbase that we couldn't compete, had no money, had Liverpool as neighbours… yet Man City had two high profile takeovers after climbing out of the Third Division, ignored the fact that an even bigger club than Liverpool were winning everything at the time, and became the dominant force in English and World football.

Apparently all because they had a purpose built stadium – which is a complete lie because it wasn't purpose built, it was an athletics track and they rented it.

If that despicable piece of shit Kenwright had given up control to see the Kings Dock stadium built, then Everton would very likely have been a totally different club than the one we have today, especially considering the league was ripe for investment in the mid-2000s.

And yet here we are begging for some two-bit yank takeover. What a fucking shit show.

Manchester City – what could have been. But for one man…. Bill fucking Kenwrigh.

If 777 are a multi club owner, it might provide greater opportunity to develop players, loan them out (Chelsea model) and greatly increase their value – meaning that we have more money to spend, especially if we are the biggest club in the network. (I assume we are seen as bigger than the rest simply due to the money in the Premier League.)

It might also give us greater access to young players on the continent.

First is the suggestion that Moshiri will exit 'with a fraction of the money he invested'. Given he invested so unwisely, this is a necessary pre-condition for a sustainable club going forward. This is good news (if true).

The second is the identity of the new owner. I do not know this enterprise and nor truly does anyone else despite conjecture, and it is possible they are less than ideal owners.

However, two things occur to me here. Firstly no-one puts up big money with the intention of losing it. Yes, they could sell our best 3 players but that will likely be much less than the money they invest and if it leads to relegation, they gain nothing.

Mistakes may happen – we should know that by now – but self-interest precludes, in my opinion, an asset-stripping exercise, if only because our liquid assets are not considerable.

Secondly, it is just about possible that this news, leaked in the way it has been, is designed to flush out new bidders at bargain prices, or at least will have that effect. That would certainly work in our favour. Moshiri willing to sell at a cut price has always been my hope. A greedy Moshiri just leaves us in stasis.

Or, alternatively, like all billionaires, he gets very upset when people disrespect him and forget how nice he is.

Also, if Moshiri is looking for a cut-price fire sale exit just to get out of the club, there'd be a lot more interest from other parties.

This, if it happens, will all end in tears… maybe not today, or tomorrow, but it's reminiscent of some of the worst practices in the banking industry when bad debts got wrapped up in less bad debts and the whole thing collapsed in on itself.

Geoff @ 19. 666 took over across the park about 50 years ago

Paul, who has his contacts, quite unequivocal with this comment just now.

...and it's unclear where that would be if 777 take over. There is also more mention of the alleged Usmanov links, and next month's commission hearing. What a circus...

Telegraph article (it doesn't seem to be paywalled but I'll copy it here in case that changes later):

Everton in advanced takeover talks with US firm 777
The full sale of Everton to American investment company is believed to be close in a deal which will end the Farhad Moshiri era

Everton are in advanced negotiations with 777 Partners LLC over a dramatic full sale of the club to the American private investment firm.

Sources close to talks told Telegraph Sport that the deal on offer would bring an end to Farhad Moshiri's era as majority shareholder.

Talks with 777 stretch back months but have intensified in recent weeks after an alternative minority investment deal with MSP Capital collapsed.

Moshiri is understood to be facing the prospect of leaving the club with a fraction of the money he invested. Insiders underlined there are still final hurdles to be cleared. “A deal is close but we still need to get it over the line” said one source close to talks.

However, as first reported by the Bloomberg newswire and corroborated by Telegraph Sport, an agreement could be announced this week. A deal would mean that half the Premier League's 20 clubs would be backed by American money.

Everton and 777 have declined to comment but the American firm has been steadily growing its investments in football in recent years, with clubs in South America and Europe.

Co-founder Josh Wander says 777 has more than doubled squad value at Genoa, having funded the club back into Italy's Serie A. Other clubs include Vasco da Gama in Brazil, who won promotion last year. Hertha Berlin, another investment, were relegated to Germany's second tier, however.

For the proposed Everton deal, 777 is being advised on the deal by Tifosy Capital & Advisory. The deal has emerged less than a month after MSP Sports Capital walked away from an exclusivity agreement to buy a 25 per cent stake in Everton.

Under the terms of a prior deal by Everton, Rights and Media Funding Limited demanded “high tens of millions” from MSP before a penny went into the club.

Instead of buying a stake in the club, MSP instead agreed over a £100million loan which would support the construction of Everton's new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock. It's not clear how that loan will work should 777 agree terms on a club takeover.

Moshiri's ownership at the club has grown increasingly turbulent in recent years. His former business partner Alisher Usmanov was a major sponsor for the club but the Uzbek-born oligarch was added to the UK's list of sanctioned individuals after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This season, Everton have lost three of their opening four Premier League fixtures, and there have been bitter complaints about the team's failure to recruit adequately over the summer.

The club is also preparing to appear before an independent commission on October 25 over its alleged breach of financial fair play rules. Executives have been confident they will prove they are compliant over charges which are understood to relate to a tax issue surrounding loans for the club's new stadium. Everton have denied wrongdoing and said they were “prepared to robustly defend” their position.

However, after back-to-back relegation battles, fans are running out of patience with an existing regime which announced financial losses for the fifth successive year in March. Cumulative losses over the past five years now amount to more than £430million. Under Premier League rules, clubs are permitted losses of up to £105million over a three-year period, but Everton blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for part of the losses.

Last year, Leeds and Burnley wrote to the Premier League asking for Everton's accounts to be independently investigated, although they later dropped their threat of legal action.

Chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp all left their boardroom roles at the end of last season.

Bill Kenwright has remained as chairman, however, at Moshiri's request. Cheshire-based Rights and Media Funding Limited have a loan facility with the club that extended to £200million this year.

The firm struck negative pledge clauses which mean the holder can demand repayment of its debt before the borrower takes on any further borrowing.

British-Iranian businessman Moshiri sold his portion of a joint stake in Arsenal in order to raise capital for an initial stake of just under 50 per cent of Everton in 2016. Moshiri is believed to have been exploring the possibility of selling the club for at least a year.

Former club executives told Telegraph Sport three weeks ago that Moshiri had concluded that his prior spending on players was “ridiculous”. Around £750 million had been spent on more than 50 players in his time, with approximately £450 million recouped. The club has been valued at just short of £600m in recent months.

Everton insist that the club's connection to Usmanov is now non-existent. Usmanov's USM Holdings had sponsored Everton's training ground, as well as previously owning an option on naming rights for the club's new stadium, but the club promises that any future investor will not be Russia-related.

Most if not all major outlets are running with the story however, many of them, are caveating the news with 'we have been unable to get confirmation from either the club or from 777'. We'll have to wait and see what transpires, but I'd say it's more likely, than not, to take place.

Yes, sell-to-buy will be accepted as will leasing the ground but at least we will know where we're at.

It's hard to exaggerate the mismanagement of this club. If that stadium was not in progress, I dare say no investor would look at us. Basically, we are a distressed asset with a fanbase that has become toxic.

It's going to be a long hard road back to being a mid-table but stable club. Buckle up if you can stomach the ride…

His last tweet:

“The move by 777 would be a full takeover, once all the Premier League requirements are met, which could take several months to complete.”

Let's say Paul the Esk is correct and 777 don't have the means for a full takeover, that would leave the club in limbo until January next year, possibly February, Moshiri could sell a couple more star players, and fail to bring any in during the winter window.

Then, for whatever reason, the club isn't purchased by 777 and we rinse and repeat until next summer. Is this all a game of deception? Does it mean that Bill remains Chairman until at least January? What if anything can we as fans do about it?

Has he tweeted that, or is that your understanding from some other sources?

This company may also have skeletons in the cupboard so seller beware. It may be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire if Moshiri is looking for a quick way out at this stage after all the bad press.

If it becomes a deal, how good will it be for the team or will it be just another drop in the bucket towards the new stadium?

https://twitter.com/ALANMYERSMEDIA/status/1701540125484667356?t=XU4tWhLUtY6LBJsLN5dbyA&s=19

If reports are correct, they will struggle to fund a full takeover, so how are they going to fund a takeover, a new stadium, and a squad rebuild?

They are an investment company, so they are going to want a return at some point on their investment, they are not an Abramovich, Abu Dhabi royalty or the Saudi state who are not ruled by returns.

We should in my opinion be ripe for investment. A giant of a club, arguably at its lowest sporting & financial point in its history, yet still a member of one of the richest sports leagues in the world. With a new stadium in line to generate a huge upturn in revenues, on matchdays and non-matchdays.

How we can't find a buyer is madness. I don't mean a buyer that's looking down the back of the couch to find the funds.

Why can't people see our potential?

Am I just biased?

I can't get the information via the link you've provided; however, it does seem strange that Alan Myers would tweet about a deal at around 10:00 am and then later, retract or belittle his own information.

It probably is all a ruse to kick the can down the road by Moshiri as he holds out for a better deal next year, but with Everton anything is possible and most of it's bad.

Chelsea may not be exactly the same but they weren't the Number 1 club in London when Abramovich came in and didn't really have much of a history of success.

Manchester is a larger city and whilst both clubs are fierce rivals, neither club is that bothered about competing with each other and they are completely separate entities.

Our relationship with the other lot is a lot more poisoned and, like jealous siblings, each of them would gladly take the other out, given any opportunity to do so.

Go to his Tweets and replies – it's there.

He thinks it's 'more chance' of being a wind-up. Keith Azul style.

I'm not disputing what you have quoted, unfortunately I'm not on Twitter or X as it's now called.

I just find it strange that he would tweet one thing earlier today and completely about turn a couple of hours later. Not having a pop at you, in any way.

I can't remember who Keith Azul is, although I'm certain I should know.

City were as bad as us when they were bought, in the city of the richest, biggest club in the world (at the time) with no history like ours.

Liverpool may be a globally recognised team and brand but they don't have this city to themselves, far from it.

They are marketing themselves to daytrippers and weekend fly-in fans, while neglecting the young local fans who can't get a ticket.

I know loads of Liverpool fans who've never set foot inside anfield!

Yet if you look around Goodison Park on a match day, it's filled with young lads & girls not over for the weekend. Our fanbase is massive, especially in the city.

Nowadays, its sponsorships and participating in Europe that generates income, success is what makes the money; people on seats in the ground is secondary. We fill our ground every week, sell out every away end even when finishing 4th bottom and battling relegation for years.

The fact the RS are in this city is irrelevant

At least that's good news, as it means the stadium build can continue for a while. I wonder if Mr Bell has been repaid his £40m, or perhaps I missed it?

Sam @9, I agree with your comments. I'm in no way defending Moshiri, but to me, it's Kenwright who has totally mismanaged the funds Moshiri made available to him. More fool Moshiri for giving Kenwright carte blanche to spend his money unchallenged.

I think Moshiri may well have decided to take the hit, and run. Until Kenwright goes nothing will change. If 777 do buy the club (big if IMO), will Kenwright be shown the door, or kept on in an advisory capacity to steer the club through the transition? I sincerely hope not.

It's not all roses at the moment, and I can see more dark clouds ahead. But that's what goes with being an Evertonian.

I think it's a very salient point.

I know people have put up Man City as a counter-argument but they were a clean slate, top-flight existence for more than a few years would have been progress. The same applies at Newcastle and until the debt-ridden latter stages of Ken Bates's reign at Chelsea.

We are not a clean slate.

We are burdened by the demands of history and the complications of being a football institution. Progress is not measured by Premier League survival nor a few trophies but reclamation of the city and domination of Monkey Island.

Most of us would relish the challenge but, beyond this enclave who else would?

There are so many easier options out there – Leeds, Villa, Derby, West Ham, Sunderland, the Sheffield clubs – just off the top of my head.

The Red Shite are a factor.

I can't speak for Abramovich's motives which may be different but I think people need to understand these Gulf States do expect a return on their investment. It is absolutely not all about PR. And they can be pretty vicious if it doesn't happen.

What I think one can say about them is that pockets are deep, so funding is never an issue (provided the return is likely to be there) and they are probably (but not always) a bit more long-term in their outlook. Generally they are not after a quick buck, they are after a slower but bigger buck.

Miami businessmen can be shady as fuck. Trust me, I live in the state, and some of those dudes down south make a living on their 150 foot yachts buying with "capital", asset stripping, and then filing bankruptcy. It's an art of evil. Does 777 fit this stereotype?

Well, a cursory Google says yes.

"Suspicious Airline Investments"

"777 Partners refutes claims of lease overcharging"

"Ex-Finance Co. CEO Ownes $9M in Trade Secrets Fight"

"Accused of Multiple cases of fraud, offering illegal loans and failing to pay bills"

"2003 cocaine trafficking arrest" (described by Wander as a 'stupid college thing')

"Now looking to raise a 'few hundred million' of equity and debt for its football holding company"

"Built 777 from early investment in 'esoteric' financial assets such as lottery winnings and structured settlements, in which defendants in lawsuits agree to pay damages over several years rather than as a lump sum"

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Compare this to the owners of Wrexham. A bit polarized? Sure, that's a fairy tale over there in Wales, but which type of ownership group would you rather have?

This is not good at all. I think that little voice in my head is right - run away! That voice is rarely, rarely wrong.

777 are controversial and the clubs they purchased already are definitely not happy with the investment. Considering Moshiri picked MSP ahead of them only for them to back out of any share, why are they good enough now?

When it looks like it could happen, they're not happy. Couldn't make it up.

The richest men aren't bothered about anything but being successful, and forgetting about money for a minute, these people are amongst the most professional people in the whole sporting world, imo.

MSP sounded good because they seemed to have a plan, and not just on the football side, but also through marketing. Anyone who comes into Everton with a proper thought out professional plan would definitely have a major chance of being successful, again imo.

Why is that? (Despite Everton's issues, it is in the most-watched league in world football.).

The value of the club is a multiple of the projected future earnings less operating costs and debt financing. The stadium is a separate issue. Staying in the Premier League will continue to be the most urgent issue for whoever owns Everton.

Will Goodison Park remain with the club or the stadium company and how much is it worth when it is sold?

And everyone who has criticised Moshiri, after he managed to get our new stadium on the rise, needs to give their heads a shake: we are about to sell our historic club to a venture capitalist group who could well turn out to be our Glazers, making a killing while overseeing the demise of EFC.

Remember, the FA will allow any wealthy owners to do anything with their 'franchise', (as Winkleman and his gang did with Wimbledon). If this guy can live in Israel yet be a mayoral candidate in the US, then moving Everton elsewhere to enable the sale of a prime site on the Liverpool waterfront would be a doddle.

Of course, Kenwright, whose friends and business partners include the despicable Philip Green, wouldn't bat an eyelid at this deal, if it made him money, or kept him in his position as chief architect of Everton's destruction. And so, if this goes ahead, my lifelong love affair with Everton Football Club will be over.

I've been sickened by the dirty money-laundering cesspit that our national game has become, but always hoped that the global greed machine would somehow get fed up and go away once the profits had been made. But no, it's just getting worse, and Kenwright is just a symptom of the big football sell-out.

I just hope Moshiri has the decency to turn these serpents away, and we find enough funding to finish the stadium, or the future looks very bleak.

If the deal comes off - "I told you so".

If it doesn't come off – "it was close but one or other of the parties cocked up".

Nothing wrong with the "journalism", then!

"These people are amongst the most professional people in the whole sporting world"

So if we're not attracting enquiries from them there must be a good reason, surely?

I've put my twopenneth in of possible reasons. I'd be interested to hear of other possibilities. I'm pretty sure Moshiri would sell to such folk in the blink of an eye but it just ain't happening.

Regardless of how we fare on the pitch, I would imagine we will be sold by whoever owns us in 5-10 years for a considerable profit, realistically to Middle East, Indian or Chinese buyers. Unfortunately fans have to suffer more misery and uncertainty in the interim.

But I'm still worried.

"This is a desperate and panic sale by Moshiri".

Christy, the "news" has a hook, line and sinker; best not to swallow all three!

"And everyone who has criticised Moshiri, after he managed to get our new stadium on the rise, needs to give their heads a shake: we are about to sell our historic club to a venture capitalist group who could well turn out to be our Glazers."

And is a contributory factor to why he appears to be selling to anyone who turns up. Head wobbling needs to be partaken by those taken in by a recklessly timed project. The team should have come first.

I would suggest is probably the only one on here who's anywhere near the mark. It would appear that 777, as the only apparently interested party, as unlikely as that would seem, given their apparent lack of substance, legal battles & Premier League UK suitability concerns, are merely being used as a “stalking horse” to try and flush out any other interested parties.

It's a classic ruse and one made the more likely by the way in which this “exclusive” leak has been managed, even suggesting this multi-million pound takeover could happen 'today' – 🤭 Do me a favour!

It's bit like one of those scam "Once only" deals that expire today, so got to buy immediately or you'll miss out!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Take the paranoia out of the equation, even an Arab state would struggle to turn Everton into a winning machine, which would satisfy that type of investor.

I think we are now officially one of those other clubs that used to be great but are hampered by debt, because we make annual losses of vast proportions. This aligned to the restrictions of Profitability and Sustainability Rules and anything else that could get in the way, would put off most if not all investors, regardless of their wealth.

I think Moshiri believed he had bought a fallen giant that could be revived with an injection of cash, only to find he had bought a shell of a club that no amount of cash could revive.

Only at Everton could such a huge cash injection be wasted so woefully, and help to make our situation far worse than before the cash arrived – and Moshiri himself has to take a large portion of blame for that.

We have to hope that things improve, but how far will that improvement take us? Mid-table to the edge of Europe, perhaps, but our ship has well and truly sailed, in relation to joining the top table, unless some momentous stroke of good fortune arrives, which is what we all hope and pray for.

I suppose given the last few years, we should be thankful that we still have an Everton to follow, but that's still a very bitter pill to swallow and a very small consolation for many of us.

Until that leech (not Moshiri but he can go too) leaves for the last time, nothing good is going to become of Everton, so it doesn't really matter who comes in or how much they invest, mark me down as not giving a shit.

Same difference – whoever it is – until he goes.

If I was buying EFC, then I'd wait until next March.

The banners should have all been aimed at the parasite who has taken Everton close to the abyss while making ~£30M+.

777 might not be what we want but it looks to me like it's them or administration.

People are talking about them asset-stripping the club but I can't really see what assets there are.

The playing squad is probably worth much less than £200m with Pickford being the only player currently worth north of £50m. The training ground and new stadium is only worth anything to Everton.

If they're in it to make money, they will complete the stadium (start downgrading the spec where they can?) and try and keep us in the Premier League in the interim before selling at a profit when it's finished.

I'm going to disagree with your assessment. I believe Moshiri and Usmanov bought a good club with problems that needed cash, and I don't think they were fooled for a moment about the club's status.

The two things that went wrong were 1) Moshiri's organizational incompetence and insistence on making major decisions about managers and players that he was in no way qualified to make, and 2) the removal of Usmanov and his money from the equation (a situation that could not possibly have been anticipated).

We were a good investment. But the best of investments can be screwed up by the investors.

Co-founder Josh Wander says 777 has more than doubled squad value at Genoa while reducing squad costs there by 50%.

Vasco da Gama in Brazil also won promotion last year, while Hertha Berlin has been relegated to Germany's second tier.

But you know that it will all end in tears, no matter what the outcome. If it is good for us, then the Premier League will step in and say they aren't fit and proper. You can execute 85 human beings in one day, and kill hundreds of thousands in Yemen and still own Premier League teams, but 777 are too bad a lot to own a team in the UK.

If they are allowed to buy us, then will we be better off than with Moshiri, and will Uncle Bill still hang on by his fingernails?

Remember, this is Everton.

I saw both men laughing when they met, I believe Putin said "We've done most of the leg-work, I'll let you go in and finish things off good and proper."

Don't we lease Finch Farm rather than own it and isn't the new stadium held by a separate company so we will lease that too. The club's real estate is Goodison Park. The value of the club has little to do with sellable assets.

As far as I can tell, the ownership of Goodison Park and the new stadium are both held by Everton, via wholly-owned subsidiaries.

I can't see the club leasing the new stadium unless it is first sold off to a third party outside of the Everton group of companies. (Now there's a thought for getting us out of this mess!)

I agree that the interference of Moshiri has unquestionably led to where we are today, I would also argue that the club was a shell when he arrived due to its reliance on the manager to keep things on an even keel, which is what Moyes did for so many years.

Martinez benefited from Moyes's legacy and alas when good structures and executive power was needed, it wasn't found and when that void was filled by various appointments, ultimately it wasn't allowed to flourish, due to both William Kenwright's and Farhad Moshiri's impatience and or lack of faith in those that they had appointed.

The club + stadium is a lot more to finance than just the club. Also stadium loans and club loans are from separate lenders. I expect that they will be sold separately at different times.

I can't see him selling cheap unless he is in serious financial difficulty. The MSP loan has gone through for the Stadium so that makes the club solvent in the interim and the next stage of funding for the stadium sorted.

Realistically 777 Partners are going to have to come up with serious funds to satisfy Premier League Ownership fit and proper test and for Moshiri to walk away with some of the £700M he is has invested.

On the other hand, and wishful thinking, maybe they have some backers we don't know of from the Middle East as whoever takes over is going to have to have serious money behind them to fund the club on a day-to-day basis and complete the stadium.

Which is most likely under our club leadership?

Haha

I'm saying if there are no assets of note how can they be buying us to asset strip?

The idea of us losing ownership of the stadium (or training ground) and leasing it back/paying rent would be a nightmare scenario as the rent on a £700m stadium would be astronomical and never ending.

Good question. I wonder if it is possible to assess the wisdom or cost of the decision way back when to sell off Finch Farm and then lease it back?

I looked for something specific on this in the last set of accounts but they don't provide any detail or breakdown of the lease commitments.

There was talk of a Commonwealth Games at Everton back when we snubbed a similar sweetheart deal from LCC. But the Commonwealth Games like Everton now faces extinction so any lease deal would be more like the Coventry model.

And maybe the owners would lease to an NFL team or turn it into a mixed use stadium with athletics etc. There is no business reason for any prospective owner to cut us a deal

In West Ham's case, their lease payments were only about £2.5m per annum because they weren't obliged to pay back the original construction costs. For that they got goalposts, corner flags and even stewarding thrown in, I think. Which is a travesty of financial fair play principles, if you think about it – but that's a different topic of conversation.

Isn't this the worst-case scenario? All the hope of the new ground lost!!

It's strange to think Moshiri would sell with the ground half done. When once finished it will be worth more than the build cost.

With 777 reportedly struggling to find £500M to buy the club how can a stadium half complete at around £250- 300M be included?

A more expensive Coventry/RICOH it is then. We have to benefit from non-matchday income, which with events and conferences will be worth huge sums.

I don't think the other clubs' Chairmen will be contacting Bill tonight!

For a crumb of good news, does that mean the greatest Evertonian to walk the earth will be gone?

Now he just wants to get out as quick as possible and doesn't care who buys the club. His interest is not Everton Football Club but himself.

Effect - distances himself from the ineptitude of the Moshiri reign and his best interest (as always) is his lifelong passion for Everton.

The Council paid £14.7M for it in 2013 and we signed up to rent it for 40 years. The initial rent was £850k PA. increasing at 3% PA. The Council expected to be in profit after 25 years. Everton has a right to buy out the lease every fifth year of the contract. The council also stumped up a further £4M for a new players block, it's this work that presumably adds a further £320k to the yearly rent.

Anyone questioning 777's ethics, I urge you to look no further than our dodgy chairman and our idiotic owner.

His association with certain agents and of course, Usmanov, is totally sketchy and on more than one occasion has brought us under the microscope for our business dealings. This is unwelcome.

Moshiri is not a hapless innocent, he has made many unpleasant associations during his tenure. I wouldn't mind as much 'but he is even bad at being a bit dodgy! I can't wait for him and Bill to be gone, we will have no choice (especially if they are buying outright) other than to take them at face value.

Aside from the inevitable exodus of our foolish owner and 'the teary one', once 777 have taken over, another positive I am choosing to take from this is the possibility that we might then have a foothold in Brazil, Italy and Germany for young, talented players. They could be used as feeder clubs.

This new lot will I fear be financially efficient (sell all assets, sort out balance sheet) and, ultimately due to this, completely malicious.

The blunderers are gone, the professionals are in town. This is not good news.

Until recently, 777 were supposedly competing with MSP to invest in the equivalent of a 25% stake. Reportedly a major factor in the latter pulling out was the stumbling block of the Rights and Media Funding £200M loan.

It's difficult to believe that 777 have suddenly found the resources not only to buy out Moshiri but also to satisfy the requirements of the loan, never mind satisfy the Premier League that they would be right and proper owners.

There must be other far more wealthier buyers out there somewhere.

I hope to goodness Mark Taylor's (34) stalking horse theory has some credibility in it, or The Esk saying this is all cobblers is true.

“The parties are in the late stages of talks, and the deal could still fall apart.”

We've been around this block before. Nothing to see here yet.

I have always believed Billy the Liar never wanted MSP to become fully involved as they were too smart to leave him in his post. Billy the Liar found someone foolish enough to suit his needs the first time round, I bet that's exactly what is happening again.

The City of Manchester Stadium following the Commonwealth Games was converted from a 38,000-seat athletics stadium to a 48,000-seat football stadium. The cost of conversion (£46M) was borne pretty much equally between the club and Manchester City Council with Sport England allowing the small surplus from the Commonwealth Games to be utilised. City moved in to their new home in August 2003.

The initial rental agreement was on a full repairing lease with City paying one half of their gate receipts over an attendance of 36,000 (this being the number of season tickets). The City Council also retained the right to hold non-football events at the ground and to retain the income there from.

In 2012, Manchester City renegotiated the terms of their lease with the City Council. It was agreed that they would pay a fixed £3M annual rent (inflation adjusted) and would retain the income from all events held at the stadium and would be able to sell naming rights to the then City of Manchester Stadium, which of course led to it being renamed the Etihad.

They also received planning permission to increase the capacity at the stadium to its current 55,000.

The term of the lease was extended to give the club a virtual freehold and it remained a full repairing lease. In exchange, the Abu Dhabi consortium agreed to invest £1bn over 10 years in the redevelopment of East Manchester and to invest £600M in Manchester Airport developing it into the European hub for Etihad Airlines.

I am convinced that it was Kenwright who persuaded Moshiri to pull out of the
deal to sell out to the Kaminski consortium because it was widely reported at the time that Kenwright would have been fired and replaced by Peter Kenyon had the deal been completed.

Would it not be beyond the realms of fantasy, where he could still finance Everton through the back door? After all, does he want to sell his asset cheaply?

If I have a house worth £500,000, doesn't mean I can go and buy my favourite Ferrari without incurring debt.

This will be a leveraged acquisition and we will be a poor man's Glazers.

If 777 bought us, then we would be their biggest club and their biggest investment. Benefitting from their ties in South America and Europe, getting some of the best young talents out from Vasco de Gama, could be useful. Certainly there are opportunites to grow our brand and develop partnerships that we have not taken but that 777 could facilitate.

I'm not saying that i'm suddenly all supportive on this move (there are definite red flags!) but having looked a bit closer it would seem that could be some positives.

To use the words on their website ‘Unlocking value where others can't' we can expect they will use their ‘savvy management and intense focus' to raise prices and cut costs. I would suggest the ‘Sack the Board' banners should be kept handy.

It's entirely possible that even Moshiri and Kenwright don't know anything 100%.

For what it's worth, I don't give a flying fuck if Everton are sold or not, I just want the lying, duplicitous con artist gone.
Then, maybe we can start to build in a positive way.

But I don't want him to go yet.

I am fairly sure his knowledge and presence will be needed over the next few months as we try to defend ourselves against a possible points deduction. He is better placed than anyone else to do so. After all, he was there.

I would even settle for a Juventus style relegation and points deduction if it meant getting rid of the pair of clowns.

For over 25 years, we are suffering from a death by a thousand cuts from the very 'custodian' of our club. I wouldn't be surprised if on his deathbed he admitted to being a red.

We need a reset, I don't want relegation but, if that's what it takes to get rid of this bunch of charlatans, so be it.

Worth a read about our new overlords

I think the first three were exclusives, in the Sunday Sport, along with a B52 bomber being found on the moon, and a stadium ring-fenced.

Not sensing a good feeling about the 777 deal, could be a bluff, to try and get MSP Capital back onside, or a canny plan for us to be so worried about 777, that we rest on our laurels and think the current owner and Chairman would be a better option.

At this moment in time, I cannot see anyone buying into Everton, until after the October hearing.

It would have to be a case of the other lenders foregoing their clauses, which I can't see happening.

I can't go and look at the new stadium as it gets ever more impressive and feel any ill will to Farhad. He has ploughed loads of money in and, apart from the stadium, has just had stress and cross-examination.

He's made mistakes and has paid for them. Over £100M on manager and entourages alone! Bill should have packed in ages ago and a new young dynamic board come in who can take us all forward. Dyche is doing well slowly but surely let's build upwards not become a self-fulfilling prophecy!!!

Those who want him out and to sack Dyche are way off the mark.

Newcastle co-owners in talks with 777 Partners over new investment"

Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners considers providing capital to US firm.

How about if we go into admin and Bill Kenwright buys us back for a quid?

[I am tongue-in-cheek on the latter one, at least I hope I am.]

He came up here, bought us, Bramley-Moore Dock, and the Royal Liver Building — all before the Ukraine war.

Usmanov has disappeared and so has good old Farhad's spending.

We are heading towards an iceberg and need someone to steady the ship. Bill and Farhad are on the deck playing the violins.

I have heard of jumping from the frying pan and into the fire but in our case we are already in the fire with nowhere to jump to.

Better the devil you know, grass isn't always greener etc. My arse!

We are being run by a pair of clowns and need them gone, whatever it takes.

Moshiri, although he's also made some poor decisions himself, has been let down by the so-called experts he's employed.

The fans who were protesting prematurely whenever we weren't performing too great also need to have a good look at themselves, but maybe that's asking too much.

Who's going to buy a club with a potential points deduction looming? That is unless the price is a cut price or the club has been tipped the wink that we won't have points deducted.

I would much prefer for Moshiri with his faults to continue than 777 to take charge. I think we are safe though… I don't see any sale to them happening.

I respect your opinion but the stadium is on track and if we move up the table then we will be a cracking investment.

I don't want to be bought out by asset strippers and meat eaters. I'll stick with Moshiri but Bill needs to go, like yesterday.

Who said this, “People wouldn't invest in Everton, because they share a city with Liverpool”? Only Kenwright would trot out this complete bullshit or one of his halfwit minions.

And like I said, having a big club in the same city didn't stop Sheikh Mansour, did it!

Despite poor decision-making, the losses weren't an issue to Usmanov (apart from the P&S Rules) until Usmanov suddenly and unexpectedly was unable to continue funding.
At that point, project EFC stagnated. Funds became unbearably tight and Moshiri has been unable to fund it in his own right.

As Usmanov is worth ~£18B, the loss on his investment is immaterial. However, it's reasonable to assume that he would like at least some of it back.

Going into Administration would give him nothing — creditors are paid out first (players contract, outstanding player purchase costs, loans etc) leaving nothing for the equity holders. Therefore he needs to sell his shares before the cash lines in the club run dry.

Selling a string of players and not really investing (or structuring purchases over the long term) has augmented cash flow. But it now looks like there's little headroom left.

I suspect this is why Moshiri can appear to accept losing £500M – because it's not his to lose and it's a mere drop in the ocean to Usmanov.

Attitudes and opinions differ but, if Mr Kenwright did this, it would prove that his actions speak a lot louder than his silence! Wow.

The murderers got us banned from Europe when we were flying.
Peter Johnson.
Bill Kenwright.
Then, when money was flowing from our Iranian/Russian benefactors, Putin started a war.
The skies are grey again.

Are you sure that's what you want? The only way that Mr Kenwright will interfere or try and dissuade Moshiri from selling to 777, is if it benefits him and him alone. I would want both men gone, because they have proven bad for the club's health, stadium notwithstanding.

I don't feel that 777 is the right group to invest in Everton, but we don't know if they will, as it's only one report and one well-placed individual that's leaked the information.

I still think this whole episode might be a ploy on behalf of Moshiri and Kenwright, to buy some more time and attract other suitors; only time will tell.

If 777 have assets of $12B then they don't have to leverage the club to borrow the purchase cash. The banks will lend against the $12B at a better rate than borrowing against Everton FC.

It's been a fantastic long-term deal for Manchester City and the city of Manchester.

Okay, he'd probably rename us X-rton, but apart from that?

Staveley confirmed the club were examining the prospect of a multi-club network, voicing her desire to expand Newcastle's brand globally, while also allowing for easier player movement without any intervention from their rivals in the transfer market.

I can accept most things with Everton but the prospect of us becoming a feeder club for the Barcodes would go beyond the pale.

I've been hearing that Moshiri has been speaking to another American investment company for quite a while, so this news today has come as a complete surprise. To say I want Moshiri and Kenwright out of “our club” is a massive understatement (I've wanted Kenwright out forever) but with quite a few red flags showing up with regards to 777, then if it is to be them, then I'm obviously hoping that they bring a little bit of what Sam H alludes to @126.

Stephen@153, that's very interesting, what Steavey says, and must definitely be a new way of getting around the Profitability and Sustainability Rules?

777 will be the kiss of death.

Not a good fit!

I was not aware of that FOI request and response from Liverpool City Council, so much appreciated.

I estimate from that the club are currently paying £1½M pa for Finch Farm, set to rise to £3½M by the end of the 40-year term.

Last year's operating lease rentals for land and properties were listed at £2.115M, so it's the right ballpark and doesn't seem that unreasonable.

I'm with those who think Moshiri would be crazy to sell now rather than hang on until the stadium is finished. But it seems he just cannot get the finance in place to do that and presumably he cannot (or won't) cashout his other considerable investments to fund the stadium.

The only thing that makes sense therefore is that he has to sell something (players… the club… or perhaps just the stadium?) in order to get the cash to get it finished.

Would a lease payment on the stadium be that onerous? Or does it make more financial sense than trying to fund the whole thing considering the annual income sources the club has?

777 are not going to pass the ownership audit. So it is just a scare tactic

Bill Kenwright, all is forgiven. "The Man Who Saved the Blues"
It is written, or will be. Our grandchildren will see the musical.

We need outstanding leadership off the pitch to turn this ship around. But 777 don't seem to be those people reading the press coverage.

It's hard to think you couldn't get any worse. Well Everton seem to find a way.

In unguarded moments over the past few weeks Josh Wander has been heard bragging about how he is about a write a cheque for several hundred million pounds to take control of Everton, a boast that must have come as music to the ears of the club's current owner, Farhad Moshiri.

777 have been working with Tifosy Capital & Advisory to raise the required funding since June, but Mail Sport has been told that they have yet to do so.

Prospective partners 777

The more you read about 777 the more unlikely it feels, that they can raise the funds to purchase Everton and even if they did, I can't see the Premier League allowing them in. Chelsea's new owners due diligence was apparently rushed, whilst the Mail claims Everton's prospective buyers, would take several months to be assessed.

"to say that people wouldn't invest in Everton because they share a city with Liverpool is surely idiocy bordering on incredible paranoia?"

But that's NOT what's being said is it?

I know you get a bit excitable but you should take a breath and comprehend the entire piece rather than concocting a fantasy.

The project was / is only recklessly timed due to completely unforeseeable changes to the club's income caused by a pandemic and then Putin's invasion of Ukraine leading to the sanctioning of Usmanov.

Whatever way it goes this 777 crowd are no better than the 2 clowns running the club.

You know 100000 Evertonian could generate 500m if they could get their hands on 5000 each and take majority ownership of the club and vote our own executives in. On the other hand even if that fantasy was viable can you imagine the infighting. Its bad enough the different opinions on TW let alone a democratically run club. Ah well.

When 777 bought Vasco de Gama 19 months ago, they were in Serie B in Brazil, and they subsequently won promotion, so being third from bottom now in Serie A is actually a hell of an improvement.

777 bought Standard Liege 18 months ago, and yeah they had a crap season, but the Standard fans don't want them out. They're pissed at 777 for trying to buy Everton, which would dilute the funds and attention from Standard.

And Genoa have done pretty well in less than two years of 777's ownership.

Yeah, we're all concerned about 777, but let's try to keep a little perspective, okay? Whatever the reasons to be concerned about this group, on-pitch performance doesn't seem to be one of them.

Mike G seems to know a bit about these Americans which is more reassuring imo.

Not that we'll have a say on who it will be.

Money will talk and the Bullshitter will walk (or probably run) Kenwright will hopefully be out the door soon after.

And we'll have to wait and see if The Who's song comes true: We won't get fooled again (meet the new boss, same as the old boss).

Whilst accepting the current plight, financial irregularities (although it's stated that the last couple of years have been under strict supervision by the Premier League or FA minions), the current dire league position, total dysfunctional and irrational owners, to name a few, let's look at the positives.

A huge club steeped in history, a fanbase second to none, a great city recognised throughout the world, and a magnificent new stadium to be completed in one of the most iconic and recognised settings in the world.

I find it ironic and strange that the best we can currently do is go cap-in-hand to inadequate suiters who appear to want our club, not for true long-term investment and football opportunities but the potential to asset-strip for their own financial gain, putting our club into further turmoil and debt... think Man Utd as an example (yes, they have a much bigger turnover etc but the similarities are the same).

Man City were in a very similar predicament to us when bought out by the Qataris (albeit, they had been gifted a £500M stadium by the taxpayers) and more recently Newcastle Utd, a club that had been in the football doldrums for many years and a financial mess under Ashley.

I believe, hope and pray that there must be suitable Evertonians with the knowledge, connections and persuasive talents to entice much bigger investors to the table. Sir Terry Leahy springs to mind…he built Tesco into one of, if not the biggest supermarket brands in the world. The chap who owns AJ Bell being another.

Maybe with a gentle push, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, other oil rich states, or canny billionaires may decide that our club, currently at the lowest point in our history (the initial investment may be high, the completion of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and outstanding debt being the main expenditure).

The potential to take on a stagnating but proud club and fanbase in a world-renowned iconic city must be a challenge to a savvy investor to turn the fortunes of our club round; invest in the new ground and the future will awaken a sleeping giant and in turn bring financial stability – and hopefully trophies.

Let's be practical, Moshiri (Usmanov) recognised the full potential in Everton, not for football glory but to use the Everton brand to build an iconic stadium on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, thereby opening up the vast potential and redevelopment of the northern docks, which I have no doubt would have generated billions of profit for them.

Unfortunately, Covid and dear old Vlad put paid to that.

If Moshiri and Usmanov could see the potential, then surely Everton fans with clout and financial influence can persuade meaningful investors to see the full potential of taking over and running our club back to the top of football where it should be. Mansour at City took a chance and boy hasn't he enjoyed the rewards.

Could it be that, whereas everyone was mostly quite positive about Moshiri taking over and that proved to be a disaster, something approaching the opposite may be true of 777? Certainly there are valid concerns but also some chinks of light.

I can see Kenwright putting these stories about as one last desperate attempt to stay on.

Sorry, but the amount spent on players is irrelevant, the question is – did it result in a better team? Clearly not, we needed more money spent till we hit pay dirt but couldn't because those involved wouldn't or couldn't afford it.

Plus I can't see how Covid played any part it was the same for all and more importantly the decision to build should have been ratified only if the club could survive the impact of some unforeseen financial disaster.

It's pure supposition about Usmanov even if I tend to agree with you on that particular point.

Yes, they can talk away right now, but surely nothing will be signed off before then and, as I said, I do not believe this 777 will get past the Premier League, so let's hops there are more interested parties out there.

If anyone does bite the bullet and agrees a deal with Moshiri, it will take until at least Christmas before the Premier League ratify it. Therefore, if the hearing finds Everton guilty and the club is detrimentally affected by the punishment, surely the new buyers would have a clause in the agreement to withdraw from the deal if they so wished?

What I do know is that all this talk of takeovers and finance has to take a back seat because putting points on the board is, at this point in time, of far more importance.

Yes, they won't be putting much money in, but the Yanks over the park haven't put much into Liverpool. At this point, I prize competence way ahead of finance. I've seen what it looks like when you spend like a drunken sailor. I've had enough of that.

However, after reading a few things, I'm more positive.

Mike 174 & Sam 126 I'm leaning to your perspective.

Does anyone believe this is their ultimate goal to have a Premier League club? Have their previous investments been leading to this ? With all the other arms ( clubs ) supporting the main asset ? It's definitely beneficial to us. How would the other clubs would feel ?

Are we going to have their full focus?

It's a lot of money to invest and not try to be successful.

They are definitely not a splash the cash kind of operator, but look where that's got us to now.

On the pitch they seem to make steady progress.

It's off the pitch, which Sam points to that could be the huge impact. Professional people being appointed, people who know how to grow a business, established ties with sponsors and partners. Growing the commercial side of the club going forward with the new stadium.

Not all Evertoians will ever agree when new owners come in.

I'm more positive after looking more into them.

My view has always been it's the real estate only that Moshiri wants, he needed to own the club to structure the stadium company and I think the club side of things has always been secondary until the Ukraine War, sanctions, and the management spent without a plan.

Now it's a matter of safeguarding his investment in the stadium, with or without the team being involved...

Dan has a lot of reputation surrounding the stadium. Just looking to different aspects of the thought process over this supposed takeover.

Something doesn't smell right (in the words of Jack Nicholson – "I smell a rat") about the whole saga.

Of course, words are easy and it will be difficult to judge their impact until they are in control, if the takeover comes to pass.

My instinct is that they may not pump in loads of money to the player side but that they may support a smarter regime and growth plan.

If given the choice, I'd rather an owner who spent a small amount of money very well (like Brentford… and maybe 777?) than an owner who spent a large amount of money very poorly (like Moshiri!).

My fear is they see a stadium which they will separate from the football side and milk it for all it's worth, while investing zilch into the club. Then sell off Goodison Park for profit and leave us with nothing but the name above the door and what's written in history books... Pray this does not happen.

Why do you think Moshiri and Co will be worried about your feelings after the way you've carried on?

It really is beyond belief and my fellow Evertonians never cease to amaze me.

Any new owner would be a risk. Sometimes it's better the devil you know, sometimes it isn't, but if you want change you have to accept you might get a human rights abusing state, you might get a Glazers, or you might get a Venkys…

The red shite are definitely a factor, and that isn't me getting excitable, Barry, but reading stuff like this does tend to make me feel a little bit exasperated though, mate.

I digested your post where you talked about other clubs being easier options than Everton, and although I can see your point, I tend to think that Everton, even with all our problems, are a much bigger and better choice, because of the burden or demands that you mentioned.

Such a contradiction really though, Barry, because, if Evertonians were a really demanding set of football supporters, then Bill Kenwright would have surely been ran out of our club years before he allowed Moshiri to buy with at least one condition.

He his just putting it out there that the club is definitely 100% for sale. I've heard he's been cursing Kenwright for not telling him how hard it is trying to sell a club that shares a city with Liverpool, and Bill told him to stop being so excitable, Barry!

Just because you may want to get rid of a present poorly perceived owner doesn't mean you should just readily accept "anyone" that comes along.

People want a "better" owner and, if 777 aren't better, then people have a right to voice that – no matter what you think about how we've "carried on".

If I had to describe our fans I would say "bi-polar".

Warm and welcoming before the dial gets turned a notch, then the raging hordes of Ghengis Khan appear.

Kenwright knew exactly how to control the dial, Moshiri didn't.

It doesn't look like anyone of note wants to even try…

I was just pointing out that one negative factor cited about 777 -- the on-pitch performance of their current clubs -- was actually a positive. But I can offer no other insight.

I agree that from the start Moshiri was more interested in being on the front seat of a docklands development, than Everton Football Club. Unfortunately, those that he left to run were left exposed once getting money as the numpties they were.

On the plus side, Bill is well equipped for working with no money waiting on a greater fool to turn up, and may be helpful as an advisor. Takeover? I doubt it… only if an undertaker is about. Bill still owns shares.

The report did say that Earlier this year, the Financial Times reported that MSP boss Jahm Najafi was prepared to make a £3 billion bid for Spurs as part of a consortium with Middle East investors.

Chairman Levy's valuation of Tottenham is reportedly around £3.5 billion, with another American businessman rumoured to have had an offer of £2.9 billion rejected last year.

However, the capital club's top man has not ruled out the possibility of an eventual sale coming to pass.

Could MSP go the whole hog and buy 100% of Everton? Or do they just not see any value in buying our beleaguered club?

I wish Kenwright had never ruined Everton and fooled so many people for years and I'm making no apologies for wishing that and it needs no explanations or foney psychobabble from people who have watched it unfold and failed to even complain.

Tell lies, let them argue amongst themselves and then divide and conquer. "I'm that good at it that a lot of people will even blame Moshiri because, at the end of the day it's his club, and he should have definitely listened to me before appointing Benitez, especially because I was the last one to give those incredibly demanding Evertonians some good times."

We've seen how you can have £500m to spend, but if you don't know how to spend it, you might as well have 5p.

Apart from Chelsea, these Americans investing in football are long term, with longer term strategies, avoiding the massive outlays Moshiri style, in favour of developing talent, and the commercial side of the club, which brings stability and sustainability.

They are a bit shocked at the transfer system when you can develop players for fractions of the cost of purchasing them.

A 5- to 10-year plan is more cohesive in football. A DoF can't implement a strategy in 2, 3, or 4 years. A manager barely gets 12 months to prove himself.

FSG had a long-term plan, they didn't splash the cash on arrival. They identified the areas where they could improve revenues to support the team. They barely invested their own money; as the squad got better, they reinvest the transfer funds received, overhauling the youth set up, to where now they are producing top talent again after falling well behind even Everton.

They may well be looking to exit Liverpool, but they will have left them a healthier business even if they make millions of pounds in the process.

It's about appointments at the end of the day. Moshiri's reign could have been so different if he'd made the right appointments at the right times, yet hindsight is a great thing.

Let's hope any future owners learn the lessons of Moshiri's reign. Other clubs like Newcastle have. We have shown everyone how not to run a club!

I say it is some sort of institutional disease which could turn some, I say 'some', initially decent people into total irredeemable shit.

Was Bill Kenwright an initially decent man, I wonder? He was decent with the way he treated young Bradley Lowery, and his family, and he has been decent to a lot of the people, who back him up or try to shield him from the mob, but I don't believe he was ever decent for Everton Football Club, even before he became addicted to the power.

We need a new beginning, must surely be the only thing that 99.9% of Evertonians would agree on. Maybe Moshiri is getting desperate because nobody will bow to his demands? But, as always with Everton, speculate is the only thing we can do.

Could you tell us why the government are telling the Premier League to look into 777?

You lot with season tickets had better start putting blocks on your phone if 777 do take over Moshiri's seat, there will be waterfalls of ads.

I seen an interview with a "football finance expert" on TV.. (could have been a TW'er) on how blues should be prepared to be monetised by 777 if they take over… Well, isn't that what is needed? Isn't that how you grow a business?

He spoke of buying cars, insurance and other products through club channels and through partners to help fund investments in the club.

Well, who's against that???

He tapped into the massive sentimentality of Liverpool people.

Every public utterance was of the "we're great" theme with references to the Boys Pen and the massively persuasive argument he rescued us when no one else would.

Folk on here wanted to rip his liver out yet the vast majority at Goodison rose to applaud his kipper on the Jumbotron. The mistake is thinking forensic mulling over issues on the internet reflects the thoughts of the many. In my experience, most want a pint, pie and chips and to support unconditionally.

Love him or loathe him, Bill Kenwright knew how to manipulate the combination of unquestioning support and sentimentality – and before people go apeshit leaping on the nearest high horse, I am NOT endorsing his method, just saying how it is/was.

What's incredible is the number of people he's been able to fool.

Tony Bellew is on that list now after reading something he said very recently.

How do they all fall for it and not be able to see past the bullshit?

Because certain individuals have that uncanny knack of avoiding any scrutiny, never mind forensic scrutiny.

They create a narrative, surround themselves with people who believe that narrative, without question. Then those people repeat and amplify that narrative.

Those who may question the narrative are unceremoniously booted out of the inner sanctum and usually have their names blackened and are described as mavericks or trouble makers.

It's an old but really effective trick that seems to work time and time again in so many areas of life.

I don't think that massive sentimentality stretches across the park Barry. It probably started after Bill Shankly was told to stay away from Melwood because he was getting in the way, with regards to there aims which was total professionalism, so I'm at a loss to “genuinely understand” how he got away with it for so long at Everton, and I've felt this way since well before Wayne Rooney was sold on the cheap, surrounded by crocodile tears, all those years ago.

This obviously means I disagree with Barry R, once again Brian, although I agree with Barry H, who is simply describing how nepotism really works, imo.

Free seats in the “box”
Introduction to Rocky himself
Later starring in the Rocky franchise, with Goodison as the backdrop! (Plus you and me as unpaid extras)

It was all down to Uncle Bill, I won't have a word said against him.

The Daily Telegraph quote "Whitehall sources", as expressing doubt about "their suitability" for ownership. The main most recent concerns about 777 Partners are based on an article in the Norwegian magazine Josimar. This magazine has a decent reputation and as far as I can see the journalists involved, Brown and Auclair, have no particular axe to grind.

However, there is no firm evidence of wrongdoing by 777 Partners, though quite a bit of innuendo and conjecture, as there often is on investors who progress rapidly. What seems clear is that their football investments, from Sevilla to the present, are an attempt to create American rivals to the huge Middle East investment.

Whether they are good for our club is more or less a matter of chance. Our best interests will be theirs until they aren't. It is, like all football investment today, entirely commercial.

My own view is that they haven't nearly enough money for a long-term investment. If they are expert, diligent and remarkably lucky, we will be fine. If not, well we really won't. As supporters, emotional investment is all we have, and it's not for sale.

I think you're confusing the board and the fans at Anfield. Their fans are the epitome of sentimentality – just listen to their dreadful dirges.

On the other hand, their board has never lost sight of the Shankly doctrine of win, win and win again no matter the cost and without a care of what others might think. This has delivered almost uninterrupted success since their second division days so I agree sentimentality isn't an issue at that level.

However, Moyes's success in building a team, a team on a shoestring, while selling all the biggest assets, yet still buying cheap, and selling high, masked all the deficiencies at the boardroom level.

This is when we were truly denied our chance to compete at the top of the Premier League. Before all the state-funded investments, Russian oligarchs and American investors.

Other clubs built stadiums, developed their grounds, built state-of-the-art facilities to progress their clubs.

We dithered, built nothing, and leased a training ground. We failed to capitalise. That's where "Chairman Bill" failed us.
We were left behind, struggling to compete, probably in my opinion, to never reach the top table, without an investment of the level seen at Chelsea, Man City or Newcastle.

With the European Club Association now basically running Uefa, aspirational clubs like us are at a massive disadvantage compared to those who have been in the Champions League and Uefa competitions regularly.

We are chasing a dream that's getting further and further away every second we are treading water.

No billionaire makes it without a history of ruthless exploitation. We'll never get a blemish-free owner unmotivated by returns on investment - there's no such thing.

And I should know. I set up a bot farm to access £5bn of defaulted Covid loans. I'm currently in talks with several prominent Evertonians (including Amanda Holden for PR no less) and would like to extend the invitation to ToffeeWeb to join the board.

To apply, write 200 words explaining why you are the ideal board member. Successful candidates will be notified via a fly-by banner during the Arsenal game.

Good luck!

Apparently some wigs at Whitehall who have nothing better to do other than sanction billions of aid to Ukraine are worried about 777 being right and proper, no quotes.

The Premier League strengthened their owners' and directors' test earlier this year by increasing the list of disqualifying events to include offences such as violence, fraud and corruption, as well as bringing in new powers giving them the right to stop individuals becoming directors if they are under investigation for these offences. 777 owners have some unpaid bills to settle and a drugs charges, so they at Whitehall are getting all holy and don't want some nasty Americans in the Premier League, as opposed to murdering inhumans owning clubs.

Mind you, the Americans are the UAE's biggest arms suppliers, so pot and kettle I think.

That statement simply isn't true.

I scanned around the ground that day and I (along with the real vast majority) was taken aback by the size of the support he still commanded and amount of people applauding. There were indeed thousands clapping and cheering. Perhaps as many as 5-6 thousand. What struck me that day was how surprised Kenwright's critics were down on the concourse. "How could he still command that kind of support? What's it going to take?"

Bill was welcomed in as a saviour when he first got his hands on the keys to the kingdom, but it wasn't long before fans began to realise that the king was in the altogether. His support amongst the fans has been steadily dwindling since virtually day one. Each false promise has left more Blues disillusioned.

It was a while back when Kenwright's face appeared on the screen and events since then have left him almost friendless. The club would not dare do it now. Can you imagine the abuse?

I got to 5 or 6 away games last season and what struck me in the pubs was that, even the legendary unconditional love of the travelling Blue now comes with a few caveats. They are desperate for him to go. The real "vast majority" don't see how the club can ever move forward while he remains. Even his showbiz buddies and mates in the media now recognise that.

I don't hate Kenwright. For me, his greatest crime has been one of self-delusion. In my opinion, he genuinely believes he is the only hope the club has got. He has not just frequently led the fans up the garden path. He's raced down ahead of them.

Fantasist or liar? I'm not sure if matters any more. (Although I would prefer it to be the former.) He has got to let go in order to preserve his own wellbeing. For the life of me, I don't see what good he's doing himself or the club by sticking around.

D:Ream were wrong all those years ago. Things can always get worse. The thought of finally escaping Bill's frying pan only to land in the 777 fire is, in my opinion, cause for deep concern.

Like you, I went to quite a few away matches last season. Before and during the match, there is only one thing we care about. The team, the performance and the result.

I too don't hate Kenwright. I don't even know him.

But he has more than overstayed his welcome, has overseen the stagnation of our club (that's being kind) and is still clinging on to whatever power he has. It seems he still wields influence. Honestly, the likes of you and I and many on this site alone could inform the board better.

You call it self-delusion. I would add self-appreciation inside his own bubble of delusion. He doesn't seem to know what is going on around him. Or he just plays it down and ignores it. Or cynicism and disregard for self-interest?

He can't and shouldn't step foot inside Goodison again. He's made his bed as the saying goes.

If he is the Evertonian he claims to be, he would do the right thing and go.

I would if I was in his privileged position. I never will be, I will just be at Arsenal at home on Sunday wanting the team to win. About a 500 mile round trip, which I will gladly do.

I am fortunate to be assisted by friends and family. There are many who want to be there who can't.

Meanwhile there will be a couple of empty seats in the Director's Box going free?

One minute, I'm confused… then another minute, I am getting a bit excitable, but, if I'm being honest, Barry, I think with living away from the city, then you don't understand the people as much as you will have done when you lived here. I might be wrong.

I also think Dave Cashen's post also blows your theory about what happened the day Kenwright's face was met by cheers inside Goodison, Barry, because that's exactly how I saw it that day as well. Again, I might be wrong.

In Yahoo News we can read: "777 Partners aim to raise €5 million through fan scheme amid Everton takeover bid".

The details of a Genoa version read like a classic Ponzi scheme: "Genoa have set an initial funding target of €5 million and say it is ‘designed to offer an attractive return on investment, whilst supporting the club's vision and long-term strategy'.

The minimum people can invest is €1,000 with 9% interest per annum that is fixed for five years ‘after which the investors will be repaid their initially invested capital and any accrued interest'."

For a start, 9% is well into the junk bond area of the market, junk bond being the industry term for "below investment grade bonds", ie, stuff no-one except experts with a statistically managed portfolio should even consider.

So, well over market rates being offered, medium-term repayment of capital, completely vague investment objectives. The Serious Fraud Office should be all over this.

The horse has bolted if you want to buy stars, you are now restricted on how much you can spend on players which is very convenient for the clubs who usually finish in the top 6 almost every season.

Apart for the fact that Kenwright should have left the dance floor a long time ago, the overiding reason we find ourselves where we are now is a succession of 'experts' screwed up on the purchase of players, the majority proved not good enough.

Okay, you can find fault with the selection of managers too but, in the main, I don't think most had the right tools to do the job.

I don't see how demanding more negates sentimentality – surely it just supports the idea of entitlement.

And as for the numbers applauding Kenwright, that was certainly not the pervading view at the time and, as you admit, you might be wrong.

Colour me puzzled…

Where did you take the “pervading view” from? what part of the ground did you see it from?

I believe it was Aston Villa circa 2011, but can't remember if that is correct or not. If somebody knows, they could post it on here. As there must be footage of it somewhere out there, I'll try and find it.

The pervading view relates to commentary on here and similar boards. I see how you might have been confused though.

No, I wasn't confused – just asking where about in the ground you were when Kenwright's photo was beamed on the large screen.

The performance would have heartened the home crowd with some of their fans having protested at chairman Bill Kenwright and the board before kick-off. There was some warm applause for Kenwright, however, when he was shown on the big screen during the game.

The game was against Villa at Goodison in September 2011, the attendance for an early season game was just shy of 33k. although that was possibly near the average attendance for that season. There is footage of the goals on YouTube but I can't find any footage of the applause.

He's probably asked you where you were to gauge if there was more applause from certain parts of the ground. From the top balcony for instance where us auld feckers sit.

Calm down, Barry, you sound very annoyed there. I couldn't care less if you were in the ground or not. I never consider myself superior to anyone in life – never mind about being a superior football supporter.

Go back to your post @211: you said "the vast majority of fans rose to applaud Kenwright when his kipper appeared on the scree" – so it seemed that you were there to witness the scene.

There are plenty of Evertonians on here from all over the world who obviously can't get to the game but I have no problem debating the game with them on occasions, so no you are not right about me being having a superior attitude. I leave talking cack to others.

Moshiri makes even him seem like Svengali though!

We're in a world of shit and everyone at the so-called top of the world-wide game of club ownership has known it for years, and that's what even M&K are now having to swallow.

I suspect the self-serving shit that is Kenwright will be talking to his best mate Baldrick for "another cunning plan".

But no one really knows, what is going on behind the scenes.

Focus on the football side and beat the Arsenal.

“Plus I can't see how Covid played any part it was the same for all and more importantly the decision to build should have been ratified only if the club could survive the impact of some unforeseen financial disaster.” Sorry, but it's just not correct to say “it was the same for all”. That's going to depend where you are in your investment cycle when things start to go wrong and also depends on whether the investment in players was successful, which it wasn't.
At the moment the club has survived, so the decision to ratify the stadium build has not yet been ‘proven' to be the wrong decision.

We all agree we haven't got value for money from our player investment but that isn't the same as saying that not enough was spent, especially when overspending is prohibited.

There was a March before the game by the Blue Union, sure one of them dressed up as a clown, the protester that is, this was why they put Bills mug on the big screen, then again shortly afterwards, the first was met with boos, then the second time, some fans from all four sections of the ground, stood up and clapped Bill, his fancy piece nudged him on the second one and said something like they are applauding you Bill.

I feel sick with the very thought of it.

Around a thousand Evertonians marched along Goodison Road in protest at the way Everton have failed to progress financially despite David Moyes' best efforts on the pitch.

The march, arranged by The Blue Union, caused controversy among Everton fans, but attracted large numbers and attention from inside Goodison Park as the chants echoed around the streets.

The protest was led, ironically enough, by a clown, who held an Everton cake for some reason and the chants were predominantly of “Let go, if you love the club” followed by “Everton we love you” and “It's a Grand Old Team” and while some sang “Sack the board” the majority of voices drowned them out.

Below is exclusive full length video from the march, which covers the full march from Spellow Lane to The Winslow on Goodison Road.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWYmbQnowCI&w=520]

McGee was nailed for all time in a TV interview when asked, "And what was it that first attracted you, Debbie, to marry the millionaire Paul Daniels?"

I can't imagine what Seagrove would truthfully say if asked the same question about Kenwright.

Born in Garston but lived in Speke. My mother and her sister used to babysit him as a child. Apparently a proper handful and spoilt child (my mother's words).

Amanda Holden soon saw him off and went on to other things, but apparently remains an Evertonian.

Only on ToffeeWeb!

As we only have a temporary CEO in Colin Chong, any chance we could poach him away from Arsenal now, and start getting this new board together?

The Arsenal Co-Chair Josh Kroenke, sounds disappointed that he's leaving, so maybe Moshiri could go behind Kenwright's back and have a quiet word.

Moshiri will maintain majority control, with a threadbare football squad policy helped by Kenwright, maintaining the existing administration. The stadium will be built, funds raised as required.

I doubt that Moshiri is not in contact with former Associates and looking at possible ways of sourcing the enormous funds they have to invest. They probably have an indirect interest in Everton anyway.

Moshiri and Kenwright will be awkward about taking a hit on their shareholdings and, in Moshiri's case, may not be allowed to.

Okay, you guys! You got me.

I can confirm Les Dennis IS on the board - in charge of half time entertainment and formulating our FFP response - currently consisting of a mildly amusing ‘Well, I don't really know' in a Mavis Riley vibe.

We've got this!

Still places left in the new EFC board. Does anyone specialise in corporate mans-laughter - who knew comedy and law were so intertwined?