Standard Liege CEO admits doubts over 777 Partners as Vasco fans sound alarm

2) Why have the Premier League failed to announce a decision within a reasonable time frame? As such, they can be accused of failing to engage the club's interests and, furthermore, seen to be channeling Everton towards further PSR breaches due to lack of due process.

No other club has been treated so discriminately.

"Why have the Premier League failed to announce a decision within a reasonable time frame?"

Precisely. Every proposal has to have an end date by which you pull the plug. If these guys between screwing over Standard, Vasco, Hertha, Melbourne, Bonza Airlines, various other subsidiaries, the British Basketball, and their employees cannot or won't provide financial statements as required, then the Premier League should just say "Okay, not approved, end of."

Even Kenwright realized after checking his mailbox several times that the check in the mail from Fortress Sports Fund was not forthcoming. He didn't just leave it open-ended in perpetuity and wait for it to show up.

When they bought Standard Liege, it was the same tactics: almost force the sale to happen without having to submit audited accounts. I think it would be reckless in the extreme to let them takeover Everton on this basis considering their already dubious financial reputation as is continuously reported.

I remember thinking the fella was an extra from Emerdale, and was absolutely certain nothing was going to materialise from Samuelson.

I don't believe anything is going to materialise from 777 Partners either but it doesn't stop me feeling nervous about the eventual outcome which seems to be really dragging on.

You know me better than that, mate. I didn't believe him but I am saying even Kenwright cottoned on to him soon enough, whereas the FA and Moshiri are still fooling around with these con artists.

Kenwright introduced Samuelson as a life-long Evertonian when the two pitched their preposterous Fortress Sports Fund fiasco to a packed meeting of true fans.

Both their reputational balloons were burst simply by one true fan asking Samuelson to name the scorer of our winning goal in the 1966 FA Cup Final. He couldn't, burbling on instead about having been studying in Berlin at that time.

Our club's been a shambles ever since Kenwright got into the boardroom — albeit the riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, to whom he sold out has only made it worse.

Somebody has to, so if not any of the above, then who will 'administer' us?

And, more to the point: Can we pay our day-to-day outgoings without 777's 'cash injections' or are we in danger of officially 'trading unlawfully'?

Moshiri & Kenwright (deceased) have a lot to answer for.

I assume you mean the FCA?

Apparently, after the perceived regulatory failure of the banks in the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the UK government decided to abolish the FSA in 2013 and replace it with the FCA.

As I posted elsewhere, I'm not convinced about the FCA being happy with 777 Partners, but perhaps you have better information?

Is this a pre 777 past catching up with badly run clubs? Or is this 777? Or both?

I expect it may be the latter to some extent.

I notice no mention of Genoa who currently sit 11th in Serie A after a run of 5 games unbeaten.

I am suspicious of 777 Partners, but we need something to happen.

The Glazers took over Manchester United and transferred debt through loans. They also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Fenway Group, who took the cousins on as they were on the brink of administration, didn't do too badly. They have interests in their Boston Red Sox team, Nascar and Ice Hockey.

I guess my point is that this is not a unique operating model.

Unless Moshiri is going to personally fund Everton, which it is becoming increasingly apparent he can't or won't, then we are up against a brick wall.

I can't see how they won't pursue given the amount of funding they have already provided.

Obviously subject to Premier League approval. Watch that space with their seeming Everton vendetta.

I don't think Moshiri was ever really funding Everton and certainly has no intention whatsoever to pay another penny into the club.

We will go bust or be relegated unless he sells up soon, despite the exceptional job Dyche is doing on the pitch.

They also control whether 777 Partners pass their fit and proper owner test, and if they decide they don't, then it's very possible that we will go into administration which carries a 9-point deduction.

The Premier League have also issued another charge against the club for another breach of P&S rules. Whatever comes of the appeal, we will still have to wait till possibly May before we know the result of the 2nd breach of rules.

I agree, it seems Moshiri was backed by his shadow benefactor that we diligently got rid of.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are permitted to be sponsored by a Russian backed organisation.

Don't start me on the Premier League and Sky. I've been on about them since just after their formation to anyone who would listen.

A self-eating gravy train on a parallel with Brussels.

Meanwhile I'm more concerned about getting home from a Goodison night match against Crystal Palace and the trains being on to get to Old Trafford and Brighton away.

There is always a way.

In the last two sets of accounts, Moshiri has provided our auditors with a letter of continuing support which has enabled Everton Football Club Co Ltd to be considered a going concern. It will be interesting to see if similar support is forthcoming in the next set of accounts.

It seems hard to believe there aren't other interested parties, albeit they may be keeping their powder dry in the hope of buying on the cheap in a desperation sale ….

People like that are called vultures, stay well away. At least 777 Partners have come forward and are actually keeping us afloat.

It's batting towards mid-February, so, considering the offer was "officially" announced on 15 September, that is 5 months. The speculation being that the deal would be done before last Xmas.

As such, Everton would have no chance of finding another buyer before this season finishes, should the Premier League disallow 777 Partners.

You can be sure Shadow and puppet do not have a buyer waiting in the wings. Or even on the planet.

Is it me or is this indirect Premier League interference to ensure Everton continue to breach and or enter administration? They are desperate to flush this blue turd away.

Sadly we have not got (nor ever had) a CEO, Chairman or Owner who has had a set on them.

I go back to 1972 when I got my 1st season ticket at the grand old age of 7.

Look at how many clubs 777 Partners have purchased and I think the common denominator is that all/most of these clubs were going through difficult times, meaning this must have been reflected in the price.

Are the Premier League waiting for the transfer window to shut before making a decision on Everton? Pure speculation I know, but with things taking so long, then is it any wonder that people are deciding to make their own conclusions of what has slowed up the process to a near standstill.

777 Partners are trying to get out of paying over €100 million in back taxes owed by Genoa FC that they say were owed before they took over.

If the Italian government won't waive the taxes, then it is reported that Genoa FC will declare bankruptcy. They also had a whip around among fans to rustle up a measly few million to make necessary ground improvements. Doesn't sound like a great situation regardless of their current vein of form.

I would be genuinely baffled if they were able to pass a fit and proper owner's test, when you read everything about how they seem to be operating below deck on at least a weekly basis.

I didn't know the business at Genoa, but I'm not sure that reflects particularly badly on 777 Partners. It sounds like a legacy tax liability was going to haunt Genoa whether 777 bought or not.

Just like, in our case, 777 wouldn't be responsible for the past 35 years of mismanagement (very acute in recent years).

What 777 definitely will not do is settle all the debts and fund a big spending Chelsea or Man City style spending spree. But then no-one will. Literally no-one. We've missed the boat and financial rules prevent that sort of thing anyway.

I'll caveat the rest of what I say by noting that I have only followed these things loosely – so might be talking bollocks – but here goes.

777 are propping us up with loans pending the takeover. That's because Moshiri (to the extent he was ever paying the bills) is completely finished with us.

We don't have a queue of suitors lined up if 777 back out or get rejected by the authorities. MSP were interested. The Polish / American (Kawski?) was interested but seems to have gone quiet.

If 777 complete the takeover, we will be run on a shoestring because the financials are completely out of control. Not great, but Dyche and Thelwell can cope. Gives us a chance of riding things out and stabilising over the next few years while we bed in at BMD.

If 777 don't complete the takeover, then they will presumably call in the loans. That's us finished then surely? We'll be bust.

Someone will step in to buy us for £1 out of administration after compromising debts with (variously) the taxman and others – but with potential Glasgow Rangers consequences presumably. And quite what happens then with the new stadium I have no idea.

So, whilst I totally get that 777 Partners aren't everyone's cup of tea, I don't think we're in a position to be too choosy. Do I actively want 777? No. Do I think there's much of a better option? Also No. Do I think we might be in deep shit if the 777 takeover falls over? Unfortunately, Yes.

It seems logical there would be, given the value of the club if someone can buy it on the cheap in time to prevent administration and relegation.

And it seems logical that one of them would be MSP, given their known eye for sports bargains and their existing loan commitment to the stadium.

I believe there are other buyers out there who won't wait until the club is smoking wreckage to step in with a bailout offer. My belief is unsupported by any evidence whatsoever -- it just seems obvious that a Premier League team with a gorgeous new stadium and a desperate seller will simply be too tempting in the bargain bin (rather than the trash heap).

What I think we can also assume is that any alternative buyer -- and Paul Brown, like Wyness, says there is at least one -- will step in with a strategy already in place for negotiating with 777. Maybe even with an agreement in progress. I sure as hell would if I were buying the club under these circumstances.

There's a very real chance the PL can see Everton are in trouble financially given we're surviving on loans and that's what's causing the concern and focus on our financials. It's not the right approach as we are currently still viable/going concern. What they should be more concerned with is if or when we go into administration, not penalising us beforehand.