Lyndon Lloyd 11/09/2024 5comments  |  Jump to last

The man who hopes to become Everton's next owner, John Textor, has said that he likes the traditional charm of stadiums like Goodison Park and Fenway Park over the state-of-the-art structures like the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Blues' own at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Speaking with Alan Myers at Sky Sports News, the owner of Lyon, Botafogo and RWD Molenbeek was asked if he thought Everton Stadium, with its increased capacity and enhanced revenue-generating capability, was pivotal to the Club's future.

"Not for me. I don't like Tottenham. I go into that stadium and I think it's too nice. I remember the first couple of games I went there and the people I was with were in this banquet hall, and I thought, 'this isn't football', and I really believe that.

"It's way too nice a stadium for football. I remember as an owner of Crystal Palace watching them have one of the best games they've had in a long time under Patrick Vieira against Everton. We were 2-0 up but then Everton came out and turned it around.

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"People were running all over the stadium and I was sat just above the dugout. I was thinking, 'what a weird stadium, what a weird layout... but what a beautiful stadium'. It's like going to Fenway Park [in Boston] where you have a big pole in front of you. You can't see the field but it's what's beautiful about it.

He admitted that he would still be interested in buying Everton even if they were staying at Goodison Park but he sees the capital benefits of the new ground at the docks.

"[W]hen we talk about the capital that I have to buy the club, the capital that I have shown I have the ability personally to deploy to make the squad better, I do think I can take this squad well beyond it's current level of competitiveness alone," Textor said. "But let's face it, we don't want Everton to be bouncing around eighth place forever.

"We want to win a title, and so to do that you need serious capital. I've always been very good at accessing it in my life, and so the stadium is huge in that respect.

"The fact that somebody else paid for this incredible place, with these luxury suites and glass VIP rooms, that kind of stuff is amazing from a capital perspective. But from the fans' perspective, it's important to them it's important to me."

 

Reader Comments (5)

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Paul Kernot
1 Posted 12/09/2024 at 03:07:25
We've seen and heard it all before, John, so don't be too disappointed if we don't fall at your feet like you're our saviour just yet.

Time will tell. Nothing more, nothing less. We'll judge you on actions not words.

Steve Brown
2 Posted 12/09/2024 at 06:22:04
American bidder number 5 - deeds not words is what we are looking for.
Dave Roberts
3 Posted 12/09/2024 at 14:33:22
Methinks John is talking with forked tongue! If he would be keen on buying Everton even if we were staying at Goodison, begs the question why he didn't then? Why this surge of interest now that the stadium is near completion?

The stadium will be a proverbial money tree, in one of the most propitious locations in the UK for concerts, coonventions, restaurants and bars open 365 days per year. I can't help feeling that's the deal maker!

Michael Kenrick
4 Posted 12/09/2024 at 14:37:27
I think there's a timeline there, Dave.

I want to say planning for the new stadium began in 2017 was it? And construction in 2021.

Moshiri did not put Everton up for sale until later… was it 2022 or 2023?

Dave Roberts
5 Posted 12/09/2024 at 14:54:33
Well yeah. But he could have bought the club in 2016, perhaps even contested with Moshiri for the privilege long before there was any realistic options for a new stadium and if ownership of Everton is comparable, to him, of living in the White House At that time there was over 50% of shares available to buy after Moshiri took his 49.9%. Just saying.

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