Open Letter from Marc Watts, Everton's new Executive Chairman

It may take time but small steps on a journey have to begin somewhere. A day to hope and dream.

“Dear Evertonians,

We are proud to be the new custodians of your club”

It took a few years in Manchester, I liked it when Fergie referred to his "noisy neighbour's" in a derogatory way, he had to eat those words.

I am so looking forward to a blue resurgence in the City and beyond, and with the focus of the new stadium, which looks immense close up, we have an amazing focal point to shine from.

Brilliant Christmas present, everything I wanted :)

Jesus, that was about 5 years' worth of breathing out…
😊

I'm trying to remember the name of that song D:ream did.

Alexa?

The reason their first bid fell apart was because of issues trying to work out how to resolve the £200m leant by 777 Partners, which has since imploded under financial and regulatory pressures. That problem has been resolved with this deal.

The £450m shareholder loans provided by Moshiri were due to come PSR scrutiny from 11 January 2025. They too have been dealt with as part of this takeover.”

Very good news! Debt has been repaid or restructured and loans from Moshiri dealt – I assume largely written off?

I never heard of this dude and I'll wait for their actions not words...

[Sits back to await the arrival of matching deeds...]

Can't be any worse though?

The hard work, we all know, starts now and patience will be necessary. It will be a difficult time for those involved but needs must. There may be tears on the journey but, I suppose, that is going to be inevitable after such a long period of stagnation.

We Evertonians are a hardy (and noisy) bunch but our support for the Club hasn't faltered throughout.

Welcome and good wishes in taking Everton back to where it belongs. It needs to get back to the good days as quickly as possible through good management which we trust you will provide.

“Maximising the remaining time to drive results “ Does this mean Dyche is already on the plank?

Actions speak louder than words – You never said truer words Mr Watts.

Let's give the new owners a Goodison welcome on Sunday and roar the team on to a victory to celebrate the owners' first game in charge.

Just to have time to catch breath and dare to dream again is a huge relief. I have seen too many false dawns to get too carried away but today is a good day. :)

I thought Laurie was praising the new owners for recognising the fact they were saying “It's our club” — us the fans.

I wonder what is going through Mr Dyche's mind at the mo and whether his position will overtly impact his decision-making?

Last Saturday at Arsenal aside and that was a bit of a one-off game), his negativity and utter lack of ambition will seal his fate.

However, if he chooses to be a little more expansive, poor results will have the same effect. Stick or twist? The players may have the final say.

So the progress begins with accountability from square one. It will take time, but at least there is the possibility of heading in the right direction.

“That's why our immediate priority is stabilising the club and improving results on the pitch.”

UTFT

My Dad is now 68 years old and has seen the good times, along with the bad. Nice to see him smile when the news was announced.

Patience and time required for a rebuild

How did you transition from a law firm to Friedkin?

Well, I loved my law career. I was managing partner of the Houston office and vice chairman, and I had a great group of clients. But I was very close to the Friedkin family and especially Dan Friedkin, who's chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group. I had served on the executive committee of the Friedkin Cos., so I was very familiar with the company. I was doing legal and business matters for them. He asked me to come help him run his various companies, and that was just too good of an offer to pass up.

How did your attorney-client relationship with the Friedkin family help prep you for your role as president?

It certainly got me in the door. Like many families, the Friedkin family is very private and discreet in the right way.

The first thing you do is develop a relationship of trust, which is key. Over time, you just work on more projects and develop a closer relationship.

Is the family's private nature the reason The Friedkin Companies don't have a website?

We're working on that, but it's a choice. Historically, we just chose to be private. But we think, given some of our businesses and given the fact that, frankly, it would help us in recruiting, we're developing more of a Web presence. We have so many diverse business operations that you really need to have something online that people can go to and educate themselves about our company.

Trained in law at Harvard, Texan through and through… Should be ultra-professional, so how he gets on with the transition from parochial luvvie amateurism to putting Everton at the top of the global football business tree will be interesting, to say the least!

Total professionalism. Proper business people. Onwards and upwards.

Talk big, build big, spend big, fight hard, focus on winning, love their Moms.

Exactly what we need, welcome, Marc!

Moshiri is the most amazingly ineffectual accountant in the history of finance. Kenwright was an unscrupulous actor who had a fantasy role for himself and he played that part to the end, irrespective of what it cost the club he claimed to love.

One hopes the new owners will start a positive process which will begin the next stage of the future of one of England's historic clubs.

The guy has manned a sinking ship while overseeing the stadium build. And has not let us down.

Maybe not, all the baddies have gone now, haven't they?

With Moshiri, being an accountant overseeing companies worth billions, we thought and hoped that he would use his business acumen to turn us around, and he failed miserably.

I am sure the Friedkins know this will be a long and at times arduous task, I just hope they are up to it.

Marc Watts is President of The Friedkin Group, a privately held and diverse consortium of businesses and investments in the automotive, hospitality, entertainment, golf and adventure industries, including Gulf States Toyota, one of the world's largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts.

Prior to joining The Friedkin Group, Marc was Vice Chairman and Managing Partner-Houston of the 700-attorney law firm of Locke Lord LLP, with over 26 years of experience in corporate and securities law, governance and related matters.

Marc is the Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Houston Branch Board of Directors as well as the 2018 Board Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership. He serves on the Board of Service Corporation International and Highland Resources, Inc.

In addition, Marc is a member of various civic and community boards including The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, United Way of Greater Houston and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation. Marc earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and a law degree from Harvard University.

What a contrast from the coke-sniffing baseball-capped snakes at 777 Partners!

You can't win...

“Dear Evertonians,

We are proud to be the new custodians of your club”

Positive TWers - They've recognised us as the key stakeholders

Negative TWers - Faceless, corporate Yanks have no affinity

_______________________

“Dear Evertonians,

We are proud to be the new custodians of our club”

Positive TWers - They're family already!

Negative TWers - It belongs to the fans, not the money men

We need a song
For Colin Chong
He kept us going
When things went wrong

The road is long.
With many a winding turn.
That leads us to who knows where. Who knows where.
But we're strong.
Strong enough to carry on.

A new era and a city filled with joyous blues.

It's great news for the blues.
And there's no more time to lose.
Cause we're hot on the trail.
And there's no way we're going to fail.

COYB

All well and good that CV but he was never on Corrie, nor was he the fence for an Uzbek oligarch.

Different league.

"Glad it's finally done, but I'm getting Fred Talbot vibes off the new Exec Chairman".

Do you want to explain that, Matt, so I don't misinterpret it?

New chapter and new stadium. Can't be worse than it has been last few years. Onwards and upwards.

Bring on Chelsea! Goodison will be pumping this Sunday – I fancy a result.

Welcome, Mr Watts.

One dim light in a dark tunnel; but never the less.

Now there's sure to be stability, let's hope it's reflected on the pitch against Chelsea and it fires the players up to put in a decent shift like the Arsenal game. UTFT 💙

They will require much more than deep pockets, so hopefully some proper football people will be put in charge of making football decisions.

Other than that, I'm happy to read the statement. Hopefully this next chapter is not another false dawn. UTFT

The press announcement to fans was optimistic, concise and astute (as you would expect it to be). No recriminations towards the awful regime of the past, just an acknowledgement of where they believe the club should be, and a nod towards our great history, a well-thought-out piece.

They will get things wrong along the way, such is the monumental task they face, and the level of competition they are up against, coupled with the disadvantage of PSR, which is skewed in favour of the top four.

I hope our fans are patient, and recognise how close the club was to falling into administration. We now need to focus on Premier League survival, that's all that really matters now.

Whether that is with Dyche at the helm or without, we will soon find out.

Moshiri's Everton years: 'Chaos, crisis, dysfunction, mutiny'

He's absolutely right about the Moshiri nightmare. And no, we don't owe him a thing.

Goodbye and goodnight, Moshiri.

It will take time but, with astute signings and good management, we will get there.

I don't think Sean Dyche will be around when it happens although he may be with us for a little bit longer. Hopefully we will eventually have a team to be proud of.

UTFantasticToffees. NSNO. COYB.

It felt like this day would never come.

It's quite interesting to note what it doesn't say, which means they can take time to take stock and make no promises.

Often you hear "we will work with Kevin to support Sean in the upcoming transfer window but PSR means we can do fuck all really".

Instead, no names other than Chong (definitely deserves some credit) are mentioned and no concrete promises are made.

Nobody has a job, but nobody has lost a job. Big money hasn't been spent on new signings, but then we want to strengthen the first team.

I have a feeling someone like Textor would have over promised.

Welcome aboard, Friedkin. We finally have some hope, think that's all we wanted for now.

It's going to take a big upheaval and a little luck to turn this ship around.

I'm not sure from reading that letter that Colin Chong is staying.

"From the outside it does look like Colin Chong performed well, one dim light in a dark tunnel but never the less."

The Friedkin group seem to view things differently:

"We believe there are exceptional people working in the club. "

Although, as I have said before, Dyche inherited a shit show and we survived almost against the odds, first season. Second Season the PSR and points deductions, he and the players somehow steered the ship clear of the rocks.

However, history is one thing, we live in the present and results on the whole have been poor, as have the performances and team selections. Dyche's stubbornness to change, late substitutions, could now lead to his downfall.

At least they have some time before the Transfer Window to assess, the playing side of things, and although limited there may be some players available. I would also imagine the magnifying glass will be firmly on Dyche from within, now there are new Executives in place.

Starting Sunday, I imagine either Dan Friedkin and or some of his cohorts will be at the game to monitor the start of a very and long-awaited change at Everton Football Club. Christmas has come early!

The takeover was only announced four hours ago, and it's already galling for them. Long may it continue! 😂😂😂

Let's hope we will soon be attracting better quality players to our club having been put on a firm financial footing by the takeover.

This matters because we do need some wiggle room within PSR to re-generate what is now an ageing, fragile squad. Hopefully we now have that, albeit we need to be more judicious in our use of those funds. It would also be a positive sign if our prize asset, Branthwaite, no longer needs to be flogged off.

Personally I don't see Marc Watts having a significant day-to-day input into the club but the man (or woman) he will choose most certainly will, our next CEO. Arguably our first real CEO. That is the first and most important building block so I hope he makes a wise choice.

Keeping Chong on suggests they will not be rushed and I see that as a good thing. Thank god we can now wave goodbye to the bad dream of Kenwright - Moshiri era

Does all this mean Everton FC will own the stadium?

Thank you, Mr Friedkin, onwards and upwards, with success, stability and confidence for the future of the club being your remit. I join other TW posters in welcoming you to our club.

Not an easy road ahead but, with the right leadership we can and should get back to where we belong. Let the good times roll. COYB.

More seriously, welcome to Everton. And good luck – it's a big job you've got ahead!

The stand out for me are the vision and goals set, focused determination backed by expertise and finance. The days of plucky little Everton are gone; the days of hard men are coming.

Whilst the appointment is off-field, it's hard to see Dyche getting more than a cursory nod rather than a new contract; his days are few, his position less secure than he may have thought, and results over the final matches of 2024 will determine his immediate fate.

Likewise, every single player will be touching base with their agent, just in case. But it's also clear that several players will no longer have a future at the club irrespective of their contract expiration date.

Others are playing for their futures... expect to see a few foundation blocks go in to place in January, see Calvert-Lewin agree another contract and a few sold on.

There is a hardness, a steel bar, running through all of this, a polite front with steely eyes. Laughing stock no more.

Scapegoats no more.

I suspect that Dyche's days are numbered unless he enjoys a wholly unexpected Christmas period.

2025 may yet be a year to remember. Let's hope and dream and remember 1995.

Similar to 9 years ago.

This time, I'll take my time before dreaming.

I feel very positive about the club for the first time in an extremely long while.

"We are committed to living by Everton's motto: nil satis nisi optimum"

Even just that solitary sentence alone speaks louder than anything we have heard for 30 years from those running and owning the club.

Welcome home, Everton, now take the city back.

It's 5:30 am here, a new dawn breaking, a smile greets the brand new day. Dreams are allowed this day after so much pain self-inflicted.

Using a comma before “and” is grammatically correct in certain situations and that is many situations.
That is:

Connecting two independent clauses (US English)
As an Oxford comma in a list of three or more items

Avoid using a comma before “and” when:

Connecting an independent clause to a dependent clause
In a list of only two items

I agree with the majority of your comments re the takeover, but I very much doubt Calvert-Lewin will sign a new contract.

I think the player owes it to himself to seek pastures new. Playing centre-forward for Everton under Dyche is a torrid affair – chasing your own headers, with two hairy-arsed centre-backs to deal with, and non-existent teammates – one which for the most part, he has persevered with, without complaint, for the last 2 years or so.

I would imagine the next contract with whoever that maybe will probably be his last 'lucrative' one, as he nears the end of his top class career.

Also, he's in a no-win situation with the fanbase, of which large parts continue to give him dog's abuse.

The first average game he has, or missed opportunity, the same people will be right on his case. For the player and the club, it's probably time to move on.

No more nepotism, no jobs for the boys, no Everton-supporting credentials been prioritised – just get best in class, whether it be chefs or coaches.

No more charity contracts given to over-hyped, past-it players; get a director of football who recognises pace, power and skill…

And please no more cringeworthy Grand Old Team or Forever Everton over the tannoy — those songs belong in the past, aren't inspirational, and haven't exactly helped for the past 30 years or so.

We as supporters are really only interested in the Premier League squad and how they perform, and tend to forget what a huge organization Everton FC is and it has to be run by successful board members responsible for different aspects of the club that finally oversees the playing squad.

The next appointment will be the more interesting one and that is the CEO who is usually the main director who the other directors report to, especially for board meetings reports.

The final line is we are now being run by successful business people, who will be judged by supporters of their final product – the Premier League team, and although that will not happen overnight, it should improve more quickly than under the previous ownership and non-existent board.

I think Marcel Brands scarred me though when he uttered his first stand-out line when he came to Everton, so without getting carried away, actions speaking louder than words has always been the most sensible thing to judge anybody by.

I believe that, if you can make Everton professional, then you will always have a Top 8 club, but if you can make Everton ultra-professional, then I genuinely believe anything is possible because this has been proven in our history many times before.

Good luck and many thank yous to The Friedkins; this sale comes at a time when I believe the fans were slowly losing the will to carry on the fight which has kept the club in the Premier League on a few occasions now – so let this new era commence!

I hope, the regular poster, Paul Birmingham, reads, your post. I read, his excessive use, of commas, in the voice of the wheezy kid from Malcolm in the Middle.

Up The Friedkin Toffees!

The atmosphere should be good on Sunday…

The best part of all for me is mentioning youth and bringing them through, Dyche must be a worried man at the very mention of youth.

Although he had no knowledge of football and was well and truly sucked in by our former chairman, Moshiri delivered the stadium even though he made some horrible choices. He tried to deliver a top-class manager and players, he dipped into his or Usmanov's pocket and tried to build a squad.

He took a big hit and turned most of his shares into equity, walking away with around £50 million, having spent around £450 million; for that, I wish him all the best and thank him for trying to deliver a top side team and new stadium. He failed big time, but was misled by an inept Chairman and board, and agents.

Now for a new era, already we have people in at the top, youth has been mentioned for the long-term plan, only time will tell, but exciting times ahead for us long-suffering Evertonians.

Everton 2 Chelsea 1 on Sunday.

Up the Toffees.

My guess is they will proceed cautiously during what hopefully will be an extended honeymoon period. There will be no purchases of overpriced players with minimal if any sell-on value, certainly no marquee signings, and probably no more than incremental improvements on the pitch over the next couple of years.

Steady, sustainable progress on the playing side matched by efficient, effective operations off the pitch will however provide solid foundations on which to build in the years to come.

There will probably be some decisions over time which will upset many of the fan base. Prime among those will be pricing policies. It has long been understood American owners believe Premier League football is underpriced.

I will be surprised if substantial progress on the pitch is not matched by much higher prices of season tickets. Hopefully the prices will be worth paying.

I agree with Christine @70, a good easy starting measure would be to see Calvert-Lewin signed up for a new contract. This would be both cost-effective and easily achieved and go a little way to help secure our immediate future.

As for Mr Dyche and his staff, results and style of play will be critical. And if he can improve and maintain both, maybe he too will have earned another contract; time will tell.

I'm probably I'm my own but I'd like us to move for a different kind of striker to Calvert-Lewin and let him leave.

We need to unearth someone a bit more clinical.

They will upset some, because these days many people want instant results without knowing the hard work and diligence that creates them. Simple answers to tough questions rarely work, because simple answers often lack substance.

This is the important first step. Serious business people in charge of the club. Let them make mistakes. Let them learn. I'll predict they'll get more right than wrong.

This time I'm quietly excited. A long process awaits us – maybe it's helpful that they're starting from scratch after the last lot's nonsense?

If it takes the takeover to get Dyche to change his tactics and mindset, then he is a fraud thinking primarily about his own future.

I suspect that TFG have effectively decided upon his future. He won't be sacked before Sunday. That would be disruptive and deflect from the great news story that the takeover is.

However, I don't believe he will be leading us very far into 2025 unless there is a Miracle on Gwladys Street and we get positive results in our next 3 games. And why not? (Because you should not start a sentence with "and"!!)

I thought Textor looked like the Talbot – are they one in the same?

How about a striker that... er... strikes?

Bit out there, I know.

He just isn't that good.

Some massive decisions to be made on the playing side, starting now, but hopefully the back office and management will be sorted for the long term. I can't see Dyche getting a new contract.

Feels good right now though.

That's bullshit Steve. Don't confuse some knobs on the live forum with 'fans'. That's right Steve, the anti-DCL ranting and raving and singing is absolutely deafening on match-days.

Someone needs to have a word with the 3,000.

I always put my hands over my ears.

Bang average – get shut!!!

'And' at the start of a sentence is fine.

The immediate benefit will be the restructuring of debt which will have a significant benefit to the profit and loss account.

Next season, assuming we remain in the Premier League, matchday and sponsorship income streams should also improve significantly.

It would be interesting to see a detailed financial analysis from those with more detailed knowledge how all this plays out.

But this undoubtedly feels like a change for the good.

PSR is expensive.

It sounds like Beto is surplus to requirements as well. Perhaps Harrison will be sent back to Leeds.

A new striker, right winger and full-backs will be high up on the list.

Saying all what you would expect given the shit show Evertonains have been living these last years. We shall see as actions speak louder than words.

Calvert Lewin should be told "Sign or you are gone." This team will stay up without him.

You're definitely not on your own, mate.

Let's hope that's a good omen. COYB

The point I was trying to make was they realise Everton is our club and they regard themselves as custodians.

It always has been and always will be yours and my club so I think the wording they used was a recognition of that and therefore a very good start to our new era.

I was just trying to point that out.

I first came to ToffeeWeb somewhere about 20 years ago to rail against the actions of Bill Kenwright. I got dog's abuse for it for years from more than a few, probably bored people to death with my anecdotes of growing up and my "wedding day blues" but I will cry a few tears for the memories of friends and family who still occupy their seats in spirit.

I feel today, the battle is over, the shroud of deceit is finally been banished to hell. New battles await but we will be united against them, face them together and find our pride in Everton once more.

My views at post #70 of TFG are from my limited understanding of the way they do business, from who they are and where they come from. It is a monumental task they undertake but they have the expertise to succeed where Kenwright and Moshiri never did.

It marks the end of a fight for me, but hopefully also an end to our battles with the Premier League and relegation but, if that's not true, Masters and Co may suddenly find they have another owner with the savvy and might of Man City to take them on.

No pushover. No scapegoats. No laughing stock. We're on our way back.

Together, we are Everton, fresh beginnings, a new home built on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey. If you listen closely enough, the sound of a 100,000 dockers pass the gates and nod their respect. If we had to leave Goodison, we have gone to a place where we stand proudly with tradition. A colosseum at the entrance to our city, Dan Meis has done us proud.

Welcome to the greatest show on earth, welcome to the greatest place on earth, welcome to the greatest supporters on earth.

Everton FC.

Do TFG need the advice of a Director of Football to choose a new coach?

Gven the need to strengthen the playing squad, how can it be wise, from either a playing proposition or a financial viewpoint, to let him leave for less than he is worth?

Hopefully now yourself and the rest of us Evertonians can look forward to a brighter and better future.

Whereas the stubbornness of Dyche must grate Thelwell too; unless there are injuries or suspensions, he picks the same side, even after defeat, and expects a different result.

Go to it, Dan. We are behind you all the way. COYBs.

Liking the ‘Roundhouse' moniker as well; a nod to Prince Rupert's tower and a hint that we intend to be capable of ‘knocking out' all-comers?

Giving the end of 2024 a welcome boost and now looking forwards to 2025 and beyond. Just a pity that the picture of a successful guy wearing glasses has triggered the bog-standard denigrating associations.

Soon as I saw his pic I thought "I know him from somewhere"

I wonder if TFG had any input into the ST prices for next season seeing as they were sure to become the new owners of the club?

Just how well did you know him? :-)

You have a very persuasive and emotive way with words. Your posts are always thought-provoking and truly well-balanced. A pleasure to read.

To everyone – a very merry Christmas and here's hoping for a happy and prosperous New Year, individually, collectively and Evertonianly.

It just isn't right.

Thanks…

Now take any red balls off your Christmas tree!

The last paragraph is obviously subjective but, with a picture of 100,000 dockers singing "We shall not be moved”, my own hope is that we are finally through our darkest hour, my brothers & sisters in arms.

I'm reading backwards and also had to smile at your last paragraph @75, Christine, and I'm so glad you can feel this way after the long fight against a parasite, and hope that I can soon feel the same way myself.

Yes, I misunderstood your post. Sorry about that.

Through his tenure as the owner, he kept season ticket prices affordable, for seniors, kids etc and for quite a while had a price freeze on tickets.

Cup price tickets were very affordable for parents to take their kids, £20 adults and £5 kids. I will be interesting to see if those cup ticket prices remain the same going forward, or they double in price.

When you think of the various scenarios that have been playing out, the scary number of chancers that Moshiri entertained in trying to sell the club, other than a John Moores type, we could not have got much luckier.

The foolishness and profligacy of the last decade, well it's difficult to put it into words. We just want some competence now, and I think we'll get that.

I don't think it will be long though before reality bites again, as we adjust to being a middle-of-the-road club. These guys are hard-nosed businessmen, and there will be a price to be paid in being absorbed into their franchise.

And I fear the leaving of Goodison is going to be much more traumatic than we've really acknowledged to date. We all love that old ground, and we're about to say goodbye. That is going to be one hell of a wrench.

Especially when people get to the new ground, and find it's the same bleeding size as the old one, save for the fact they've filled in the corners. And that we are locked in on three sides by water.

It's going to be very tricky getting out of there at 10 o'clock after a night game. Still, we've dodged the mother of all bullets, and have escaped the Kenwright - Moshiri nightmare intact – that's more than enough to celebrate.

If you consider their position, it is most unlikely that they will remove him before Sunday's game. The negative publicity would be unacceptable. However, if, fingers crossed, we win well, or even win ugly, what are they to do then? Their stance may be compromised.

If we lose, then I and others would fairly anticipate a quiet Christmas for Mr Dyche at home.

The next 14 days will be intriguing. Perhaps the best approach is to wish for an excellent points return taking us nearer safety and to not fret too much about the position of manager.

But then, are TFG going to trust Dyche and Thelwell to sign the right players to take us forward not only this season, but beyond? We will see.

Happy Christmas everyone.

Also, if TFG hadn't bought the club would the home end at the new stadium be called The Mosh Pit? (Sorry!)

But the big test will be… Can he find the Arteta money?

It is by turns fascinating, almost farcical, and downright scary how exceptionally close we were to a couple of nightmare scenarios – namely 777 Partners and administration.

777 are currently selling all the clubs in their portfolio with Genoa just sold. TFG have played a very good hand and used the same playbook as when they acquired Roma, namely walk away initially and return for a better deal at the last minute when the alternative buyer (Textor) seemed on track.

Also positive (I think) that Bell & Downing may have some involvement as local supporters with financial nouse.

Inside Everton's Friedkin takeover: From the precipice to fresh hope thanks to new US owner

Like many of us here, having suffered through Peter Johnson, Bill Kenwright and the Moshiri eras and their oversight of the gradual and steady decline of the club – Rafael Benítez for fuck's sake being a particular low point – I guess we will find out.

Part of me feels he deserves a chance; the other part of me feels he could never be the sort of manager to have us playing the sort of football we crave and lead us into Europe. But maybe that isn't fair given the constraints he's been under.

Thanks… but no thanks.

That said, he's assured me he'll be back on the TW saddle as soon as, and thanks everyone for their concern in the meantime.

BTW, he's as pleased as most of us that TFG have taken over!

Coming back to the news, delighted to be closing the chapter on Moshiri's chaotic years. Thank you for the stadium but for everything else – glad to be rid!

What I'd like to see from TFG in January is 2 signings that are going to be the cornerstone of our team for the next few years.

We've all shared (and I've moaned a lot!) about the chaos of our contract situations whereby we have too many players in the last year of their contract or on loan. Having 2 folks coming in who are here for the long haul will help to change the mindset of our team.

Clearly I'd like 11 new players but we have to be realistic. If we can bring in 2 signings (some creativity in central midfield to add to the steel) and ideally a full-back with pace (and under 30!), it would help to make us look a different proposition in the New Year.

The question is whether TFG see Dyche staying around or if they would only make signings for the long term with a manager that they want to back for the long term too.

" The other part of me feels he could never be the sort of manager to have us playing the sort of football we crave and lead us into Europe."

You mean like he did with Burnley?

In a world of Directors of Football, I'm not sure how much say he would have any more in terms of player acquisitions. I suppose the question is: can he get tunes out of players?

Eric (@135),

It's the style of football as much as anything. Much of the time now, I find it very hard to watch us.

One point which continues to strike me. While other teams gel and seem to anticipate others' moves, much of the time our players look like they were introduced a minute before kick-off. No-one seems to have a full notion of what anyone else might do, other than wait for Pickford to hoof it up to Calvert-Lewin. I exaggerate.

Fascinating account by Patrick Boyland, who knows his stuff when it comes to Everton.

Got to say we swerved some nightmarish scenarios.

As for the letter, standard PR, anyone complaining needs to get over themselves.

Let's see what material changes this brings about. The first obvious footballing question is Dyche: stick or twist? That decision may tell us something about how they intend to run the club going forward.

In one sense, pulling out of exclusive talks with Moshiri worked in TFG's favour. It remained in a strong position, away from the spotlight.

TFG never really went away. Its position as a significant creditor meant the group was in regular dialogue with officials and stakeholders, and kept abreast of new developments.

During conversations with other lenders, it became apparent there was a deal to do and TFG was the only one in the position to do it straight away.

And it never leaked out -- not a word, not a hint in any media -- until they roared back in and closed the deal.

Professionals.

What a delightful new experience that will be for Everton.

I don't think the Club has experienced that level of professionalism since the golden era of Moores's ownership, back in the '60s.

I want to hear it first when it's done, I want professionalism from top to bottom.

I think you state what many of us similarly feel regarding Dyche. He has been given the vote of confidence by the new CEO; what else is he going to say on his first meeting?

I think he will be judged very closely over the next few games and what is proposed in the transfer market. Having said that, it's pointless getting a new face or two in, if he continues to persist with the same old personnel and stuttering formula.

But the season ends in 5 months and he's going to have to improve the style of football if he wants to be the Everton manager when the club move into the new stadium.

I'm not sure that the football will improve much without a couple of good additions so hopefully (for Dyche) Dan Friedkin, is going to be spending some money in January.

I can see it now, clear as day, in the beautiful sunshine of Wembley in May. Get your money on Everton for the Cup!

You deserve kudos for warning us about the 777 scoundrels from the outset and then endorsing TFG. You obviously did your homework.

Thanks for the update mate. I'm sure we all wish Danny the best of health and given what he's been through recently our support as Evertonians and friends. As someone who has met Danny at several games he has a wonderful, balanced view of life and the game and deserves to be there for the new dawn and beyond.

Look after yourself, Danny. We're all in this struggle that is life together and together we can meet the challenges.

I look forward to seeing many more Everton matches, win, lose or draw, with you, starting with the possibly last-ever FA Cup game at Goodison Park in January.

I'm dreaming of Imre Varadi and Kevin Sheedy in past cup fixtures and many more to come in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

UTFT and Up the die-hards like yourself! You're a legend!

MSP (whom I also loudly endorsed) would have brought the same level of professionalism, but never this degree of financial muscle. Not even close.

I think after all these years of crapping out, we hit the jackpot.

The Friedkin Group

Cold hard professionals with a serious business reputation. Most importantly, business people with a track record of success.

We are no longer run from the back of a car by a fantasist nd narcissist (Kenwright) or a selfish, ego-driven charlatan (Moshiri).

Dan Friedkin is an intensely private man, who runs his family business professionally and quietly with dignity and respect.

The only stain to his name is what's happened at Roma but Friedkin has admitted that mistakes were made by putting the wrong people in charge of running the club. Hopefully he's learned from his mistakes.

So far, they say they want stability. I think in line with that let's keep Sean Dyche for another 2 years and let's see how he gets on now with direction and structure, with a hopefully better calibre of players at his disposal.

I think that, as soon as The Freidkin Group became interested in Everton, Mr Dyche would have been under scrutiny. They would have wanted to know who was guiding the team.

When they finally decided that they would purchase Everton, he would have been under even more scrutiny. They will have had people looking at him and the players and assessing the best way to progress Everton forward.

To make a nice cake, you have to break a few eggs.

I hope they mean what they say, and do what they mean.

We have all been here before.

They have spent big, or big enough, to get the team on the cheap.

They have lucked out and bought a Premier League club on its knees financially from a moron who couldn't count, and who spent £500M-£700M on a crap squad and a shiny new stadium.

How he managed to build the stadium in Liverpool is literally a miracle... but the 9YRS of omni-shamble shit show business and comedy-farce manager go-round tom-fuckery... has to be an object lesson in "How not to run a Football Club - or How to ruin a Football Club in 10 easy steps"

This is not doom-and-gloom, not at all.

They should operate the club as a business.

Provide investment, leadership and a strategic road map to building a successful brand based on winning football games.

The first order of business is to make money.

You make money in football, by winning games. You win games, you gain support. You gain support, you might win more games. You winning more games, you sell more shit. You make more money by selling shit to your support that is based on winning games. You then spend more money, to build a team and a squad capable of winning some more fucking games. You then might win some shiny cup-type objects because you have been fucking winning more games. You then gain more support...because you have been winning some fucking football games (go back to the top of this paragraph).

Back the team to win some fucking games.

I am not going to applaud a press release that should be the first order of business. Great, they can write words, which is a step up from not being able to count - and they don't need to call Talk Sport... or have a press conference where they mention our club in the same sentence as The Champions League.

I'm thrilled that they appear to not be a total bunch of embarrassing wankers from day one.

The problem with the last 30YRS of morons running this club, is that we as a fanbase have been abused to such an extent that being a fucking idiot has been normalised, so we all punch the air when they write a press release that reads - as a normal, bland press release should read.

I'm glad that Stunt Friedkin didn't do a fly-by Bramley-Moore upside down with a banner (that would also comically be upside down so no one could read it properly)... I was half expecting some embarrassing comedy moment... I am relieved, that this was just a grammatically correct - boring press release. WOOOFUCKINGHOOOOO - boring normal press release relieving us all from comedy fucking morons spanning 30+YEARS...

Now you have the team.

Learn from the mistakes of the past.

Including your recent past at Roma...

And you could make loads of money in the Premier League.

Show some leadership off the pitch and translate that to a winning attitude on the pitch.

Don't strongly agree/disagree but at least we have an opportunity for a reset.

Of course we might get it wrong but dream... we might even get it right.

But at least it's someone new. A breath of fresh air

We go again... again.