Everton’s future is the subject of uncertainty with speculation surrounding interest in the club.
Two US-based groups, 777 Partners and MSP Sports Capital, are among the parties thought to be vying for involvement, though the nature and scale of their intentions differs considerably. Both outfits are pursuing Everton as the latest addition to their multi-club operations with 777 thought to be interested in a full takeover and MSP targeting a smaller stake. One major factor in any negotiations will be whether Everton remains a Premier League club - its fate could be decided as early as Monday night but it may well be the final day of the season when its destiny is confirmed.
As rumours abound about who is interested, what the interest is and what Farhad Moshiri would be willing to do a deal over, this is an overview of what the majority shareholder has said publicly about his commitment to the club over the course of the past 12 months.
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‘Committed to future success’
The first post-relegation battle communication from Moshiri came in June of last year, almost a month after the dramatic night at Goodison Park that saw Everton come from behind to defeat Crystal Palace and secure Premier League survival on the penultimate game of the season.
It was the first of his open letters and it contained an appreciation of the role supporters had played in inspiring Everton’s escape from relegation and an apology for the decisions that had led to that struggle. It also contained a clear commitment to the club - particularly through the new stadium development.
He wrote: “Mistakes have been made and for that I want to apologise to all of you. It has not been good enough and we need to do better. You have given us incredible support that helped us over the line when we most needed it, and we must repay that support and show that lessons have been learnt. More than any other club in England, Everton is the club of its people, its community and its fans, and always will be. I am committed to securing the future success of the club by delivering a fully-funded stadium that will underpin our status as a leading club. Our new stadium project at Bramley-Moore Dock has reached an exciting and landmark stage as it emerges from the ground, with the four main cores now in place.”
No ‘for sale’ sign hanging over Goodison
By the time pre-season had begun and while Everton were in the USA, speculation about the future of the club had taken off. Weeks earlier, details of a potential move for the acquisition of the club by a US group led by businessman Maciek Kaminski had emerged. Kaminski was based in Minnesota, where Everton were heading, though that was ultimately a coincidence. When the ECHO sought insight while in the state for match with Minnesota United, which would end in defeat, there was little awareness of the prospect of a local figure manoeuvring for a landmark deal for a Premier League club. While the potential for this deal eventually fell away after a period of exclusivity expired without resolution, the noise around it in July of last year provided the context for Moshiri’s second open letter. In this his message was clear - that Everton was not for sale. But it offered insight into the talks he was participating in as it included a public acknowledgement that he was seeking investment in relation to the new stadium.
He wrote: “There has been much talk of investment in our football club recently – even takeovers – but I want to clarify that there is no ‘for sale’ sign currently hanging outside Everton Football Club. It will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities and, as I have been transparent about, I am actively focused on completing the financing for our fantastic new stadium as well as strengthening the playing squad and that might include a search for minority investment. That will continue. But I want to reassure all of you that Everton Football Club is not for sale. My commitment to the club remains strong and focused…”
‘Investment is close - but Everton is not for sale’
By mid-January, Everton was a club in crisis as poor form saw the Blues nosedive towards another relegation battle while the January transfer window did not see the arrival of new faces when the squad had been in clear need of strengthening - something Frank Lampard and Moshiri publicly accepted in the first weeks of the new year. As form collapsed and days continued to pass without a signing, Moshiri broke the silence around the club’s predicament to show support both for Lampard, who departed before the end of the month, and the club’s board of directors.
On his future, he suggested nothing had changed from his statements of the previous summer: "I hope through my two open letters to fans in the last 12 months I have provided clarity on my position, commitment and the direction of the club.” He added: "The focus of myself, the club and the fans is aligned - a better Everton - and I am confident we can move forward in a constructive and positive manner.”
Around this time, Moshiri also went on TalkSport and the club responded to a host of questions posed on behalf of supporters by the Fan Advisory Board. In an interview with FAB chair Jazz Bal, Moshiri re-iterated his intention was not to sell Everton. He declared his ambition was for Everton to be among the “elite” and play European football and added: "The club is not for sale, but I have been talking to top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium. I can do it myself; the reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton, for some of the reasons the fans want improvement: more talent. We are close to having a deal done. It is not selling the club at all, it is just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, commercial development and a lot of specialist sport investors have this pool of knowledge.”
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