‘Dan Friedkin snubs out-of-pocket Everton fans’ – Keith Wyness drops instant reaction
Everton new owners Dan Friedkin and The Friedkin Group (TFG) now have their feet under the table at the club after completing their takeover in December 2024.
The US group have already sacked one manager to replace him with David Moyes, who has inspired a charge up the table and secured Premier League football for next season.
However, fans are not all happy with the Friedkins’ handling of the takeover.
1,500 Everton supporters own approximately 8,000 shares in the club – but have seen their stake diluted after the total number of shares increased from 135,000 to more than 1.6 million as part of the buyout process.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has reacted to new controversy in the share price crash.
Friedkin should ‘front up’ and explain share crash reality, says Wyness
As per The Times (3 March), shareholders have had a request to meet TFG rejected – despite the value of their holding dropping from £3,400 to £175 per share.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness has insisted Friedkin should “front up” and take a meeting with fans and claimed the drop in value is perfectly justifiable.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 14 | Man United | 27 | 33 | -6 |
| 15 | West Ham | 27 | 33 | -15 |
| 16 | Everton | 27 | 32 | -4 |
| 17 | Wolves | 27 | 22 | -19 |
The ex-Everton CEO insisted the value could rebound in the future with potential for Everton to be worth “billions”.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It might have been better for Friedkin to actually have the meeting, and to have fronted up and explained their thinking.
“There is definitely a case to say: ‘This is what it took. Your club was potentially heading down the drain.’
“There’s a cost to that. The shareholders have lost value, something like £3400 a share down to £175 – it’s significant.
“But most of the fans holding them wouldn’t have sold anyway, they wanted the certificate above the fireplace.
“Most just wanted to be a shareholder in Everton, which they still are. Who knows? Maybe the value will come back up as we go forward.
“Everton could be worth billions in the future, it’s possible.
“Moshiri was the major shareholder before and he took a huge loss, we’re talking in the hundreds of millions.
“My favourite phrase about shares is that they can go down as well as plummet.
“But I think this could’ve been handled better. The Fredkins could have held a meeting to explain this and get some brownie points with the fans.”
Everton plan to give Branthwaite new contract
Meanwhile on the Friedkins’ agenda, Football Insider revealed on Tuesday (4 March) that Everton will “do everything” to keep Jarrad Branthwaite at the club.
David Moyes’ side are plotting contract talks with Branthwaite as they attempt to tie him down to an improved, long-term deal.
Everton want to fend off interest in the England international, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid among the sides keen on Branthwaite.
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