Everton takeover hijack is now in motion after ‘surprise’ twist – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed potential bidders could now move to hijack 777 Partners’ takeover with the club now safe from relegation.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – revealed the Toffees have been talking with advisors Deloitte about other investment, skirting the exclusivity agreement with 777.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (29 April) that Everton gave the US-based investment group a deadline of 30 April to complete their takeover.
It is believed an alternative bidder is ready to hijack 777’s deal – which was struck with current owner Farhad Moshiri in September but is yet to be approved by the Premier League.
Constant questions about the Miami group’s funding have prevailed, with their Australian airline Bonza entering administration as recently as Tuesday (30 April).
Premier League survival is ‘tipping point’ in search for Everton buyer, says Wyness
Wyness claimed top-flight survival, which was secured with the 1-0 win over Brentford on Saturday (27 April), could be the “tipping point” in getting a different buyout over the line.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I was surprised to see this deadline come about so quickly.
“It was announced on the 29th that the deadline is the 30th [of April]. It’s not been successful, and things have now come to an end after this abrupt deadline.
“There have also been more issues around funding – with a 777-owned airline in Australia recently going bust.
“There’s an awful lot of noise around them, and that’s a problem.”
“I do know that the club has been talking to Deloitte, their advisors, about other investment. That is how they’ve been getting around the exclusivity period with 777.
“The 30 April date has come about quickly. But I think the tipping point was the fact that Everton are now safe in the Premier League.
“Potential new owners will see that, and that could now put certain things in motion.”
In other news, Sean Dyche priority summer signing revealed.
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