Everton takeover: Keith Wyness shares new verdict after bombshell
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed a £480million US lawsuit against 777 Partners will not affect their bid to pass the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
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 – urged fans not to “rush to judgment” after the bombshell news from New York.
Leadenhall Capital Partners, who provided 777 with more than $600million (£480million), filed a lawsuit last week (3 May) alleging £280million of the US-based investment firm’s collateral either didn’t exist, was not in their control or was being promised to other lenders.
Leadenhall accused 777 of “disguising their true financial condition” in the latest scandal involving Everton’s prospective owners.
The Miami investment firm agreed a deal with Farhad Moshiri to buy the Merseysiders last September, but have yet to receive approval from the Premier League eight months later.
Everton fans shouldn’t ‘rush to judgment’ over new 777 bombshell, says Wyness
Wyness claimed 777 cannot fail the Owners’ and Directors’ Test unless they are found guilty in a court of law.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Just because you’ve been sued, doesn’t mean you’re guilty.
“According to the Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test, they would be barred from taking the club if they are found guilty.
“But everyone is entitled to a fair trial.
“The language in this US lawsuit from Leadenhall was somewhat colourful, and I had to think about how credible it was.
“The facts will speak about themselves and it seems like a pretty black-and-white case.
“But it could take quite a while. I don’t think it will make a difference to the owners and directors test, because there is no guilty verdict.
“Certainly, the noise around 777 Partners keeps increasing.
“There are a number of journalists trying to uncover all sorts of things. It doesn’t look great, but until they are found guilty – they have put £200million into Everton, and that deserves some brownie points.
“We’ve got to keep some sort of balance and not rush to judgment.”
In other news, Everton will accept “significant” offer for star man.
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