Everton takeover: ‘Very credible names’ working to hijack 777 deal – Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed he is hearing of “very credible names” working to hijack 777 Partners’ takeover of the club.
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 – claimed the “name of the game” for potential buyers will be to complete the club’s new stadium and provide the funds to “survive” the 2024-25 campaign.
777 agreed a deal with Farhad Moshiri to buy Everton in September 2023, but are yet to meet the conditions set by the Premier League to complete the purchase.
Moshiri has extended the deadline for the US-based group to do so until 31 May, but has confirmed the club are now exploring “alternative scenarios”.
777 have supplied the club with £158million worth of loans to help with running costs, but are yet to prove their credentials to the Premier League – who have concerns about sources of funding.
Former Everton CEO backs new group to come in and ‘take 777 out’
The Miami investors have encountered lawsuits in Belgium and the US in recent weeks, while their Austrailan airline Bonza has entered administration.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “This is the story which keeps on running.
“We’ve seen 777 call in restructuring experts, and we saw Josh Wander and Steve Pasko removed from the football board of the business.
“The Bonza airline has gone bust – we saw a lot of things, all at the same time. Meanwhile, Moshiri had face-to-face talks with 777 in London.
“That was followed by reports of Moshiri deciding that he no longer felt he could go forward with them, which is a big step.
“All the creditors of Everton will be working together to get the restructuring done, and it seems another group will be coming in to replace 777 and take them out by repaying the debt.
“The name of the game is getting the stadium finished, and making sure Everton have the funds to survive this last season at Goodison Park.
“I do hear a number of very credible names floating around, so I really do see a way through this.”
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