Keith Wyness: Everton will 'spook new sponsors' with embarrassing development

Everton supporters are sending a huge message to The Friedkin Group (TFG) as protest plans emerge at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

That is according to former Toffees chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes the protests will impact more than just the selling of food, drink and merchandise.

Fans have become extremely concerned after news emerged of the relatively new owners already seeking investors on Merseyside.

The Friedkins have been in charge for just 21 months, but the most recent summer has been a huge blow to their hero-status, with a lack of transfer activity frustrating fans.

There appears to be a serious lack of ambition at the Hill Dickinson, and David Moyes has already voiced his disappointment about the transfer situation.

Some fans now believe that selling up would be best for all parties, and it remains to be seen what the upcoming protests are going to achieve.

Everton protests will 'start to spook potential sponsorships'

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – expects the protests to impact more than just up-front costs.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness has explained how the situation will "hurt" TFG in the coming months.

"Look, 'Not a Pound in the Ground' is the campaign that's coming out from the fans and it's one of the most effective ways to protest," he said.

"Although the actual financial value may not be that big, let's estimate that we're looking at somewhere between £15m and £20m for the food and beverage input into event revenues.

"I think a campaign like this may hit £1m in real terms. So it isn't so much the amount of money because a lot of that will be deferred, which will be spent later once things calm down.

"And if the club still is getting great results, then I think it may calm down slightly anyway. But more than that, it's the optics for the Friedkins.

"It's being talked about now in the media, there are stories about it, there are photographs of empty concourses coming out, and that'll start to spook potential sponsors as well.

"That's where this is effective. It isn't so much in the actual number of pies sold that's going to hurt them. It's going to be on the optics, as I say, and the knock-on effect with other potential new conversations about sponsors or partners in different areas, because they don't want to be associated with clubs with this sort of turmoil."

When could the Friedkin Group sell?

There are serious concerns around when the owners could put the Toffees up for sale, and Wyness believes that possibility isn't far away.

The former Everton chief has predicted the club to be put up for auction in the next 18 months, despite TFG being in charge only being in charge for a couple of seasons.

Everyone is aware of just how emotional and passionate the fans on Merseyside are, and that can come with a lot of challenges for owners.

The 'Not a Pound in the Ground' campaign should hopefully make TFG realise that Moyes needs backing in the next transfer window, or Moyes could even walk.