Friedkin Group have ‘choice to make’ over Everton and Roma ownership
UEFA are forcing clubs like Everton into future uncertainty over their stance on multi-club ownership rules.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who is not a fan of UEFA "forcing clubs" into unnecessary measures.
UEFA issued a circular stating clubs must comply with multi-club rules by March 1st, and Everton have been warned after Crystal Palace were demoted from the Europa League this season.
Everton are owned by The Friedkin Group, who also own Serie A side Roma, with a possibility that the two clubs could meet in European competition.
Everton set for 'period of uncertainty'
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 - believes the ownership would be taking a "risk" not complying by the rules.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness though does not foresee Everton and Roma coming up against each other in Europe.
He told Football Insider's Inside Track podcast: “So I don't really see both clubs, and the owners could take the risk and not do anything this season believing that they won't, ending up in the same European competition. So it's going to be a choice to make.
"Now, as soon as they realise they're not in the same competition, then that blind trust can be unwound, and they go back to the status quo where it was before. It's just, I think clubs are going to have to start to get used to this sort of period of uncertainty.
“They'll unwind it before the transfer window, which won't be a problem. And so it's just, to me, it's just forcing clubs into a fix that is not really a permanent solution to multi-club ownership. It's really just a smoke screen that clubs are developing.
"And so I'm really not a big fan of UEFA forcing clubs into actions like this. It's something that's going be discussed and talked about. But as I say, I don't really see Everton and Roma being in the same European competition this year.”
Everton to reject offers for star
Everton could have to reject offers for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the January transfer window amid expected interest in the midfielder.
Dewsbury-Hall has shone for the Toffees this season, becoming one of the first names on David Moyes' team sheet.
The 27-year-old has contributed four goals and two assists in 15 Premier League appearances this season for the Merseyside club.