Keith Wyness: Everton have a ‘really serious issue’, we must ‘have a hard discussion’
Everton and Roma will face problems if both clubs end up in the same European competition next season.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, amid the upcoming March 1st deadline set by UEFA for clubs to comply with multi-club ownership rules.
The Friedkin Group own both Everton and Roma, and UEFA rules prohibit two clubs of the same ownership from competing in the same competition.
Everton are currently eighth in the Premier League table, whilst Roma sit fourth in Serie A, which is the final Champions League place.
Everton and Roma facing ‘really serious issue’
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 – states it is a “remote possibility” that the two clubs are in the same European competition next season.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness says there would not be enough time left now to resolve any issues before UEFA’s deadline.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Yeah, look, this is a really serious issue, both for Everton and for Roma, obviously both owned by the Friedkin Group. And certainly, if they were both to enter the same European competition, one of them would have to move.
“Now, I would suggest that, looking at the stats, it’s a pretty remote possibility that they both may be in the same competition, but there is still a chance it could probably be something like either the Europa League or Conference League.
“Roma are sitting fourth, I think, so they could well qualify for the Champions League, which would allow Everton to possibly qualify for the Conference League, if they do have a good run. Statistically, though, I’m sure they’re both doing all the models and doing what they can to try and check this out.
“And I think it’s going to be probably remote that they’re going to be in the same competition. But if they are, I would doubt there’s anything that can be put in place in time now by March the 1st to do it. So I think we’d actually have to have that hard discussion.”
Man City stance on Jack Grealish loan revealed
Everton’s ambitions of qualifying for European football next season have been helped by the addition of Jack Grealish on loan this campaign.
David Moyes wants Grealish to remain on Merseyside once his loan spell from Manchester City expires, if the 30-year-old agrees to take a wage cut.
Whilst Everton would like to sign Grealish permanently, another loan move has not been ruled out, but Man City would prefer to sell the midfielder in the summer.