Keith Wyness rips into Farhad Moshiri after Everton takeover twist
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted the club have had a “very lucky escape” after 777 Partners failed to take control.
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 – ripped into Farhad Moshiri for claiming the US investors were the best buyers for the Toffees.
When 777 agreed a deal with Moshiri last year (2023), the British-Iranian businessman said: “Through my lengthy discussions with 777, I believe they are the best partners to take our great Club forward, with all the benefits of their multi-club investment model.”
However, they were unable to get approval for a takeover from the Premier League and pulled out of the deal in June.
And in a new twist, 777 have been ordered to wind up by the High Court amid a fraud case in New York.
Dan Friedkin and his investment group has recently agreed a deal with Moshiri to buy his 94% stake at Goodison Park.
Wyness slams Moshiri for handling of Everton takeover
Wyness claimed Everton have been fortunate, with 777 ownership destined to be an “absolute disaster”.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “We’ve seen the mess 777 Partners have created in basketball with the British Basketball League.
“Every club they had a stake in is now with an investment bank trying to work out how to divest themselves.
“Everton have had a very lucky escape. If they had taken over, who knows where we’d be right now.
“Would they have had to leverage the club even further to keep themselves alive?
“There were all sorts of questions.
“We had a lot of pronouncements from Moshiri about how 777 were the best buyers for the club. That’s not the case – it would’ve been an absolute disaster.”
In other news, Everton’s new owners make secret Sean Dyche sack plan.
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