Keith Wyness seriously impressed by what the Friedkins have done at Everton
Everton’s ownership should be applauded for the way in which it has stabilised the club over the past 12 months.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, amid the one-year anniversary of The Friedkin Group taking over Everton.
The Friedkin Group took over from previous owner Farhad Moshiri, and they also own Italian club Roma.
Everton moved into the Hill Dickinson Stadium under The Friedkin Group this season, whilst the ownership have also injected over £100million into the club recently.
Everton ownership ‘deserve full marks’
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 Friedkin Group have stabilised the club.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness says The Friedkin Group have steered Everton away from a “terrible situation.“
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Yeah, well, look, the one-year anniversary gave me lot of pause for thought and I really wanted to think, you know, what really is going on with the Friedkin’s.
“Of course, they’re going to get real plaudits, as they should do, for stabilising the club. They got the stadium finished. They’ve completely restructured the debt into a much more sustainable, manageable way, which is crucial. And they rescued Everton from that terrible situation that it was heading towards. So they deserve full marks for that.
“I have also liked the way that Dan Friedkin and his son have kept a very low profile. I think that’s been to be admired, and I think that’s good. But nevertheless, their own people have been present. Mark Watts, the chairman, etc. Or at least representatives from The Friedkin Group at every single game. So they’ve done it in a very good way in terms of making their presence felt.”
Everton target January addition
The Friedkin Group will continue to back David Moyes in the transfer market, with Everton looking to strengthen their squad in January.
Everton are pursuing Leeds defender Jayden Bogle, with Moyes having failed to sign a new right-back in the summer transfer window.
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen will not be pursued by Everton, but the club may look at adding to their forward line.