Keith Wyness shares ‘incredible’ Everton takeover verdict
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted Toffees fans want to see players and staff paid at other 777 Partners-owned clubs as the company continues its takeover bid at Goodison Park.
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 – admitted it’s a “concern” to see how the US investment firm has been managing other teams in its portfolio in recent months.
777 agreed to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in the club for £500million last September, but the deal is no closer to being concluded.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month the takeover will not be completed after the Everton owner has set a make-or-break deadline for the end of May.
The Miami-based group could now lose control of Vasco da Gama after a report revealed a court in Rio de Janeiro ruled in favour of the Brazilian side due to fears of bankruptcy putting the club at risk.
Standard Liege fans also recently protested against 777’s ownership after the club was placed under a transfer embargo due to unpaid wages and failure to complete other payments.
Everton fans concerned as 777 Partners takeover drags on
Wyness believes Everton chiefs and the club’s fans will be concerned after there has been an “incredible” amount of litigation surrounding 777 in recent months.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It must be a concern.
“You see things like the court cases in Brazil, where the 777 directors have been stripped of control of Vasco da Gama.
“There have also been issues around the 777 ownership at Standard Liege. An incredible amount of litigation has been going on around them and their football clubs.
“It’s very difficult. Everybody must take notice of that and it isn’t good to see it repeated in so many places. It’s a concern.
“When staff aren’t being paid at other clubs and players aren’t being paid, those things concern not only the club owners at Everton but also the fans.
“Everton fans really do want to see the right thing done by staff and players at other clubs because they believe in doing things the right way.”
In other news, Sean Dyche could quit Everton in stunning twist.
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