Keith Wyness reveals failed deal behind Michael Edwards' Liverpool exit
Michael Edwards' decision to step down from his involvement at Liverpool was likely due to FSG's inability to purchase a second club.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the departing man grew frustrated with the lack of progress in that area.
Edwards recently decided to walk away from his role as FSG's chief executive of football, and will no longer be involved with the company or the club.
Wyness has emphasised that his exit provides "cause for concern" for the Liverpool fans due to the influence that he carried behind the scenes.
Sporting director Richard Hughes will also leave Anfield within the next 12 months, as the Reds face up to a period of upheaval behind the scenes.
Wyness strongly believes that Edwards wanted to see FSG take on a multi-club organisation, and grew frustrated when it didn't happen.
Liverpool left to rue 'false starts'
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that FSG's many "false starts" when it came to buying another club left them in a difficult position with Edwards.
The Scottish businessman pointed towards the failed attempts to take on both Bordeaux and Toulouse, and suggested that Edwards may have felt a "lack of ambition" in that department.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness tried to explain the reasoning behind Edwards' decision.
"In particular, Michael Edwards was a key factor. Many thought he was the brains behind the whole success that Liverpool had when they won the league," he said.
"It seems to be, although he hasn't explicitly said it, that the lack of Liverpool being able to buy another club and start having it becoming a multi-club organisation seems to be at the root of his decision to leave.
"They had many false starts with Bordeaux, Toulouse and other clubs in Spain. I think Malaga was another one they looked at. They tried many different things, but they couldn't quite get it across the line.
"Whether he feels there's a lack of ambition, whether he feels his talents are not well suited to this particular position now, it's certainly a cause for concern for Liverpool fans."
FSG face 'question marks' behind the scenes at Liverpool
Wyness previously told Football Insider at the start of June that FSG are facing "question marks" behind the scenes at Liverpool.
That came amid the first news of Hughes' planned move to Al-Hilal, which has since gathered pace ahead of his contract expiring in the summer of 2027.
Wyness believes that the Merseysiders need more "stability" in their sporting director role, having switched through multiple incumbents in recent years.
He emphasised that FSG much provide supporters with as much clarity as possible throughout this period, as changes continue to be made at board level.