At last, Everton’s takeover nightmare finally seems set to reach its conclusion.
And whether that be with 777 Partners in power or not, at this point, this is a club that is simply craving any kind of stability from any organisation who are willing to offer it.
Clearly though, judging by this latest piece of information, Josh Wander and his team seem incapable of doing so.
That is, unless they can come to some last-gasp conclusions, with a date for key talks now pencilled in.
Everton ownership decision set to be made
Writing on his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon has once again offered a huge update on 777 Partners, just a week after suggesting the Miami-based firm were considering offloading the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium just to pool resources.
Well, this latest report suggests another big occurrence could be just around the corner, as he writes: ‘Everton takeover bidders 777 Partners face a crunch meeting on Monday that should decide their fate.
‘The Americans are due for talks with major owners Andy Bell and George Downing about the loan they have given to the club.
‘And despite an appeal for an extension to raise the funds I understand that Bell and Downing want an immediate answer and may demand payment or a deal involving ownership of the new ground.
‘777 have been trying to raise further capital but unless this appears quickly they would face finding a compromise with Bell and Downing. The Everton-supporting businessmen are prepared to take on the new stadium and may even have a chunk of the football club as the financial mess is sorted through.’
777 Partners look to be struggling for cash
Well, having seen their credentials criticised throughout this entire process, it feels like this moment, where the Premier League simply asked them to put their money on the table, has finally outed 777 Partners.
They boasted few supporters really on Merseyside, but there was a quiet resignation that, were they to pool together the resources to satisfy the four conditions set out before them, they would be good enough to take over from Farhad Moshiri.
However, having clearly failed to do that, as they desperately scramble for last-minute funds to achieve that goal, it feels like time is running out.
And MSP have every right to deny them an extension.
The interesting story set to develop now is exactly how things might progress, and whether Downing and Bell take up the option to convert the loan into equity and take over themselves.
We await confirmation after this ‘crunch meeting’.