It seems that everyone is desperate to offer their verdict on Everton’s takeover situation at the moment, given what a hot topic it has developed into.
TalkSPORT is unsurprisingly one such outlet benefitting from the turmoil, and although their coverage has been steady throughout the year, it is frustrating to see others now jump on the bandwagon.
This is not the first controversy that 777 Partners have been involved in, and yet only now are many helping shed a light on the unrest that has swirled around Goodison Park relentlessly.
Simon Jordan is one who has been consistently critical of Farhad Moshiri though, and his opinion is valued given his history within football ownership.
Simon Jordan weighs in on Farhad Moshiri’s 777 Partners discussions
The former Crystal Palace chairman spoke in length on talkSPORT just yesterday on the takeover mess that is ongoing at Everton.
He told Jim White: ‘I don’t like the deal. Moshiri wants out, so this idea that the exclusivity agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on… if you’ve got an exclusivity agreement, and it’s a legal agreement between two parties, unless one party has breached it, it is worth the paper it’s written on.
‘Secondly, Moshiri wants to sell the club. He’s a motivated seller. So if he’s got opportunities to sell to someone else, because these guys are messing around and can’t get the deal done, he’s going to pivot himself.
‘Clearly there are concerns about the source of funds, the methodology which they’re deploying, the manner in which money is being borrowed in order to facilitate the solution of owning the football club, and a variety of other things.
‘The Premier League are not standing go the way of Everton doing a deal because the Premier League are cantankerous, obstructive or antiquated. They’re standing in the way of it because the barrier to entry is not being leapt over by the incoming purchasers.
‘The rules are very clear, in the same way that Mike Ashley was prepared to sue the Premier League for stopping PIF Fund from buying Newcastle because he considered it to be a breach of their fiduciary and legal abilities and their own rights to do so, if there is an obligation upon the Premier League to do it properly and they’re not doing it properly and they’re putting barriers in front of 777 and Moshiri, then they’ll come round and tell the Premier League in no uncertain terms that they’ve reached beyond their remit.’
Everton need a Newcastle United-level takeover
Although there are serious debates to be had about the ethical implications of such an ownership, few can deny the positive impact that the PIF takeover has had for Newcastle United on the pitch.
Their newfound financial ability has enabled them to snag stars like Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman, all of whom have combined to turn them into a force capable of competing for European places with regularity.
And whilst Everton are in no place to find that level, the squad they currently boast is not much different from the one Eddie Howe inherited.
Not only is a new takeover beneficial for the coffers, but should the previous regime have been an overwhelmingly negative one, it can feel somewhat freeing for a fanbase that has endured such hardships.
The Toffees will ideally not want an owner wrapped up in as many controversies as the Saudi Arabian’s are, but one of similar financial might would not go amiss to save them from their current struggles.