One of the protagonists behind the seemingly doomed Everton takeover faces behind removed from the European Club Association’s executive board.
Josh Wander, who was until recently head of 777 Partners’ football division, currently sits on the 24-person board as part of his role with Belgian side Standard Liege.
He was recently forced out of his role with Miami-based group 777 amid a series of financial and legal controversies which have forced the company to call in bankruptcy specialists.
That extinguished any residual chances of the takeover being pushed through and has added to the financier’s mounting problems.
There have been fan protests at a number of clubs in 777 Partners’ multi-club network, including at Vasco da Gama and Standard Liege, about unpaid wages.
And according to The Times, the ECA board – which is made up of representatives from some Europe’s foremost clubs, including Arsenal, Man City and Celtic – is now actively trying to oust him.
Wander’s remark about “absurd” accusations backfires
Wander has previously been bullish about 777’s football operations.
As quoted by the Financial Times in 2023, he claimed: “*It’s so absurd to me that people say we’re not serious when we bought \[stakes in\] seven clubs in the last 18 months\.*
“Is there anyone in the world that’s been more serious about buying football clubs in history than Josh Wander?”
That view about Wander’s credibility now does not appear to be shared by football’s elite in the ECA, with his empire now crumbling around him.
What next for the Everton takeover as MSP Sports Capital wait in the wings
While Everton fans have been desperate for a new owner for some time, they will be relieved that the 777 saga appears to be fizzling out.
The group have lent the club around £200m in working capital to try and get a deal over the line, but their reputation is now in tatters.
After the Premier League refused to ratify the takeover, Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri must now consider other options.
Another investment group, MSP Sports Capital, have retained the option to complete a full takeover as part of a previous £160m loan to the club.
But fresh funds are urgently needed and, with the threat of administration looming and a new stadium to finance, Everton may also need to consider alternatives too.
There are multiple other parties believed to be eyeing a deal to take control of the club.
Their identities remain anonymous at present, but the likes US property magnate Maciek Kaminski and special purpose acquisition company LAMF Global Ventures Corp have previously been linked.
