Sky Sports pundit wants Everton to reach quick resolution to messy issue, Frank Lampard in the dark
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
A quick resolution to the confusion situation involving an Everton takeover would make a “big difference” says Kevin Campbell.
Contradictory claims emerged last Friday (1 July) from either side of the talks between Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri and the prospective buyers led by Peter Kenyon, with the buyout that had up until that point appeared to be gathering pace suddenly left floundering.
While the exclusivity period with that particular group has now ended the door is not entirely closed on the issue, while competing parties could still come forward with their own bids, and while Sky Sports pundit Campbell would like things to be resolved quickly he is clear that Frank Lampard and his squad have to block the situation out of their minds ahead of the new season.
“All I can say is, whatever happens in the background happens,” Campbell exclusively told Goodison News.
“The playing staff have to get on with it. What happens upstairs with takeovers and all that kind of thing, you can’t use that as an excuse.
“The team have to better than they were last time, it’s that simple.
“And I’m sure Frank Lampard and his staff are working on the playing staff and the system and players, to ensure it’s a lot better than it was last season.
“Yeah a takeover can make a big difference if it’s the right people coming in with the right money etc.
“But players don’t have a lot of influence on that. The manager doesn’t have a lot of influence on that.
“If it happens it happens upstairs out of the way of the players, and then the players find out when a deal’s done or not done.
“Would it be good if it gets resolved very quickly? Of course it would.
“But when there’s money involved these things take time.”
While Moshiri’s camp had declared the takeover “dead” according to the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley, and the Kenyon party insisted they were still the “only show in town” per the Echo’s Dave Powell, neither appear to actually be true.
Hopes had been high that a new owner this summer could draw a line under the chaotic rein of Moshiri and Bill Kenwright, and bring about renewed investment.
That now looks a long way off, leaving Lampard to use whatever money he is afforded from the Richarlison sale to strengthen in the transfer market, and otherwise try to keep his Everton squad focused on the task at hand despite the uncertainty.