Everton takeover news: Simon Jordan reacts to reported £600m 777 Partners buyout of Farhad Moshiri with ‘sigh of relief’ verdict
Simon Jordan “wouldn’t be surprised” if Everton are on the brink of being taken over and says it would be a “wonderful thing” if it is being carried out behind closed doors instead of grandstanding in the media.
Mike Keegan reported in the Daily Mail on Wednesday night (17 May) that 777 Partners were closing in on a £600million takeover that could be completed with a week.
Jim White couldn’t believe that proceedings could be at such an advanced stage, but Jordan has backed an imminent agreement as a good thing for the club and the fans if the incoming owners have the right intentions.
Discussing the Mail report live on talkSPORT on Thursday morning (18 May, 11.20am) White said: “Really? Is it this far down the line?”
“Well done to them if it is,” replied Jordan who then dismissed the Peter Kenyon consortium situation from the summer as a “showboating scenario”.
“There’s a raft of reasons why this could happen in a hurry. First of all [Farhad] Moshiri getting out of the club should produce a sigh of relief from Everton fans because he has made a Horlicks of it, best intentions notwithstanding, but disastrous outcomes.”
The ex-Crystal Palace chairman expressed his satisfaction if the fit and proper persons test was being carried out behind the scenes already and things were moving at pace. “I like that,” he said of keeping things quiet, “those deals tend to happen more often.”
“I think it’ll be a good thing for Everton, dependent upon the agenda of the people who are buying it.”
Impressed
Jordan is looking at the situation from a businessman’s point of view, which doesn’t necessarily mesh with that of the concerned fan.
Clearly it is unrealistic for a deal that is going to cost hundreds of millions to have public updates issues every step of the way, but a fanbase that has had to watch the current regime preside over a steady descent towards the precipice of relegation and financial disaster are bound to feel on edge the less they know.
Ultimately Jordan is right that on the face of it a deal seems like a positive step, with Moshiri’s reign evidently proving not to be successful despite his heavy spending, and the supporters in open revolt.
But Moshiri’s arrival seemed like a good thing at a time when Bill Kenwright couldn’t spend with the top teams, and the years since have been far rockier.
An agreement one or two games before next season’s fate is known would be bizarre timing, so dependent on results it surely won’t come to that point until Premier League survival or relegation is known.
And ultimately, until a deal is signed Moshiri still holds the cards and can change his mind, while the apparent presence of MSP Sports Capital remaining in the background keeps a competing option on the table.
But for better of for worse a deal this summer appears to be more likely to it has in years.