Callum O'Connell

Mon 2 October 2023 13:10, UK

777 Partners chief executive Don Dransfield is said to have held game-changing talks with Dave Kelly, the chairman of the Everton fan advisory board ahead of the proposed takeover of the club.

Kelly suggested that, if communications between the prospective new owners and the fans continue at the level they have so far, it could be a game-changing development in the eyes of fans who are unsure about 777.

While he was quick to point out the talks couldn’t go too in-depth as they were not allowed to discuss Everton specifically, Kelly was impressed by Dransfeild’s background in football as a Barnsley supporter.

Speaking to the Everton Fan Advisory Board YouTube channel, Kelly shared the news: “The pleasing thing at this early stage is they’ve reached out and spoken to various groups over the past couple of days.

“Although it was extremely difficult and caveats they could only meet informally if they carry on with fan engagement and the level they intend to, I think it will be a game-changer for the vast majority of Evertonians. When you look at the seven years Farhad Moshiri has been here, he never held meetings of that stature or nature.

“We were talking about football in general, their model and their other clubs. I was impressed with him. I’ve been in the CEO office at Finch Farm on numerous occasions over the years and it was refreshing to go in there and speak to someone with a football background.

“We had an empathy with each other – me as a long-suffering Evertonian and him a long-suffering Barnsley supporter. He’s incredibly intelligent and articulate.

“His background, given he was the former chief executive of the Man City Football Group and prior to that, he held a similar position at Red Bull Football Group. He’s got an impressive CV.”

Positive steps towards building trust

There has been plenty of speculation and doubt surrounding the potential takeover of Everton by 777 Partners, with a new story seemingly every day putting new pressure on the group, ranging from legal cases to fan discontent elsewhere.

Now, though, they have taken steps to ease concerns amongst fans, with Dransfield personally meeting fans to explain the group’s position. While talks couldn’t go in-depth about the club itself, he was able to put minds at ease by sharing his, and the group’s view of football as a whole.

777 Partners already boasts a portfolio of different clubs across the world, including the likes of Sevilla in Spain, Genoa in Italy, Hertha Berlin in Germany, and as far-flung as Melbourne Victory in Australia.

It was these clubs that Dransfield was able to speak of in a bid to ease concerns, and the talks certainly appear to have been positive enough to impress the fan advisory board.

In other Everton news, Jack Harrison made a six-word admission after the Luton game.