Everton: Journalist shares ‘red flag’ admission after 777 Partners news emerges
Mark Critchley has slammed prospective Everton owners 777 Partners after it emerged that it failed to meet payments at another club it owns.
Speaking on the BBC’s Football Gossip Daily podcast on Tuesday (3 October), the Athletic journalist said it’s “another red flag” for the Toffees after The Guardian reported on Monday (2 October) that the US investment firm had missed three transfer payments worth £4.5million at Vasco de Gama.
He added that the group had “one job” to do after the Brazilian side were hit with a transfer ban by FIFA following the unpaid payments.
“It’s literally you had one job and they haven’t managed to do it,” said Critchley. “£4.5million is not even big money in the grand scheme of things, in terms of this big investment firm that we’ve heard so much about.
“They’ve got this big network of clubs, they’ve already loaned Everton £20million just to see them through over the next few weeks. So to try and just stump up £4.5million and pay what you owe, it’s another red flag.”
Worrying
It is clearly a massive red flag to hear that 777 hasn’t been able to make a payment that is an extremely small sum in the footballing world.
It isn’t the first report of this nature, either after it was reported that the firm also failed to pay £900,000 to the British Basketball League – one of its other partners – on time over the summer [Daily Mail].
But then it’s a wonder how the group can then afford to just hand over a £20million loan to Everton and then look to complete a takeover and the new stadium.
The Blues fans are understandably desperate to see the back of Farhad Moshiri after the club has suffered on and off the pitch in recent years, but there are huge question marks over the new prospective owners.
The group will, however, have to prove to the Premier League that it has the capability to take over at Goodison, so you would like to think that process will provide some clarity.
In other Everton news, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have agreed on a “devastating” concern at Goodison.