Joe Roberts

Thu 19 October 2023 17:10, UK

777 Partners will either make Everton or break them if their takeover bid is approved, according to Simon Jordan.

Speaking live on talkSPORT (19 October, 11:55 am), Jim White questioned 777’s reputation after frequent negative reporting on the investment group, but Jordan was quick to claim that negative voices are the loudest and the Miami-based group remains an unknown.

Jordan claimed their motivation was primarily financial, but their potential influence at the club is still on the line.

White said: “This is the same 777 Partners who have loaned Everton £40million. Now, the concern being here [with] 777 Partners, nobody seems to have a good word to say about them.”

Jordan responded: “You know the rule of thumb in life. You go to a restaurant, you like it, you tell one person. You go to a restaurant, you don’t like it, you tell 10 people and that’s the way the world works.

“You’ve not got this list of people saying how wonderful they are, you’ve got a few people saying how difficult they are. I don’t think they’re the greatest in the world, but the reason I don’t think that they’re the greatest in the world is because their motivation is not football, it’s acquiring football clubs and media rights.

“They’re going to make them or break them. They’re going to flip and they’re going to pump and dump them.”

Risk

Any new ownership comes with its risks, but Jordan’s view of 777’s bad press rings true. The group have found success with other football clubs, most notably Genoa, but their track record of financial behaviour has been rightfully questioned.

However, any success is unlikely to be as known as all their failures, so Everton will have to wait and see how efficient they can be should the takeover go through.

777’s motivation may be purely financial. Owning a football club is no sure-fire way of making money, but there is plenty of revenue to be made if smart decisions are made on and off the pitch.

Everton would become the most high-profile club in their portfolio except perhaps Sevilla, but their majority stake in the La Liga side limits their influence there. Therefore, the financial rewards could be significant for the group.

Jordan seems to find little nuisance in 777’s potential success, suggesting Everton could either thrive or fumble under their ownership, but he remains adamant that they are seeking to benefit from the Toffees financially.

777 should aim to make Everton sustainable again but need to avoid looking like they’re just there to profit.

In other Everton news, Simon Jordan has admitted that he was “absolutely wrong” in an FFP debate ahead of the Toffees’ upcoming decision.