Stan Collymore claims fans will ‘cry when it goes belly up’ as he issues ‘incredibly worrying’ reaction to Everton takeover news
Stan Collymore reacted to the latest news on 777 Partner’s attempted takeover of Everton to claim it is “incredibly worrying” that fans are ready to accept “literally anyone” in charge of their club.
The pundit responded to The esk on Twitter on 6 November to offer his support to the Toffees writer for “doing your club the biggest service” in reporting critically on the proposed sale to the American firm.
In reaction to a Josimar Football report earlier the same day, that 777 haven’t disclosed hundreds of millions in losses to the FCA during the takeover process, The esk had reiterated his belief the company are incapable of completing the Toffees purchase, with Collymore getting involved to suggest fans will “cry when it goes belly up”.
The esk had written: “I have said consistently that 777 partners neither have the funds nor the business expertise to acquire, own, invest in & develop Everton. More evidence to support the above.”
Collymore replied: “I find it incredibly worrying when supporters of clubs accept literally anyone as owners of their club without a scintilla of organised due diligence towards the newest “messiah”. Then cry when it goes belly up.
“Keep doing what you do, you’re doing your club the biggest service.”
Messy
In response to Josimar 777 Partners disputed the accuracy of the figures that suggest nearly $600million had been lost by their parent company in the 12 months to June 2022, and claimed the FCA has provided “written that all relevant materials have been submitted in full”.
Whether that should be reassuring to Everton supporters or more worrying is hard to tell when reporting on the situation, ever since it emerged that Farhad Moshiri was close to an agreement with Josh Wander and company, suggests one thing but official statements claim another.
If 777 are losing as much money as it is reported and aren’t the right people to take over at Goodison Park then it would be a concern for the authorities overseeing the process to wave them through.
But it is a signal of how toxic the relationship has become between the fanbase and the current ownership that supporters would be ready to accept the prospective new owners despite the ongoing questions.
Collymore may be right that fans, not just at Everton, are willing to hope new owners can be a “messiah” for their club, but that is pretty much what being a football supporter is all about – hoping for better no matter how unlikely it might appear, either on the pitch or off it – especially when they are sold a dream by official club statements.
And it ultimately shouldn’t be the job of the fanbase to conduct due diligence on the suitability of such deals, but falls to them when those who are supposed to, whether that be the outgoing owners or the relevant authorities, play fast and loose with a club’s future.
There are plenty of Toffees supporters who are extremely concerned about the most dire predictions related to 777, with The esk clearly one of them, but there are also a lot of others who are sick of the status quo and hope this sale might be the answer.
On a rational basis that might be short-sighted but after the slog of the past few years it is perhaps just as understandable.
In other Everton news, a club legend wants Sean Dyche to be “absolutely furious” about what happened in the draw with Brighton.