Former Everton owner says Farhad Moshiri cannot sell club to 777 Partners
Everton’s former owner Paul Gregg has said that Farhad Moshiri has to say “goodbye” to 777 Partners and look elsewhere to sell his majority stake in the club.
Appearing on the Royal Blue podcast, Gregg said that he does have sympathy for Moshiri’s plight during his time in charge at Everton, but cannot understand his persistence in trying to keep the deal with 777 alive for so long.
Gregg purchased a £7.5million stake alongside Bill Kenwright to buy the Goodison Park club in 1999, and bemoaned that the current issues facing the Toffees are very similar to those he experienced before selling up in 2006.
The 83-year-old said: “I think if Moshiri held his breath and changed his management views on the club then I think maybe they could move forward, even on an interim basis.”
On the current stalemate, he added: “I think he’s got to say goodbye to 777.
“The fans don’t want them, they’re being sued across the world for various things, so the bad news – they can’t deliver the money.”
Gregg also told Moshiri what he should do next: “The answer is ‘goodbye,’ I can’t see how he’s got any other conversation.”
Will 777 Partners complete their takeover of Everton?
Everton’s future has essentially been in limbo for the better part of a year, with Moshiri making clear over eight months ago that he wanted to sell the club to 777 Partners and 777 Partners only.
That’s proven to be much easier said than done though, with the Miami-based investment group barely coming close to meeting the Premier League’s owners and directors’ checks.
With debt increasing the longer Moshiri remains in charge – plus an added £760million to build their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium – the Iranian businessman needs to find a suitable buyer before long if the club are to avoid further financial fear play penalties.
On the pitch, Sean Dyche’s side have managed to swerve Premier League relegation despite being hit with two points deductions for FFP breaches, but face a nervous summer ahead with significant player sales mooted to balance the books.
Gregg certainly won’t envy the person or group that has to foot the bill for Everton’s rising costs, but given he’s expressed more clarity on the situation in one interview than Moshiri has in eight months of talks with 777, the Goodison Park faithful must sit tight and hope that a different saviour comes into view sooner rather than later.
In other Everton news, a competitive auction twist has emerged amid a recent Everton takeover development with Farhad Moshiri looking to sell.
For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.