Andy Bell and George Downing takeover bid is preferred option for Everton says finance expert
Andy Bell and George Downing’s Everton bid would be Kieran Maguire’s “preferred” option for the club if he were a Toffees fan.
The football finance expert from the University of Liverpool told A View From The Bullens (11 June) that the club moving into the hands of two Evertonians would increase confidence in decisions being made, and reduce the likelihood of them selling to a group like 777 Partners if they eventually moved on.
The two local businessmen had already lent Everton £50million and have now put in a takeover bid backed by money from US billionaire Michael Dell via his investment vehicle MSD, but Maguire warned that the winner of the race to buy from Farhad Moshiri will be dictated by the price the majority shareholder is asking, which could put the pair off.
Maguire said: “Somebody that has some blue blood in them would be preferable. But it will be driven by price, and it could be that either they don’t want to put money into Farhad Moshiri’s pockets because they’d rather invest it in the club or there’s a case for saying that the price being asked is too high by Moshiri which might put [them] off.
“Personally, the Bell-Downing bid, they will potentially get some other people alongside them, would be my preferred one if I was an Evertonian because you feel decisions they would make would always be in the best interest of the club, and even if they don’t intend to run it forever they wouldn’t get into bed with somebody like 777.”
Farhad Moshiri holds keys to Everton takeover – Kieran Maguire
Maguire’s view is likely one that is shared by plenty of supporters, not least after 37 weeks of 777 being in pole position as red flags emerged all around them.
The reality may not be quite so straight forward but on paper Bell and Downing seem to fit the bill when Everton have been in need of new ownership for some time.
Since Moshiri stuck by 777 for so long it can’t be sure that he will see things the same way, and if he has eyes on making some money out of this sale then his own interests could ultimately trump that of the club.
But since Bell and Downing have been involved with the club as creditors over the past year they presumably have a decent understanding of the situation, and the majority shareholder specifically.
The same can equally be said of rival bidders and fellow creditors MSP Sports Capital, but whether that makes either party more or less likely to offer Moshiri much cash for his shares remains to be seen, since familiarity can breed contempt as well as understanding.
While there is another bid led by Vatche Manoukian and interest from the likes of Roma’s Dan Friedkin they have been dismissed as realistic options already [talkSPORT, 11 June], and in many ways the Bell-Downing bid looks the logical winner.
However, the possibility that further offers could yet materialise, on top of the wildcard element of what Moshiri might decide to do next, might keep the race open.
In other Everton news, Sky Sports has issued a transfer update with the Toffees in an “extremely difficult” situation as they target a new signing.
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