Stan Collymore drops ‘special’ instant reaction to Dan Friedkin takeover news at Everton
Stan Collymore has reacted with delight at the news that The Friedkin Group have agreed a deal to buy “special” Everton.
The ex-Liverpool striker responded to the development via X on 23 September after the Roma chief and Farhad Moshiri’s deal for the club was announced, sending his best wishes to the Toffees and their fans.
Explaining why he was so pleased to hear that the American is back in line to take charge on Merseyside he pointed to the club’s importance and history within the context of English football.
Collymore wrote: “Best wishes to Everton and Evertonians, sincerely hope there are brighter days ahead for you. Really positive news.”
He later added: “There are a handful of clubs who English football historians would say underpin the essence of what makes English football special. Everton Football Club is one of them.”
Farhad Moshiri agrees deal to sell Everton to The Friedkin Group
Collymore will no doubt be joined by swathes of Toffees supporters after what looks to be a hugely-positive advance at Goodison.
John Textor appeared to be in the driver’s seat for a deal despite indications that Friedkin may have been back in the picture [i News, 17 September].
But while one American has been hampered by his shareholding at Crystal Palace this is his compatriot’s first move into English football and has no such complications.
And with much of the legwork seemingly already completed in the summer before Friedkin pulled out of his previous exclusivity agreement with Moshiri the entire move is almost done.
Crucially, it appears the major issue of the £200million debt to 777 Partners which was central to Friedkin walking away in July has been resolved [Giulia Bould, 23 September].
Fans will be grimly familiar with hope coming before a fall when it comes to finally ending the Moshiri era so until the entire handover is sealed and confirmed they may be braced for another unwelcome bombshell.
But the finances are said to be in place, which was essentially what stopped 777 Partners’ bid from succeeding [i News, 29 April], and if the money owed to the embattled firm is also sorted it is hard to see what can bring this one down.
In other Everton news, Jarrad Branthwaite drama has stunned a journalist as the star man comes back from injury.
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