Moshiri pooh-poohs Everton sale reports

Article posted by Coliseum, January 26^th, 2023

Image: Everton FC

Though the news spread like wild fire on January 24^th that the Premier League club Everton FC (UK) has been put up for sale by its owner Farhad Moshiri (British-Iranian businessman), who is looking for offers of more than £500m for the Premier League club, but the very next day on January 25^th Moshiri asserted that the top-flight club is not up for sale.

‘Liverpool Echo’ stated that the club’s majority shareholder said he remained committed to the Premier League outfit amid new reports that he was willing to listen to offers.

He repeatedly stressed the club is not for sale in the face of mounting speculation over recent months.

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‘Liverpool Echo’ further stated that this included an open letter to supporters in the Summer, when the club was attracting the interest of US investors, and in an interview with the club’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) that was released on January 24^th but filmed before the top-flight’s defeat to their peer team – the West Ham United F.C – on the weekend.

And after new claims about the club being made available surfaced again on January 24^th, Moshiri again stressed it was not up for sale.

The Everton Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Liverpool, UK, that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.

The Goodison Park is a football stadium in the Walton area of Liverpool, England, UK. It has been the home stadium of Premier League club Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892. Located in a residential area two miles North of the Liverpool City Centre, it has an all-seated capacity of 39,414.

The future of Everton has been the subject of intense speculation since the end of the last season and has continued despite Moshiri’s insistence he is not looking to sell the club. It will likely continue despite the latest affirmation of that position.

He first dismissed any potential sale in July, writing publicly, “There has been much talk of investment in our football club recently – even takeovers – but I want to clarify that there is no ‘for sale’ sign currently hanging outside the Everton Football Club. It will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities and, as I have been transparent about, I am actively focused on completing the financing for our fantastic new stadium as well as strengthening the playing squad and that might include a search for minority investment. That will continue.”

The businessman again addressed his position earlier this month in another open letter, this time ahead of the match with their peer team Southampton F.C., a game which saw a peaceful demonstration take place as part of a campaign over the management of the club as fans faced the prospect of a second relegation battle in consecutive seasons. Then, in an interview released on January 24^th but recorded before Everton’s defeat in the hands of West Ham on the weekend – where Moshiri was present and he addressed a number of concerns over the direction of the club, again expressed his support for those leading it and repeated his assertion he was not looking to sell it.

Despite his repeated claims, speculation continued and a section of the media reported that Everton is now up for sale and Moshiri would consider offers in excess of £500m.

This was, however, denied by Moshiri and he stated that the process to secure funding for the completion of the club’s new waterfront stadium remained ongoing but again stressed the club was not for sale.

The 53,000-capacity Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is an under-construction football stadium that will become the home ground for Everton F.C. Located on Bramley-Moore-Dock in Vauxhall, Liverpool, England (UK), it is due to open for the start of the 2024-2025 seasons, replacing the Goodison Park.

Sale Story

Earlier, ‘The Guardian’ stated that in recent months Moshiri has sought outside investment but he has finally put Everton on the market, and would consider a minority or majority sale. A number of potential buyers have expressed interest.

Moshiri would like to recoup the money he has invested in the new stadium being built at Bramley-Moore Dock. It is understood that London, England (UK)-based the international professional services network Deloitte has been instructed to handle the sale of the club, who are in the Premier League relegation zone. Deloitte offered no comment.

‘The Guardian’ further stated that the British-Iranian billionaire’s attempt to sell can be revealed on a day when Everton were dealt a double setback with the Argentine professional football manager Marcelo Bielsa expressing doubts over replacing Frank Lampard as Manager and the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur F.C. hijacking their move for Arnaut Danjuma (winger for the Spurs).

Moshiri and his fellow Board Members have been fiercely criticized by Everton fans over recent weeks, with widespread calls for the owner to sell after almost seven years and for the Directors to go.

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