Sean Dyche still speaking to Farhad Moshiri as 777 Partners Everton takeover wait goes on

Key figures within 777 Partners have maintained a presence at Everton home games amid the group’s takeover attempt but Sean Dyche said he had not held formal talks with them since September

Sean Dyche said he has not held any further talks with prospective new Everton owners 777 Partners in months.

The Blues boss met with key personnel from the US group in the aftermath of the announcement it had signed a deal to purchase the 94.1% stake owned by Farhad Moshiri, the club’s majority shareholder.

777 Partners have retained a presence at Goodison Park over the five months they have been waiting for approval on the takeover bid by the Premier League and other regulatory bodies. Officials have also visited the Finch Farm training complex in that period.

Dyche made clear no formal discussions over club matters had taken place since that introductory meeting, however. He remains in contact with Moshiri, he confirmed.

Dyche met with 777 chiefs in September, days after the firm’s takeover plan was made public. Co-founder and managing partner Josh Wander, who has regularly attended the club’s home games since, and chief executive of the operation’s football portfolio, Don Dransfield, spent time with Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell at Finch Farm.

The Blues said at the time: “It’s very casual at this stage. They made it clear to us who were in the meeting that the deal has got a long way to go to get to its finality. Most of it was very casual to be honest. It was just a feel of what I’ve learned in my time here – and others were involved in the chat of course – but on the football side of things, a feel of what I’ve learned here, the challenges ahead and stuff like that but it was a very casual meeting.”

The influence of 777 on Everton has grown in the months that have followed. The investment firm is yet to receive approval from the Premier League for the takeover. Last month Premier League chief executive Richard Masters suggested questions remained outstanding as he appeared before politicians on a Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee and last week the league requested further information from 777. It is 777’s belief that all necessary details have been provided. In the time since they struck a deal they have supported the club with more than £150m of financial help.

As questions over the length of time being taken to reach a decision grow – Everton’s Fan Advisory Board called for an end to the “lingering uncertainty” over the club’s future on Thursday – Dyche said he had not held further talks with 777 since that initial meeting.

Asked whether he was in touch with Moshiri, understood to have been playing a more active role in club affairs since boardroom changes last summer, Dyche said he was. He said: “Not about that, not about takeovers, just about games, the team and all that sort of stuff, not about the business of the club.”

“Imminent” – Journalist shares fresh update involving Everton points appeal

Everton are waiting for their result after they appealed a 10-point deduction, and it could have a major impact on player sales.

Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction by the Premier League for breaching profit and sustainability rules earlier in the season, and they are still waiting to hear about their appeal verdict. Journalist Ben Jacobs has now told GIVEMESPORT that the result has been ‘imminent for quite some time’, but the Toffees are still left in the dark.

The sanction placed on the Merseyside club has had a major impact on their season, plunging them into the relegation zone when the deduction was confirmed earlier in the campaign. As they await the result of their appeal, the Toffees are unable to plan ahead, as they could be comfortably safe if they win their case or stuck in a relegation battle if they lose.

Relegation will undoubtedly have a major impact on the future of some of their key stars, the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, Amadou Onana, and James Garner, among others, won’t want to be plying their trade in the Championship.

Everton stuck in limbo

Everton announced their intention to appeal the 10-point deduction as soon as they discovered that they would be charged back in November. The Toffees released a statement later in December confirming that their appeal had been submitted, but almost three months later, they are yet to hear the result. Everton have undoubtedly overspent under Farhad Moshiri’s guidance, since he arrived in 2016, but there is certainly an argument to suggest that a 10-point deduction was slightly excessive.

The Athletic have recently reported that Everton are likely to focus on several key areas in their appeal, including the disproportionate nature of the sanction, given it’s the largest in Premier League history, alongside the lack of clear reasoning as to how they reached the 10-point figure. Also, the Toffees argue that there was a lack of weight given to mitigating factors, which include their new stadium project, the impact of the war in Ukraine, and their positive trend on spending of late.

David Ornstein recently provided an update on the situation, suggesting that the expected time scale has always been the end of February. It’s an incredibly difficult situation for Everton to deal with, not knowing where they stand in terms of their league position.

Ben Jacobs – Everton appeal verdict update

Jacobs has suggested that Everton’s appeal verdict has been imminent for ‘some time’ now, but we’re yet to hear an outcome on the situation. The journalist adds that it could have an impact on potential player sales and the Toffees are unable to plan ahead due to not knowing what league they will be playing in next season. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs said…

Everton also await 777 approval

The appeal verdict isn’t the only thing the Toffees are waiting for. 777 Partners have agreed to acquire all of Moshiri’s shares in the club, but The Telegraph have reported that the Miami-based investment group’s takeover has been delayed once again. 777 Partners are in the process of addressing additional questions from the Premier League as they wait to be approved.

It’s been a lengthy period of uncertainty at Goodison Park, which may be having a negative impact on performances on the pitch. For the sake of the club and all its supporters, a swift resolution to the takeover and appeal verdict needs to come in the immediate future.