Everton Takeover: Hope Arises After 777 Partners Collapse, but Farhad Moshiri’s Next Move is Crucial

In his weekend Royal Blue column, our Everton correspondent Joe Thomas discusses how the collapse of the 777 Partners takeover attempt has sparked hope for a positive resolution amidst the chaos.

There may be some light at the end of the tunnel.

It might not happen. Everton’s ownership saga remains complex. Farhad Moshiri holds the cards, and his decision-making at the helm of the Blues has been, at best, problematic. There are paths he could take that might lead to further concerns. Even a positive resolution to the ownership saga will not solve all the issues the club is currently facing.

However, the collapse of the 777 Partners bid has created a situation from which Everton can draw encouragement. Despite the struggles of this historic club, credible individuals with presumably sensible plans seem interested in ending the uncertainty surrounding its future, stabilizing the institution, and hopefully preparing it for better years ahead.

After two years and three failed sets of exclusive talks, Everton’s debts have risen, and its problems have grown. The club has been hampered by a leadership vacuum, instability on and off the pitch, and reckless spending that has left it vulnerable to regulatory penalties, including two points deductions with further scrutiny expected. Since September, Everton has relied on the life support of a US group whose plans were fraught with red flags. The 777 Partners’ empire now appears set to collapse. That it may do so without having added the Blues to its global portfolio of football clubs is a relief, despite Moshiri’s insistence over nine months that they were the best custodians for Everton Football Club.

Given this, who knows what Moshiri’s next move will be? There remain poor options on the table as he continues to seek an escape route. However, there also appear to be sensible options, providing some comfort for supporters who have long feared it was 777 Partners or bust.

The first sign of positivity came with John Textor’s comments about Everton being a prestigious opportunity for anyone seeking a foothold in the Premier League. Although the time required to sell his 45% stake in Crystal Palace likely rules him out of contention for control on Merseyside, and his enthusiasm should be treated with caution, his willingness to speak positively about the Blues was a boost. Textor, already involved in the game with a track record of sensible involvement in a Premier League club, offers a glimmer of hope.

The emergence of local Everton supporters George Downing and Andy Bell as plausible bidders builds upon this optimism. They, like every suitor, should be scrutinized and subjected to due diligence to ensure they can be trusted with the Blues. However, one would hope that people with the club in their heart and Liverpool in their blood would want the best for a club that has fallen on hard times. They would likely be more accountable than absent billionaires or shadowy investment groups. Their business acumen, at the very least, suggests a degree of competence that could benefit Everton.

As Moshiri weighs his options, his decision remains uncertain. But the Blues have, against the odds, secured Premier League survival. With season ticket money submitted, a league merit payment on the way, the transfer window about to open, and the first tranche of next season’s TV money on the horizon, the club’s cash flow situation should be the strongest it has been for some time. For the first time in what feels like too long, sensible people appear to see the true value of this great club and might be in a position to help it find stability. That has to be a source of hope.