Friedkin Group emerge as favourites to buy Everton

Paul Brown posting that Moshiri has come to a decision.

The Esk is tweeting smiley emojis…

The Roma guy is buying us.

Apparently he’s agreed a deal with Moshiri.

I am disappointed it’s Friedkin to be honest. Just how focused he will be on us and Roma?

Got a lot of criticism that he knows fuck all about football off Mourinho. Moshiri Mk 2?

Over the top. Probably, but we need a leader to turn around, and the last person to do that off the pitch was in the 1960s.

I have to say I don’t know much about him.

Looking forward to seeing what the deal is. Got to be better than what we have at the moment-right?

The Esk a minute ago…

It’ll do for me..

Moshiri’s choice of new owner (Friedkin) is a good choice. Professional, well resourced, know football, ambitious & sets high standards. They’ve got a plan and will stick to it. Importantly it brings an end to the chaos of the last eight years. It brings new finance, it brings professional management. We’ve a lot to turn around and it will take time, but these guys, are good, well respected throughout the game.

Well, Roma owner Dan Friedkin is the winner then!

Not sure how I feel about it…?

Ian Bennett,

Roma did win their first trophy in decades under the Friedkin regime.

The issue with Jose was Friedkin let him spend a lot of money (comparatively speaking) to get in the Champions League and Mourinho blew it all on has-beens and guys he has worked with before and served up dour football and no Champions League spot.

Essentially, same story we have seen from Mourinho in various jobs in the last decade.

This sounds like the kind of character we need:

“Friedkin has been recognized for his work in the film Dunkirk with a Taurus Stunt Award for Best Specialty Stunt. Friedkin piloted an authentic Spitfire through an aerial dogfight, landing on the beach at Dunkirk, France.”

It beats a small role alongside Hattie Jacques in Carry on Matron.

At least there’s more interest and hopefully this is genuine.

But the Moshiri factor and his record of good decision-making as always is the concern.

I wanted Sheik Turki but hay ho… it is what it is.

Interesting. He seems to be pretty popular with Roma fans on the whole.

I’m a fan of the multi-club approach when done well so this could be promising.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Jarrad Branthwaite now!

Hopefully we tell Man Utd to do one!!!

The stadium, and the potential to develop the surrounding area (Manhattan on the Mersey), is too good an opportunity to miss.

In a few years time this will seem like a bargain with all those skyscrapers, cruisers and luxury hotels springing up.

Eat your heart out Dubai.

Roma will have to be junior partners. They have only won the Italian league 9 times, were in the second tier as recently as the 1950s, and have won one major European trophy.

In other words, they never won the MLS Cup.

Colin,

Ah Rome, where you can throw three coins in a fountain, and chuck Moshiri in too for good measure!

Exactly, Andy @8.

That was my concern this was going to drag on!

Hopefully we can start to build now for a brighter future and have more to look forward to than avoiding relegation.

Why is nobody mentioning the fact that an owner can’t own two European clubs who play in European competition every season?

Because AS Roma are a club who plays in Europe most seasons. So he either sells AS Roma (my understanding is he doesn’t want to do that) or use Everton as a feeder club for AS Roma and make sure club stays safely midtable without qualifying for European competition or competing for trophies.

So out of the frying pan into the fire? Surely there are better bids than this? Downing and Bell?

Jamie,

City and Girona are in the same spot but they are getting around by putting one of them into a “blind trust” or something.

Ditto Utd and Nice. It only applies if they are in the same competition also.

Jamie #37,

I read recently that Uefa have a waiver on that.

Hi Kieran and Erik, cheers for the heads up.

You make a good point on Nice, Manchester United and City and Girona. Didn’t think of that. Suddenly I’m a lot more positive. COYB.

I am not to sure of this one…

Will Branthwaite stay?
Is Dyche’s job safe?
What about funds for transfers?
Will he cover all our debts?
Will he satisfy the Premier League’s new owners test?

I live not far away from his 3.2 million acre concession of land that is a protected wildlife area in northern Tanzania and know his accountant out here quite well.

Friedkin is a serious guy and has serious money. He flies anti-poaching patrols when he is here!

I think this is exactly what’s needed.

People who know how to run a club.

Whether one might have preferred the local connections of Bell and Downing or the seemingly endless cash of the mysterious Vici I don’t see any way that Friedkin is not a notable upgrade on Moshiri.

The guy has serious cash, proper business expertise and experience of improving a big football club.

I’m pretty excited actually at this prospect. Perhaps Moshiri’s final decision at Everton will prove to be his best one?

On Sky Sports breaking news.

Now been accepted by Moshiri.

Mourinho: “Friedkin knows nothing about football.”

Yeah, he sacked you! Has anyone who has sacked you had any knowledge of football in your humble opinion, Jose?

Didn’t think so.

Friedkin said a while back that Roma was a jewel in the crown, so what does that make us?

I will always question owners who own other football clubs as to where their priority is, and I doubt he will make Everton his priority over Roma.

Paul #63

“If I was Dyche tonight I’d be feeling a little uneasy. Having watched Roma a few times last season, they play a more passing and attacking game. Something Dyche doesn’t do.”

Paul, Dyche is limited in his tactics by the squad he has. And he’s played his hand well. If and when he gets more able players, he might be able to show what he can do with them. I’d be tempted to wait and see. And so might new owners.

Brian

It makes Everton the Koh-i-Noor diamond alongside all those little red rubies

Kevin 46, I was there a few weeks ago with my Everton top on. Had no hassle whatsoever. Just got asked loads of times if I knew Mo Salah.

Derek, I will gladly throw Moshiri into the Fontana Trevi, coins and all.

Kieran

Diamonds are blue(ish)
Rubies are red
If I was a kopite
I’d wish meself dead.

UTFT

Sam @59,

I agree that Bell and Downing or Vici appeared to be more favourable to us as supporters, but a valuable short-term advantage with Friedkin would be his exemplary record with Roma which should enable him to be fast-tracked through the Premier League’s Directors and Owners Test.

I would have gone for Bell and Downing like a few others, but will settle for this guy.

He has big money and sounds like a proper businessman. Got to be better than Moshiri.

Clarity soon at least. I’d have thought any major player movements (ie Branthwaite) would not have been done without the approval of the soon to be new owner.

I still see Branthwaire being sold as any new owner will not be able to influence the profitability of the club over the last 12 months for PSR. We’ll still need to sell someone before 30 June I’d imagine.

Moshiri potentially out in the next few weeks is a massive bonus tho.

He’ll need what Moshiri didn’t get, namely a manager who knows what he’s doing. No one cares who the owner is if you’re winning matches and trophies.

Man Utd fans had no issues with the Glazers until Ferguson retired and they started going backwards.

Sounds like a reliable owner and has to be an improvement on Kenwright and Moshiri.

However, I’m a little disappointed we haven’t gone for the Vici groups offer if they had £1 billion to invest.

Then again, with so little known about them, it did sound a bit too good to be true and we want the owner to pass the fit and proper test ASAP this time.

In light of this, maybe there’s some legs in reports we want Tammy Abrahams on a loan with a view to buy?!

Is it Roma or Lazio who have the fascist supporters?

A jolly unpleasant set of coves.

Wow! This group has some big bucks.

If it is true and it goes ahead, then it can only be good for Everton… right?

Who knows for sure how it will work out but, with everything that went on last season and all the hoo-hah of late, it would be nice to see some stability at the club before next season, if possible.

I’ve woken up this morning to the news that, to all intents and purposes, a deal has been done and we have new owners.

Whatever your preference in choosing which one is best, it’s a huge relief that it’s finally happened and I hope one of the first actions of the new owner is to clear the decks of the loan sharks who have stripped our club of dignity, cash flow and left us humiliated, fighting for our survival.

I have no doubt that, if the deal goes through, the door will close on a dreadful chapter in our history.

After the 777 debacle, I am pleased that a deal has been reached so quickly. I’m still left confused by decisions previously made that had left us in a world of pain, ridiculed and shamed. But through it all were the magnificent, the fans. For they, as much as Moshiri, if not more, have shown what a mighty club we are.

To the new owners, I would say welcome, clear the decks, work with us, and you will have the best club in the world.

Very optimistic about this bid going through.

I hope that we keep our star young centre half and our manager. No chopping and changing coaches this time. COYB

Good news at last. Hopefully this is the end of Moshiri & Co. Anyone could run Everton better than them and what had gone before.

Maybe we might get back to football at last.

Sounds like great news.

I’m happy to have the club owned by a wealthy American businessman rather than an Arab despot or a gangster, or a shady flim-flam guy.

Billy Shears #45,

Unless the new owner comes on here to specifically answer your specific questions…

Nobody yet knows.

Nobody is sure.

Wow. Wow. Wow! That was unexpected.

I haven’t felt so excited since Moshiri arrived with his millions….. hang on a minute!

But I’m sensing positive vibes about this one, surely the same shit can’t happen to the same club twice can it?

Some business acumen, to go along with the cash, could take us a long way. Let’s hope they keep faith with the current manager and team for a while and give them a chance.

Surely they will see that we need to keep Jarrad, so now we can sell Onana to Roma for £80M by 30 June. UTFT!

Interesting comment from Romapress.net:

The American chairman of the club instructed the team’s management to avoid signing players on loan, players over 30, and ones with extremely high wages.

Sounds right.

Phil #104,

That’s three-quarters of our squad!

I just hope “our Dan” (allegedly) has the same Friedkin genes as William of that name.

He’s the guy with filmic expertise in successfully dealing with exorcism, and bringing relentlessly destructive multi-national criminal cartels to justice.

If he’s of that ilk he’ll do for me!

Dan 106: I found this:

Now, let’s delve into the intriguing connection between William Friedkin and Dan Friedkin. While they share the same last name, it is important to note that they are not directly related. William Friedkin and Dan Friedkin come from different branches of the Friedkin family tree, each carving their own path in their respective fields.

William Friedkin, the esteemed filmmaker, has mesmerized audiences with his cinematic creations, while Dan Friedkin has made a name for himself in the business world as a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Despite their different career paths, the two Friedkins share a passion for excellence and a commitment to their craft.

I can’t see this guy plucking a local charity worker out of nowhere and making her the boss on millions a year. And then calling Duncan back from a bar in Spain and giving him half a million a year to be first-team coach.

If he does though, we may need to rethink things.

If they can make a massive zero-interest loan to EFC to pay off all of the other loans, then we can get the interest payments off the balance sheet and have more flexibility with salaries and transfers.

But we still have to deal with the current financial year which may require player sales before the end of June.

Quite a few people saying they’d prefer a different bidder, but isn’t Friedkin the only one with actual football ownership experience and success? Moshiri has shown that you can spend millions on failure.

Also, please remove Dyche. Yes, he kept us up but he also gave us our longest-ever winless run in the Premier League — which is quite remarkable considering the crap we’ve had over the years. I haven’t ever thought he was good enough.

Stu @111 – it’s tough to call the Dyche future, I think.

You could say that, with the bunch of misfits he had to work with, he did a miraculous job. You could also say that, if the new owner wants to support the club and bring in better players, he may not be up to the job of playing positive football and moving us up the table.

I think it remains to be seen — if he’s retained by the new owner, who seems to have a hankering for “big name managers” like The Special One.

Stu

It’s funny I’d forgotten Friedkin was in the mix.

Bell as a fan and someone with a stake got a lot of attention plus Esk said it was the only serious bid.

A-CAP got attention based on Moshiri’s poor judgment with 777 Partners.

This old Everton fan with Saudi money got attention.

Then this crew called Vici — nice name to tie in with Nil Satis Nisi Optimum with Keith Harris got attention.

Even Textor despite owning Palace did.

But no one paid attention to the one guy who has the personal wealth to pull it off and currently runs a big European club fairly successfully.

I just assumed this link was pure speculation. But really in hindsight he seems IMO the best choice. No disrespect to the others — except A-CAP obviously — but his experience and wealth sets him apart.

Let’s wait and see?

Hopefully, change is coming, for the better.

Stu,

No, I wouldn’t sack Dyche. It’s going to take a while for this to go through. Even when it does, due to PSR, we might have sensible leadership but we can’t splash cash. Dyche has shown he can manage under such constraints.

Also (puts on tin hat), I feel like if someone does a good job relative to what was expected, then you should repay them with some support.

I thought we were wrong to sack Fat Sam because he’d refused the job as a short-term gig, we offered him a longer-term deal, he took us from relegation danger to Top 8, then we sacked him anyway. I don’t like the guy, I don’t like his football, but I thought that was unfair to him.

I don’t dislike Dyche, he seems a good bloke. I don’t generally like his football though, unlike Sam, he’s never had the luxury of having players who could play better football. And his boring football at least involves creating chances versus Sam’s 0 shots per game.

So, all things considered, I think Dyche should stay.

Stub @111,

Dyche also worked with one of the worst squads Everton have had in a long time. Not to mention how weak the full squad was.

In my opinion, Dyche has earned another chance.

Annika,

I agree with you but you could abbreviate and drop the “one of the” and just go with “worst squad Everton have had in a long time.”

Even Frank had Richarlison; Rafa had Digne and initially James.

Kieran #115. Totally agree.

I think that Friedkin is the best opportunity for Everton from those on the table (that we are aware of). Proven business acumen and the funds to match.

I suspect that his interest is slightly wider than Everton. The attraction of the Premier League is one thing, but Friedkin has an eye for real estate, hotels, entertainment, sport and hospitality. What better than the future for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock?

I really liked the approach made by Bell & Downing – the best offer at the time, but insufficient capital without third-party involvement and relatively high lending.

I could never understand the perseverance with 777 Partners and A-CAP. Many suggested conspiracy theories about Usmanov. I’m still unconvinced that he hasn’t been involved in the background and the use of anonymous routes for significant finance has to be questionable. Maybe sanctions re Ukraine have gone on for too long now and it’s time to give in to the growing pressure for a resolution, who knows?

As for Vici, the latest that was too good to be true – it didn’t take 5 minutes to find that neither of the directors have any track record (as far as I can see) and that one of them has a company registered at the same address as Costa Coffee in Eccles and had 3 ‘strike-offs’ on Companies Registry in the last 2 years!

As for Sean Dyche, I think that we need him to keep on pulling us through into the new season as this is going to take some time. Unfortunately, the unfair PSR means that we probably need to lose Branthwaite in the meantime. Shame.

Dan Friedkin has the exclusive rights to the distribution of all Toyotas into Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as owning Auto Dealerships across the US.

Toyota Stadium, anyone?

Next shirt sponsor, Toyota?
Next truck in Toyota lineup,
Toffee Truck (tongue-in-cheek)

Just sayin’.

Although the deal hasn’t been fully completed, I feel we have had a partial exorcism, the stench of corruption, silence and goats in the Boardroom, will be a distant painful memory.

I just hope it all gets concluded as soon as possible so the Staff and Sean Dyche know where they stand, who has to go (not Branthwaite) and if possible get some recruitment.

I’ve heard Roma have some decent players!

Seems cut and dried that that he gets exclusivity but I hope a lot of this as been running in the background while 777 Partners were messing about.

Second Saturday in a row that I’ve woken up feeling great being a Evertonian.

Well…that’s that…sort of.

I won’t really rest easy until the “accountant” hands over the keys to Goodison, and buggers off.

Now, hopefully, we can turn our attention to more important things, as well more interesting things.

I would still treat an incoming new ownership with an element of caution. Eight years ago, Moshiri came in and we thought we were heading for heady heights again.

Evidence will be progress, I would imagine this season and possibly the first season at the new stadium would be one of stability. Strong mid table finishes whilst building out a squad.

A full season of bedding down into BMD followed by a second season of competing for a european position. That’s a realistic target and I would sincerely hope whoever the owner is sets out a plan and vision as to what there expectation is for where they wish to this club to be over the next 3 to 5 seasons.

As part of the journey to progress Dyche is the man to see us through over the short to medium term.

Hopefully, this means Jack Harrison can stay in Yorkshire. Che Adams will no longer be linked to us. And, Branthwaite will be staying.

As for Dyche. I think it depends on our recruiting this summer. If we can keep our core players and add 2-3 talented players then I think he’ll be given a chance at least until Christmas.

If there’s no incoming, then I think we’re stuck with him for another season.

Cash in hand is hard for Moshiri to turn down. And arrivederci to the debt mountain.

Hopefully, he’s leaving us in capable hands and with a viable new stadium. The nightmare may be drawing to a close.

Delighted with this, and excited that it’s apparently going to be completed so quickly before the summer window fully progresses.

Friedkin is a quality guy with tons of money and actual Top 5 league ownership experience, which none of the other bidders. He did piss off the Roma fans by sacking Mou, but they quickly warmed back up to him with the wise hiring of De Rossi. And by all accounts he nicely squared away Roma’s warped balance sheet with judicious cost-cutting and new revenues (a tour of Japan).

For those of us who consider these things important, he is a serious, badass wildlife conservationist. His Friedkin Conservation Fund owns more than 6.1 million acres in Tanzania (thanks Andrew #47 for the local view) protecting not only animals but endangered forests. And they help the locals economically. Heck, I can wear my old Chang shirt with the elephants.

Plus he’s American, Jewish, flies an airplane, makes really good movies, and as Gary #121 points out, appears to have the varied background to make the most of the new stadium.

What’s not to love?

Anyone expecting cash to be splashed on players (like under Moshiri did when he arrived) might be disappointed.

After initially spending over £100m on some big players like Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla Friedkin has seen Roma adopt a more cautious approach with focus on loan moves and free transfers. In the last two seasons Roma actually has a transfer profit of around £160m.

This is likely not an owner prepared to lose money signing glamour players to chase quick glory. I expect stability and steady progress with a focus on signing young players with potential who will get sold for profit.

Perhaps Sean Dyche will suit such an owner as he’s known as a manager able to survive without spending big.

I know very little about any of these various protagonists but this seems to be getting the right reaction from people who do so I feel pretty optimistic.

Especially after the Moshiri/Kenwright collaborative years. However, for all his weirdness, lunatic decisions and dodgy associations one has to wonder where we would be now if he hadn’t come along.

Impossible to answer of course, but we sure as hell wouldn’t be looking forward to probably one the most iconic stadiums in Europe soon, and quite where BPB might have had us now doesn’t bare thinking about. I’m enjoying Lanzarote weather and a really quite optimistic feeling right now.

Phil #107, I saw that last week, but it’s Internet fluff. Friedkin is a fairly common American Jewish name and there is absolutely no family connection between Dan and William.

Dan is a third-generation Californian and fourth-generation American whose great-grandfather was Russian.

Bill was the son of Ukranian immigrants who came over in 1903 and whose original name likely wasn’t Friedkin. He went to high school with my mom in Chicago. (And no, they weren’t friends.)

No link there at all except the Ashkenazic gene pool. Heck, I’m probably closer related to our new owner than the movie guy!

If Mike G gives his seal of approval then that’s good enough for me.

Welcome aboard Mr Friedkin, this is going to be a Roller Coaster or Big Dipper, to use its correct name, ride.

Mike, do you think we will be seeing A-listers eg Beyoncé, Sly, Kardashians, Kimberley Guilfoyle etc…. Now at our games? I sincerely hope not.

Colin, you have an interesting definition of “A-lister” if it includes Kimberly effing Guilfoyle.

I actually worked with her for a couple of days on a TV show about 20 years ago. She was funny and raw. No resemblance to the psycho Trump bitch she is now.

A deal is not done until it is over the line. Moshiri may decide who he is talking too, but Everton and himself are heavily indebted.So agreements will have to agreed with lenders.To sort out Everton’s finances some restructuring of debt will be on the agenda,even if it is ultimately paying off that debt.Moshiri had problems with R&MF when it was proposed that MSP get Equity.Everton are more indebted since that.

There is no doubt Friedkin Group is a good option.They are able to run a business and have experience of running a Club.But Everton is a mess and even before starting the mess in their finances has to be addressed.There seems to be a reluctances on the part of lenders to engage in restructuring.I am sure that the Friedkin are trying to work on this, but Moshiri is still in position. What is his agenda? The likes of MSP and R&MF have not been able to come up with that answer, hopefully Friedkin Group can and bring them along with them.As for 777 Partners and A- Cap it is a concern that they appear to be still in the picture.

Everton have not been in court yet.Hopefully it stays that way.

Paul #63 “Having watched Roma a few times last season, they play a more passing and attacking game.“

Doesn’t sound like a Mourinho team!

Jerome 140, in an ideal world Friedkin could offer some of the other suitors/lenders a slice of the cake.

Everton needs serious money and some serious people in charge.

People assume it was that glove puppet Moshiri who brought about the new Stadium. Which we are all grateful for by the way, I would suggest it was the Russian one with his hand up Moshiri’s nether regions who initiated all that !

Also glad that crazy spending and Salaries may be closely scrutinised in the future, let’s face it, it has got totally out of reality. A few astute additions (not blind-alley Harrison either) or youngsters with potential, along with some experienced players, will do nicely !