Everton FC Shareholders Association (EFCSA) has published a statement on social media to Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, urging him to abandon the sale to 777 Partners.
In the latest development regarding the sale of the Premier League club, the oldest Shareholders Association in the world the EFCSA has insisted that the Everton Board and Moshiri stop the sale to 777 Partners, describing the process as “damaging”.
EFCSA stated: “We are the oldest shareholders’ association in the world and are dismayed by the lack of respect being shown to our football club by the largest shareholder Farhad Moshiri, and the Premier League during what seems a never-ending change of ownership process.”
It appears that supporters of the Merseyside club have frankly had enough with what has been a long and drawn-out process. Over the last eight months, the Miami-based investment firm has made payments worth over £200m to the club, mostly for the costs of Everton’s new stadium.
However, since agreeing the provisional takeover in September last year, the firm has repeatedly made headlines in manners that only raise doubts about its suitability as fit and proper owners.
The firm is currently facing a mountain of issues, including a civil lawsuit filed in New York on Friday by UK-based lender Leadenhall Capital Partners that accused the firm of fraud worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
Additionally, 777 Partners left hundreds of passengers stranded across Australia after low-cost airline Bonza abruptly cancelled all flights following the repossession of its four Boeing 737-Max 8 aircraft earlier that morning.
These recent examples have not helped the firm, as the company is still trying to prove to the Premier League that it has the necessary resources to take over Everton.
The statement continued: “We have observed with concern and frustration as it became increasingly clear that a fit-for-purpose process cannot possibly take this long as the Premier League continues to demonstrate their inability to regulate.”
“In the absence of the Premier League making a timely decision we insist that the Everton board, and Farhad Moshiri in particular, stop this damaging process now and recognise that 777 Partners are not at this time fit-and-proper prospective owners of Everton Football Club.
“The powers-that-be are being disrespectful to our fellow shareholders, our fantastic worldwide fanbase and football as a whole by continuing to allow this farce to continue.
“We demand a decision, and we demand it now.”
Having experienced relentless stress in recent years, from narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the league to enduring point deductions for investing in its infrastructure, the club feels aggrieved. This recent message underscores its reluctance to take further risks and its cry for stability.
Looking forward, Moshiri has agreed to meet with the club’s fan advisory board by the end of the month. Nevertheless, the group is urging for an accelerated meeting to gain more clarity on what will be done next.
