777 Partners have clear first priority to give Everton supporters takeover clarity they need
Everton’s proposed sale to US group 777 raises as many questions as it does answers. It would be helpful if the private investment firm that wants to take control of one of the UK’s most-storied sporting institutions addresses them itself.
The group insisted it would not add further comment to the announcement of its planned deal with Farhad Moshiri out of “respect” for the regulatory hurdles it has to jump in order to complete the takeover. It is understood there may be a desire to engage with fan groups in the short term - if that is the case it needs to be meaningfully acted upon.
If it is not then the danger is silence will only lead to fear and concern growing in a vacuum of information that could last until Christmas.
The group’s co-founder Josh Wander has described being “humbled” at the prospect of 777 becoming “custodians” of Everton. Regardless of whoever is running the club, its lifeblood is a fanbase that has endured too much pain and frustration across recent years. More prolonged uncertainty would mean the foundation of a new ownership would be built upon sand.
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It would also be a missed opportunity for 777. The reality is the majority of the coverage of the group’s venture into football is negative. Fan groups have protested its involvement in their clubs from Belgium to Brazil. League tables in those countries as well as in Spain and Germany currently show 777-affiliated teams in relegation zones. Meanwhile, concerns around its involvement in other business areas and over Wander's own past, albeit over matters from two decades ago, are prominent to anyone seeking
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