Everton owner Farhad Moshiri insists the club is NOT for sale despite talks with Peter Kenyon’s consortium over a £500m takeover… as the billionaire says “my commitment to the club remains strong”, amid fan unrest over his leadership
- Everton owner Farhad Moshiri insists the club is not for sale this summer
- The billionaire is said to have negotiated with the Kaminski family to buy the club
- The consortium – led by the ex-Chelsea CEO – had hoped to reach an agreement this month
- But Moshiri said he is committed to Everton and has no plans to sell the club
everton Owner Farham Moshiri insists the club is not for sale after reports he was willing to approve a £500million takeover.
The billionaire is said to have been in talks with the Kaminski family – with former Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon, who heads their consortium and hopes to agree a £500million takeover this month – but Moshiri has maintained the Toffees’ stance despite growing Unrest of the fans confirmed.
Fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with Moshiri after years of stagnation, poor transfer deals and relegation battles, although the owner is determined to keep fighting and has asked fans to assess their transfer deals next summer.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has announced the club is not for sale this summer
The Kaminski family had been trying to secure a £500million takeover of Everton and were hoping to strike a deal this month
“Dear Evertonians,” he wrote. “There has been a lot of talk lately about investing in our football club – even acquisitions – but I would like to clarify that there is currently no ‘For Sale’ sign outside Everton Football Club.
“It will always be pragmatic to explore any potential investment opportunities and as I have made transparent my focus is on completing funding for our fantastic new stadium and strengthening the player squad and that could involve a minority stake. This will continue.
“But I want to reassure you all that Everton Football Club is not for sale.
“My commitment to the club remains strong and focused and Kevin Thelwell and the chairman are currently working hard to bring in new players to improve Frank Lampard’s squad.
Fan discontent continues to mount and supporters show their frustration by holding banners outside Goodison Park asking Moshiri and Bill Kenwright to leave the house
“There will be signings and I would ask fans to rate us at the end of the transfer window – not now – and to listen to official club channels for information.”
Moshiri added that he plans to be more open and communicative with Everton fans after appointing an Everton Fan Advisory Board.
The Telegraph reported that potential new American owner Maciek Kaminski hoped to have the takeover completed by this month so he could present himself to manager Frank Lampard and the rest of the squad in the United States.
In addition to Kaminski, the managing director of Talon Real Estate in Minneapolis, Kenyon’s consortium also includes American businessman John Thornton.
US entrepreneur Maciek Kaminski, who largely funds the Peter Kenyon-led consortium, had hoped to enlist Frank Lampard (left) during Everton’s US tour
Jersey-based Kenyon has advised clubs and potential owners for a number of years, and Klein and Kaminski advised Sir Martin Broughton on his failed Chelsea bid.
Kenyon has been advising clubs and potential owners from Jersey, where he is based, for a number of years. His company Opto Advisers was involved in the takeovers of Paris Saint-Germain and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thornton is Executive Chairman of Barrick Gold, one of the world’s largest mining companies with an estimated net worth of £31 billion, and Non-Executive Chairman of PineBridge Investments. In 2003 he also resigned as co-president of the American bank Goldman Sachs.
The report also claimed that Kaminski has also pledged to fund the club’s new £500m stadium and has visited the Bramley Moore Dock site where the state-of-the-art ground is being built.
The syndicate is believed to be taking advice from investment specialist Michael Klein and US law firm Weil, Gotshal and Manges.
Everton fans have hung banners outside Goodison Park urging Farhad Moshiri to sell
Moshiri’s news comes at a time when tensions are mounting among fans over his leadership of the club.
This week, angry fans hung banners calling for him and director Bill Kenwright to leave the club, reading “Our motto is our standard,” “Moshiri sold out,” and “Bill and co, time to go.” .
The fans are part of the 27-year campaign, named for the number of years since the club’s last FA Cup final trophy in 1995.
The club finished just four points above that First League relegation zone last season and fans earlier this month unleashed their anger at Moshiri for allowing the star up front Richardson to join Tottenham.
