By George Overhill
A “well-known investment group” has abandoned interest in potentially “game-changing” involvement at Everton following the collapse of the MSP Sports Capital deal, according to Paul Brown.
The former Daily Star journalist told GIVEMESPORT (29 August) that the Toffees are “once again in limbo” after the newly interested party “walked away”, with the spectre of administration considered a “very real prospect” if further developments don’t go the right way.
MSP Sports Capital had entered into an exclusivity period at the end of last season and a major investment deal was thought close throughout the summer before it fell apart in the opening weeks of the new campaign, with the American company now only providing a straight loan for the stadium build [The Athletic, 23 August].
Brown said: “After the MSP deal collapsed, there was potentially an interesting and game-changing interest from a very large and well-known investment group.
“But I’m told that group has since walked away. The club is once again in limbo as a result.
“If it can’t find investment, some people feel there is a real threat Everton could eventually end up in administration.
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“You only have to look at the notes to the previous year’s accounts to see that is a very real prospect under certain conditions. We’re not at that point yet, though.”
It never rains it pours
A Premier League club is always going to attract interest in investment but whether it is the right interest is a key consideration.
Supporters will be feeling demoralised by the collapse of the MSP Sports Capital deal both from a straight-forward financial perspective, but because it was also due to see new representation on the board.
Instead Everton appear to have been left very much in a state of flux in that regard, with Bill Kenwright still present on a board alongside temporary appointments.
Despite the latest concerning news off the pitch the club have at least provided some much-needed relief by securing a new senior striker at long last with Beto’s arrival from Udinese.
The current situation has been given a dire verdict by a former club executive, and it sounds like the importance of Sean Dyche getting his side firing with the summer’s new arrivals on board is as huge as ever.
And a major hurdle that appears to have contributed to the MSP Sports Capital deal falling through sounds like it could do the same with the alternatives, which may have contributed to the latest party walking away.
After false dawns on investment for two summers in a row – a Peter Kenyon-fronted consortium appearing fairly serious a year earlier – it looks to be back to the drawing board to a certain extent for majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
In other Everton news, the club have approached a Premier League rival to make another late signing after a £23million-plus transfer development.