The turbulent Farhad Moshiri tenure comes to an end after eight years of ownership
The Friedkin Group’s Everton takeover arrives with rightful cause for optimism for long-suffering supporters.
The deal returns financial stability to the blue half of Merseyside at a stroke, with the commitment of the Friedkin family to paying off and restructuring the club’s ruinous debt providing a platform for future success. The future is bright.
But there are huge immediate concerns and for all the euphoria, these are potentially dangerous days for a new ownership group taking their first steps in English football mid-season.
As one insider puts it: “There’s big picture, long-term stuff they are absolutely committed to doing but there’s a short-term concern of staying in the Premier League before the move to Bramley-Moore Dock.
“They’re acutely aware of that and won’t sit on their hands if things need to happen.”
These are the big blue issues – and how they are likely to address them.
Get the CEO appointment right
The more the Friedkins have seen of those on the ground at Everton, the more impressed they have been.
During discreet due diligence of the club that began in September, interim CEO Colin Chong made a good impression and has bought the club time to make “the right decision” on a role that is seen as crucial to future success.
While Dan Friedkin did pen an open letter to Evertonians – talking of his “immense pride” at taking over and committing to contributing positively to the city of Liverpool – he will not be front and centre.
Dan Friedkin writes to Evertonians following our takeover completion. ✍️🔵
— Everton (@Everton) December 19, 2024
Perhaps with one eye on their politically sensitive situation at Roma, where the club’s travails have made the Friedkins unpopular, he has no plans to attend Sunday’s home game against Chelsea.
So it will be down to the CEO to make the big calls and communicate.
“It’s a huge job and they’re going to take their time on it,” one source says.
They are looking for a figure with credibility and heavyweight football experience and it says a lot that they will appoint from outside the Freidkin Group on this one.
Back Kevin Thelwell
Kevin Thelwell’s future remains unknown with his contract running out in the summer but the director of football, it is understood, will get the chance to impress the new owners in the coming months.
They appear minded to keep him on, although further football executives may be added.
He deserves an extended audition. Thelwell has done a good job in very difficult circumstances, recruiting well on one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League and avoiding fire sales of their best and brightest talent.
As reported last month, the academy has been overhauled impressively with bright, innovative thinking now part of the philosophy.
Thelwell will be judged on what he can do with resources.
January will be tough – although easier now there is no demand for sales to keep the lights on – but beyond that he should be given resources, time and a contract extension to prove himself.
Tread the Sean Dyche tightrope
Dan Friedkin and Ryan Friedkin during the friendly match Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium. Rome (Italy), August 07th, 2022 (Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Dan Friedkin and his son Ryan run a tight ship (Photo: Getty)
One person who has worked with the Friedkins closely reckons there is “no way” Sean Dyche remains at Everton beyond the end of his current contract.
“He just doesn’t fit the way they work or their ethos,” he reckoned.
Intriguingly it is understood they believe the German school of managers to be “world-class”.
For the moment, though, the noises coming from the new owners are about supporting and backing Dyche.
Meetings are planned for the next couple of days and there is real wariness about unsettling the situation too much.
Four points in two games, including a battling draw at Arsenal, have undoubtedly helped.
But if – as expected – no new contract is forthcoming it is going to be a difficult tightrope to walk as the season progresses as it becomes clear he’s not their man.
Dyche will remain professional but authority might erode. It will have to be handled carefully.
Address the academy wish list
When The i Paper sat down with Everton’s academy director Gareth Prosser a month ago, he admitted that there were things the club could really do with.
A full-time training programme will enable them to resume recruiting the best and brightest from around the country; new facilities at the training ground (including an indoor dome) could give Finch Farm a new lease of life.
Everywhere, you felt, needed money and resource to return the club to the cutting edge.
It is therefore encouraging that the Friedkins explicitly mentioned the academy and their desire to develop world-class footballers in their opening gambit.
There are good people at Everton, they need to be backed.
Make the right call on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and others
Everton have 13 players departing in the summer – either out of contract or whose loans are expiring.
That is, one source says, a “huge opportunity” for the club to renew and refresh but in the PSR era it also comes fraught with complications.
Letting Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane go for nothing would be a final sting in the tail of the turbulent Farhad Moshiri tenure.
New contracts would protect their valuation but Everton might be aiming higher in the summer so it is a difficult equation to work out for the new owners.
The situation is complicated by Calvert-Lewin’s seeming willingness to see what is out there in terms of transfer alternatives.
It should never have got to this point.