The dawn of a new era for Everton. It cannot be another false one.
When Farhad Moshiri invested in the club back in 2016, the Blues believed they could be back among the big boys in the Premier League.
There was spending. So much of it misspent, though. Moshiri was let down by sporting directors at times but his own love of falling for agents and their promises led him to more than one expensive mistake in the transfer market.
The Iranian billionaire’s legacy could well be the sparkling new Bramley Moore Dock stadium which is one of the reasons the Friedkin Group have decided to buy the club. Moshiri has lost big on Everton but he appears to be a man relieved to let the club move on, a club which has been drifting in recent years.
There’s been an interim board in charge since 2023 for a start. That’s never good. But it was all about steadying the ship, or at least trying to, while the bricks were put in place on the dock and the team continued to just about keep its head above water on the pitch.
Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri was Everton owner for eight years
It hasn’t been easy for Sean Dyche or director of football Kevin Thelwell. Everton have a net positive transfer spend since 2022. No other top-tier club can say that. That shows there’s been a balancing of the books while Dyche and Thelwell have tried to juggle with what they’ve got. Dyche has claimed at times it has been like juggling sand.
Now comes hope with the arrival of stunt man Dan Friedkin, a US billionaire leading the family group and taking charge of Everton. TFG will restructure the boardroom. Friedkin himself is becoming chairman.
The group also owns Roma. They were in charge when Jose Mourinho led them to the Europa Conference League in 2022. But times have changed at the Serie A club since then, fans are not happy with those at board level. It shows again how things can quickly change.
The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group have agreed a deal to buy Everton (Image: Getty Images)
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TFG has resources. They signed a £140m cheque in September to get back in the picture of buying Everton by paying off loans MSP Sports Capital and local businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing.
Friedkin himself becoming chairman is seen as a really strong move, too. They have the financial power of a group rather than one business man but it is also the structure they will bring.
Too often Moshiri locked horns with those at the top of Everton over transfers or managerial appointments. One side had to lose, it always felt like a club struggling for direction. The feeling from those close to the club is TFG will have a strategic plan and will do it their way now.
With a wealthy group behind them, a new stadium which can generate more revenue to pay off loans and finally some sort of calm, Everton fans will be dreaming again that this could be the start of something special.
File photo dated 01-09-2018 of Everton chairman Farhad Moshiri, who insists the club have not been put up for sale but are seeking investment to help fund the new stadium. Issue date: Wednesday January 25, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Everton. Photo credit should read Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Farhad Moshiri agreed a deal to sell Everton in September (Image: PA)
Rashford decision is red flag
It was a bit strange for Marcus Rashford to tell his new manager at Manchester United he wanted a new challenge through an interview.
Now this column isn’t going to start criticising a footballer for talking to a journalist.
For a start it delivered back pages and news lines aplenty for access-starved media. But was that really the way to do it for Rashford? Would a quiet discussion with Ruben Amorim about feeling like he needs to get away from Old Trafford not have been a more sensible choice?
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in possession during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between FC Viktoria Plzen and Manchester United at Stadion mesta Plzne on December 12, 2024 in Plzen, Czech Republic.
Rashford has admitted he may be ready for a 'new challenge' (Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
There’s still a player in Rashford. Maybe someone will unlock it again if he gets a fresh start.
But his decision to go public about wanting away rather than speaking to his manager may be another red flag to put clubs off.