Tim Cahill speaking (left), Dan and Ryan Friedkin on the golf course (right)
Tim Cahill speaking (left), Dan and Ryan Friedkin on the golf course (right)
Tim Cahill has moved to defend The Friedkin Group after accusations by many Everton fans that they lack ambition.
The owners have been in the spotlight over the last few weeks, with Everton now working with a squad of just 18 outfield players.
The club had a poor end to the last transfer window, with only Jack Grealish and Ainsley Maitland-Niles arriving on deadline day. Beto, Nathan Patterson, Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye all left.
A custom graphic about The Friedkin Group.
Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
And the big headline was Folarin Balogun turning Everton down at the last second, after he grew uncomfortable with the club expressing doubts about his condition.
Days later, it was reported The Friedkin Group were seeking new investors at Everton, and plenty have suggested the owners aren’t showing enough care or ambition.
Tim Cahill has urged those fans to be careful what they wish for.
Tim Cahill says why he’s not frustrated with The Friedkin Group
Cahill has given an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, and defended The Friedkin Group over their running of the club so far.
He said: “Of course (they have the club’s best interests at heart). And I think you have to be careful what you wish for. ‘Don’t hear from them’? What does that mean? Do you want a phone call to make sure everything’s OK? Or do you want a beautiful stadium with a great running business? Also, the football is going well.
“The representatives are there, for the ownership group, they’re at every game. I feel like when we did hear from the owners, and they’re at every game, what was it, three years ago? We were nearly getting relegated.
“I never forget when I was at Everton, I think it was Bill Kenwright, people were asking him to sell the club and bring in investment. So they did. What happened? Everyone saw what happened in the last five years before this group. Now there’s some stability and I feel football is no longer the same as what it was before.
“Now it’s a business. Whether you like it or not. We can look over to Tottenham, and see them spending over £300 million and the difficulties that they’re having. The difficulties that Manchester United have had, with a big investment. I feel at the moment, I’m not really bothered if I don’t know who the owners are! I’m not. The one thing I’m bothered about is when I go to the stadium and I see, ‘Wow’, we actually have the best stadium in the city. We have an amazing training ground that needs to be developed. We have infrastructure in play that is bright for the future.
“When you say ‘looking for investment’, tell me a club now that’s not looking for investment. That’s just a little bit of a statement that’s out of context. If you’re not looking for investment, then you’re not evolving and you’re not looking forward. I think the club wants to evolve.
“I can’t see many problems, especially with the way football’s going at the minute. It’s been a good start. I wouldn’t say unbelievable. I just feel that this is what I expect from Everton and we shouldn’t overexpect or overdemand with the current status of where the football club’s at.”
The verdict here from Cahill – who just obtained a diploma in Global Football Sport Directorship – is sure to prompt a big reaction from fans.
For many, there is a lack of ambition from the owners and plenty feel as though they haven’t done enough so far to get Everton closer to breaking into the top six and getting back into Europe. And recently, it was claimed the Friedkins are not in it for the long haul at Everton.
A lot also feel as though Everton are not as important to the Friedkins as their other club, AS Roma.
The last line from Cahill – about not overexpecting and overdemanding – is probably unlikely to go down well. Because this is such a huge club and it’s a travesty that Everton have gone so long without a trophy and been at the wrong end of the table.