Everton’s season has been one of quiet progression and comfortable safety, made even more impressive by how the players and coaching staff have navigated all the distractions.
As if two deductions weren’t enough for Sean Dyche’s side, a takeover process which has dominated the entire campaign has only added to the issues faced throughout a truly abhorrent year of football.
This is a fanbase famed for its unrelenting support, but that has certainly been tested throughout this term.
And, frustratingly enough, there is seemingly no end in sight, despite 777 Partners continuously failing to do what must be done, and any rivals they might have refusing to show their faces.
The major hurdle preventing 777 Partners’ takeover rivals
In this latest article penned by iNews, it is explained why, despite rumours suggesting there are other parties involved in the Everton takeover, none have come forward.
Journalist Mark Douglas writes: ‘Both Everton and 777 say in public they are continuing to work towards completion of the deal, with a target of completing in four weeks.
‘But we’ve heard all of that before. Work in the background to try and tap “alternative funding” either to support 777 or to replace them has certainly been taking place. One source told i Everton was being informally “shopped around” but the club’s debt makes any deal difficult.’
‘It has long been claimed, from reliable sources, that there are alternative US-based investors who are ready to step in if the 777 deal collapses, but they are yet to publicly declare their hand and Moshiri has shown an unerring commitment to completing with the Miami-based firm, despite the questions over their business practices and ability to fund the deal.
‘Moving to another deal is likely to be complicated by Everton’s debt and the time it would take for a new investor to pass the relevant checks. Who pays the club’s bills in the meantime, given Moshiri seems either unwilling or unable to write the sort of hefty cheques they need to keep things going?
‘That is the question that has prompted some to speculate about the threat of administration, but that desperate scenario would not be in the best interests of the club.’
Everton are dangerously reliant on 777 Partners’ loans
As the months have rumbled on, and seemingly no progress has been made, it has left many wondering what 777 Partners have to do for the Premier League to reject their bid.
After all, the main stumbling block is the division’s acceptance, and seeing how Sir Jim Ratcliffe strolled into power at Manchester United, the wait on Merseyside has been palpable.
But, these eight months of limbo have not been completely quiet, as the Miami-based firm have used that time to load Everton up to their eyeballs in debt.
Admittedly, these are funds that the club desperately needed, but given a full takeover seems unlikely, this could prove worrying.
After all, the total debt the Toffees now owe this organisation has reached above £200m, making them dangerously reliant on 777 Partners, whether they succeed in their takeover bid or not.