Everton’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri, has stated that he will not abandon the crisis-ridden Premier League club, despite ongoing protests from supporters demanding that he sell his stake. Moshiri, a British-Iranian businessman, is actively seeking outside investment to help finance the completion of Everton’s new stadium, which will have a capacity of 53,000. He emphasized, “The club is not for sale, but I’ve been talking to top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium. I can do it myself. The reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton. We are close to having a deal done. It is not selling the club at all; it is just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship and commercial development.” These comments were made during a video interview with the Everton Fan Advisory Board, which was posted on the club’s website.
The situation at Everton has become increasingly precarious, particularly following the sacking of manager Frank Lampard on Monday, as the team currently sits second from the bottom in the Premier League. This poor performance has led to unrest among fans, resulting in numerous demonstrations against the club’s board. In fact, the directors chose not to attend a match against Southampton earlier this month due to security concerns. Since his takeover in 2016, Moshiri has invested heavily in the club, but Everton has reported losses totaling £372 million ($457 million) over the past three years. He has faced significant criticism for his management, with Lampard being the seventh permanent manager to leave in just seven years.
The new Everton Stadium, located in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock, is expected to open in time for the 2024-25 season. Last season, the support from the crowd at Goodison Park was crucial in helping Everton narrowly avoid relegation. Moshiri has called on fans to rally behind the team during this “existential” crisis, stating, “This is the most critical time in our history. It is almost an existential point. I am committed to this club, not just to this stadium but to join the elite. But I need your help. The fans are the most important part of the Everton institution. We need to go through this together – only we can go through this together.” He acknowledged that Everton has relied heavily on the support from Goodison Park, noting, “I know that we are much weaker without the full-hearted support of the fans, and I will do whatever it takes to get the fans on board. I’m on it 24 hours a day.” Everton’s next match is against Premier League leaders Arsenal on February 4.
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