Everton proprietor Farhad Moshiri agrees to increase talks with 777 Partners
- It had appeared that Everton would walk away from talks with 777 Partners
- Majority owner Farhad Moshiri held face-to-face talks with the firm in London
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Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has granted prospective buyers 777 Partners a shock two-week extension period until May 31 to prove they can purchase the club.
After days of extensive, face-to-face talks in London with representatives of the controversial Miami-based firm last week, it appeared that Moshiri was ready to cut ties with 777 and invite potential new investors to present a pitch to buy his 94.1 per cent stake in the club.
The firm, led by Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, struck an agreement to buy Everton in September but a lengthy saga ensued as it has been unable to meet the Premier League’s strict criteria for allowing the takeover to proceed.
Terms on that agreement were due to expire last week and Iranian owner Moshiri strongly considered breaking off the agreement. He had doubts over 777’s ability to provide long-term funding for the club and it emerged other parties were interested in buying Everton.
No representatives of 777 were present at Goodison Park for Saturday’s win over Sheffield United – they have been at most games since they struck a deal to buy a club – and that seemed to be symbolic for the takeover bid being dead in the water.
![Farhad Moshiri (right) has agreed to extend talks with 777 Partners to purchase Everton](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/16/84855889-13417481-image-a-9_1715701120849.jpg)
Farhad Moshiri (right) has agreed to extend talks with 777 Partners to purchase Everton
![Mail Sport understands that Everton's owner, Moshiri, was ready to cut ties with 777 partners](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/16/84857705-13417481-image-a-12_1715702308338.jpg)
Mail Sport understands that Everton’s owner, Moshiri, was ready to cut ties with 777 partners
![The firm, led by Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, struck a deal to buy Everton in September](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/17/84857921-13417481-image-a-25_1715703143926.jpg)
The firm, led by Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, struck a deal to buy Everton in September
But it is believed Moshiri has now granted them an 11th-hour extension. Sources close to the deal have told Mail Sport that 777 provided Everton with an injection of £8million last weekend, which Moshiri sees as proof of a genuine financial commitment.
777 has barely gone a week without negative headlines since the agreement was made with Moshiri. Last week, the company was accused of fraud in a New York lawsuit – the 17th lawsuit in which the firm had been named.
Two London-based asset management firms accused 777 of pledging £279m in collateral assets despite knowing they had been pledged to another lender – which by law is known as double-pledging – or did not exist.
In that case, Wander and Pasko were accused of ‘operating a giant shell game at best, and an outright Ponzi scheme at worst’. One of their other firms, an airline called Bonza, went into administration a fortnight ago and left passengers stranded in Australia.
On Friday, Belgian club Standard Liege — owned by 777 — were forced to postpone their league game after protesting fans blocked the team coach from reaching the stadium. The 10-time Belgian champions are under transfer embargo for financial issues, for which fans point the blame at 777.
Last week, Everton’s Fan Advisory Board called on Moshiri to invite new suitors to come forward and bid for the club. It said: ‘This ongoing confusion and lack of transparency cannot continue. Each party must recognise the role it is playing in sullying the reputation of one of the most storied clubs in English football history.
‘Appreciate that all the rumour and speculation is causing extremely high levels of anxiety and concern to the club’s greatest assets: their fans.’ The fan group, which is set to meet with Moshiri in the coming weeks, added: ‘Moshiri – now is the time for other bidders to be offered the opportunity to acquire the club.’
![Wander (pictured) has regularly been seen in the director's boss at Goodison Park](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/16/84857517-13417481-image-a-15_1715702342697.jpg)
Wander (pictured) has regularly been seen in the director’s boss at Goodison Park
![Wages have been going unpaid at Standard Liege, leading to a transfer ban on the Belgians](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/17/84675791-13417481-Wages_have_been_going_unpaid_at_Standard_Liege_leading_to_a_tran-a-26_1715703491622.jpg)
Wages have been going unpaid at Standard Liege, leading to a transfer ban on the Belgians
![777's Australian airline, Bonza, went into administration 14 days ago, leaving passengers stranded](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/16/84857527-13417481-image-a-13_1715702311334.jpg)
777’s Australian airline, Bonza, went into administration 14 days ago, leaving passengers stranded
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/14/17/84676005-13417481-This_historic_club_could_go_into_administration_with_Moshiri_no_-a-27_1715703500912.jpg)
Everton fans have voiced their concerns over the club’s ownership and their investment plans
Premier League supremo Richard Masters was grilled on the takeover in parliament on Tuesday morning and said: ‘I do accept that takeovers that carry on for a very long time are not good, for fan certainty. And that’s why we have a very big team of people who do nothing else than this.
‘All I would say is that, over time, particularly in the Premier League, takeovers are becoming increasingly complex, and it is not a small undertaking on the part of the regulator to take this particular burden on.’
The 777 deal is still hanging by a thread but now appears to have been given a lifeline. Mail Sport reported last week how two US firms were keen on bidding for Everton if the 777 takeover falls through, including MSP Sports Capital, which lent the club money to fund a new stadium.
Liverpool-based businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing, who already have financial interests in the club, are believed to be interested in forming a group to take over the crisis club – perhaps only in a part-ownership capacity.