Everton play three crucial games in seven days, which could leave a lasting impact on their long-term ambitions and Premier League prospects.
rear They won 6-0 against Chelsea on Monday. The Toffees play back-to-back home games against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Sunday, followed by a home game against Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Wednesday and then Brentford on April 27.
As the 777 acquisition spree continues, another tumultuous campaign is underway on the pitch, paralleling Everton's highly uncertain future off the pitch.
BBC Sport analyzes Goodison Park's worrying financial and football situation.
How much does Everton owe?
The precarious position Everton are in has been highlighted by two charges. violate financial rules As a result, the club has lost eight points so far.
A verdict on their appeal on two of these points is expected to be delivered by the end of the campaign.
The club posted a loss of £89.1m in accounts covering the 2022-23 season, with net debt increasing to £330.6m.
Selling valuable asset Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer will help ensure they avoid a third breach of profit and sustainability rules.
Digging deeper, the amount of money Everton owe to third party financiers is staggering, as revealed by fan Paul Quinn. “The Esk” Blog The focus is on the club's deteriorating financial situation.
Mr Quinn reports that Rights and Media Funding (£231m), 777 Partners (£180m), MSP Sports Capital and two local businessmen (£158m) ), and Metro Bank (£11m).
Everton's income in 2022-23 was £172m, with a wage-to-earnings ratio of 92%.
MSP loan The payment was scheduled to be made on Monday, but However, current owner Farhad Moshiri has agreed to a contract extension with a New York-based investment firm, resolving the issue for now until the end of the season.
What's going on with the 777 takeover?
It was in September 2023 that Moshiri agreed to sell a 94% stake in the club to Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners. It was hoped the acquisition would be completed by Christmas.
Supporters had hoped for a new dawn, but the company aims to meet the Premier League owners and directors test, provide evidence of the origin of funds and prove it can provide evidence of sufficient funds. As a result, the seven-month-long negotiations are still at a standstill. 3 year business plan.
777 co-owner Josh Wonder is in talks with the Premier League to move forward with a deal, but there are four specific preconditions.
These include:
- Repaying loans to MSP and two local businessmen.
- 777's £180m loan to Everton converted into shares
- £60 million in day-to-day operating costs to complete the season
- Approximately £100m funded to complete club's new stadium
Sources close to the deal say BBC Sport Wonder is “desperate” to go ahead with the deal, with the MSP loan taken out to build the new stadium at Bramley Moor Dock being the main obstacle. he said.
777 has said it could build on the £158m it owes on that front, either from its own balance sheet or through third-party investors, and if that is settled it will immediately It is believed the deal should be completed.
Could Everton come into power?
As the 777 acquisition continues to drag on, some believe that Everton could fall into government if it is not approved.
times It has been reported that an American group “remaining in the shadows” is interested in taking over, but that would mean Everton would be back to square one.
Owners and managers will have to retake the test, come up with a running budget of £30m a week for at least 12 weeks and provide funding to Laing O'Rourke, the company building the new stadium.
A managerial appointment would be the last option when everyone else is exhausted, but it would undoubtedly be disastrous for the club.
Sean Dyche's side will receive an immediate nine-point penalty at a time when every point counts for safety.
However, heading into the game against Forest, Everton are in a dire slump of form with just one win in their last 15 games. Three days ago, they suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat against Chelsea.
After the game, coach Dyche questioned the professionalism of his players, saying that too many players had not made any tackles and that their performance was “way off the mark”.
With Everton's future uncertain, one thing cannot be denied. Any more performances like the one they delivered at Stamford Bridge could see the club look to the Championship, ending their proud top-flight status since 1954.