Everton takeover: Keith Wyness ‘99.9% certain’ on Friedkin courtroom twist
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has revealed it is “99.9% certain” Dan Friedkin will get legal approval from Leadenhall to buy the club.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the legal battle is “the only thing” which could have put a spanner in the works for the US billionaire.
Everton announced last month that an agreement over the terms of a sale of Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake has been reached with The Friedkin Group.
Friedkin returned to agree a takeover after pulling out of a deal in July over headaches about the mess left by 777 Partners.
A-Cap have assumed 777’s share in the club but have been prevented from selling it by a court case brought by Leadenhall in New York – with court approval needed before a deal is done.
Court to wave through Everton takeover – ‘it’s 99.9% certain’, says Wyness
Wyness insisted the deal should be approved “quite easily” despite the legal complication.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “There are four approvals required here.
“Three will be the normal regulatory approvals in football, which will be simple tick boxes and satisfied quite easily.
“The fourth is with the Leadenhall court case and settling the debt owed by 777 Partners.
“ACAP has assumed that debt and this takeover must be approved by a judge.
“Both sides have said they expect this to be approved quite easily.
“We don’t anticipate any problems, and that’s the only thing I can see going wrong.
“In the legal world you are never completely sure, but everyone I’ve spoken to is 99.9% certain this will go through.
“It’s looking good. It could be a problem, but I don’t anticipate that being the case.”
In other news, Everton’s new owners make secret Sean Dyche sack plan.
