777 Partners Premier League approval missing as 2023 Everton takeover deadline nears

The year started under the management of Frank Lampard and has ended under Sean Dyche and has consisted of relegation battles, a point deduction, plenty of protests from supporters and even a prospective takeover.

All the way back in September, American investment firm 777 Partners agreed on a deal to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent ownership stake in the Toffees and become the majority owners over the Goodison Park-based club.

The Miami-based company insisted that they were confident their takeover would be approved by the Premier League before the end of 2023 after they had submitted all the relevant and required documentation to the financial conduct authority, the FA and the Premier League [BBC Sport, 9 November].

However, as of 31 December, the tailor is yet to be completed, Moshiri remains in charge at Goodison Park and 777 are still waiting for the deal to be approved by the Premier League.

One hurdle has been jumped, with David Ornstein [22 December] reporting that the takeover has been approved by the financial conduct authority, meaning 777 have moved a step closer to acquiring Moshiri’s controlling stake in the Toffees.

But so far there has been no suggestion that the Premier League or the FA will be as willing to approve the deal as the FCA, with Everton finance expert The Esk [20 December] suggesting that the deal has “no chance” of being completed, before or after 2023.

Supporters on the blue half of Merseyside have heard very little from their potential new owners since the takeover was initially reported and with 777’s initial deadline closing in, they deserve an update on how the deal is progressing.

Should this deal fall through, Everton could be facing the possible threat of administration and a further potential point deduction which would almost certainly see them relegated.

If 777 Partners are unable to even hit their own deadlines to complete the deal, how should they be expected to run and manage the Toffees in a fit and proper manner should their takeover eventually be approved?

Before they have even acquired the Toffees, 777 are letting their supporters down. This deal feels like incredibly bad news.