Keith Wyness: US-based group in 'strong position' to complete Everton takeover

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted US-based group MSP Sports Capital are in a “strong position” to complete a full purchase of 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 MSP would be an “expedient” option to stabilise the Merseysiders in the short-term.

According to The Athletic (11 June), MSP Sports Capital have submitted a new bid for Everton with a view to taking full control of the club – with the offer said to be a “a complex mix of equity and debt”.

MSP have already supplied £158million in loans to the Toffees and will come into ownership of the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and 51% of Farhad Moshiri’s shareholding if that debt is not repaid.

It has been widely reported that other parties, such as Everton-supporting businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing as well as British-Armenian Vatche Manoukian, have submitted their offers to the club.

MSP Sports Capital could stabilise Everton as bid submitted, says Wyness

Moshiri and Everton’s creditors will need to choose a preferred bidder to enter into a period of exclusivity to complete the takeover, with any prospective owner needing to pass the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.

Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “MSP have been listed as one of the bidders.

“They hold a very strong position within the club at present.

“They certainly have the opportunity to take over. If there was a second group who want to get more involved in the running of the club, that would be important – but we need to know who that is.

“They’ve got a seat at the table anyway.

“I’ve heard they are interested in taking the club over in the short term, but they’ve expressed no real interest in the longer term.

“This could be an expedient group for the one year which I think Everton needs to sort everything out.”

In other news, Everton using new windfall to survive until end of July, says expert.

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