LIVERPOOL – Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has said he is not walking away from the crisis-ridden Premier League club despite supporter protests calling for him to sell up.
But the British-Iranian businessman is seeking outside investment to help fund the completion of Everton’s new 53,000 capacity stadium.
Frank Lampard was sacked as manager on Monday with the Toffees second bottom of the Premier League, putting a 69-year stay in the top flight at risk.
Poor form on the field has sparked unrest among the fans with numerous demonstrations against Everton’s board in recent weeks, leading to the directors not attending a match against Southampton earlier this month due to security concerns.
Moshiri has poured money in since a takeover in 2016. Everton’s losses over the last three years amount to £372 million (RM1.9 billion, US$457 million).
However, he has been heavily criticised for his running of the club with Lampard the seventh permanent manager to depart in seven years.
“The club is not for sale, but I’ve been talking to top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium,” Moshiri said in a video interview with the Everton Fan Advisory Board, posted on the club’s website.
The Everton Stadium, situated in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock, is due to open in time for the 2024-25 season.
“I can do it myself. The reason I want to do it is to bring top sport investors into Everton. We are close to having a deal done,” added Moshiri.
“It is not selling the club at all, it is just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, commercial development.”
The crowd at Goodison Park was pivotal to Everton narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
And Moshiri called on the support to back the team in that manner in response to an “existential” crisis.
“This is the most critical time in our history. It is almost an existential point,” he added.
“I am committed to this club, not just to this stadium but to join the elite. But I need your help.
“The fans are the most important part of the Everton institution. We need to go through this together – only we can go through this together.
“Everton has been dependent on Goodison and the twelfth man. I know that we are much the weaker without the full-hearted support of the fans and I will do whatever it takes to get the fans on board. I’m on it 24 hours a day.”
Everton are not in action again until they host Premier League leaders Arsenal on February 4. – AFP, January 25, 2023
