Everton were never in danger of having to “close down the club” despite David Ornstein’s verdict post-takeover, Alan Myers has said.
The Sky Sports journalist posted on X (23 December) in response to a fan who shared a video from NBC Sports Soccer, in which Ornstein said that the club were not far off being forced to turn off the lights.
Dan Friedkin’s takeover being completed last week has already seen the majority of the Blues’ debts settled, but Myers dismissed the notion that the Toffees were on the brink of collapse beforehand.
He said: “The fact is the takeover has happened, I always felt it would, and eleventh-hour behaviour is nothing new or surprising in these situations.
“I personally don’t believe it was ever in danger (others may know more than me of course).”
Dan Friedkin isn’t inheriting a basket-case at Everton
The Toffees’ financial mismanagement and the issues that have arisen from it are well-known, but given they’ve been able to remain a Premier League club throughout this time, things could be much worse.
Relegation to the Championship at any point in the last three years could well have proven catastrophic for their prospects, but Friedkin instead buys a club with a bright future on the horizon.
Furthermore, the Blues were in line to move into their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock next summer regardless of who bought them, with the stadium set to be a complete game-changer financially [Kieran Maguire, 8 July].
While not buying a club in rude health, Friedkin has bought one with plenty of upward potential, and if Sean Dyche keeps the Toffees up this season, the new era will have gotten off to an ideal start.
With January around the corner, Friedkin has a chance to make some real statements, but he’ll be the first to acknowledge that the foundations for success are already well-established on Merseyside.
