The Friedkin Group (They're selling up)

[StirlingBlue]

From what's in the FT...why is this any different to what Liverpool just did with that Bezos involved consortium? Or even what the Wrexham owners did too selling some of their stake?

It just seems like the latest "thing to do" to raise funds and spread risk?

Liverpool are clearly selling to that consortium, the partial stake comes with an option to buy the remainder of the club within the next 12 months - it's just a bedding in period for the new owners

[weimaranerblues]

Think it's been said before , they've realised you have to spend big in the prem 100+ top players , probably a out 4 of them to compete , even then no certainty and then there is CSR,
Where as over in Italy 200m outlay for Roma gives them CL , title aspirations.

[blueToffee]

Liverpool are clearly selling to that consortium, the partial stake comes with an option to buy the remainder of the club within the next 12 months - it's just a bedding in period for the new owners

Only if FSG decide to sell though I believe. It’s not an automatic deal trigger. Seems more like a first refusal buy back option on a player.

It’s a good point though as there is a path there if FSG do want to take a step back. I guess we’ll see. Same with us.

[weimaranerblues]

Just seen on FB

New song for Sunday
The Friedkins had a dream
To sell our football team
We had no full backs and we still sent Aznou on loan
We’re light at the back
There is no attack
But don’t worry blues
The doughtnuts are back

[blueToffee]

For me, it’s the story coming from America that they’re looking at creating a new NHL franchise for around £2bn.

Easy to put two and two together at the moment with everything that’s happened.

True. The Balogun issue doesn’t help to make this situation look better either.

I would say though that even with the NHL thing, it’s just seemingly what they’re trying to do. Have a stake in many pies. Last spring they were in the final four of suitors trying to buy the Boston Celtics NBA team, they didn’t end up winning that bid which ultimately went for 6 billion.

I imagine all these things are done though by leveraging money in various ways and it’s not just their money on the line.

I don’t know though, maybe more will come out with Giulia Bould's reporting and it is a proper exit. It could also just be they’re looking to spread risk and bring in more money via investment as they realise the higher bar necessary to compete in the PL.

Feels like there are so many people looking to save face after the transfer window debacle it’s hard to know who to trust and what their angle for releasing info might be.

[Gash]

All Bould has said is in "my opinion" it "feels" like a flip, she's left that hanging a bit. She might be right in the end but I don't think her tweet comes from any position of knowledge at the moment.

[Fynci]

I think we've entered the "At least they weren't as bad as 777" phase of the story arc.

[Trowel]

Wonder if this opens the door to Andy Bell and George Downing again?

Giulia Bould
@giuliabould.bsky.social

UPDATE:

Representative for Merseyside businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing tells me that at this stage a takeover or investment alongside Dell Technologies in Everton Football Club is not happening.

[MayorFarnham]

I'm not prepared to believe that the cost of competing in the EPL has taken them by surprise.

[Brownie]

FFS why can’t we just have some stability with this fucking club?

[Cereal Killer]

I'm not prepared to believe that the cost of competing in the EPL has taken them by surprise.

It’s probably more a case of “how the fuck do we actually get any money out of this”

[Granite]

I'm not prepared to believe that the cost of competing in the EPL has taken them by surprise.

The designers of our £700m stadium underestimated how many fellas would need a piss at 15:45 on a Saturday by about 20,000, so nothing surprises me anymore to be honest.

[Granite]

Paddy Boyland on The Blue Room pod saying after the Kinnear interviews something clearly shifted and there was a change in strategy with the club appeared to be actively looking for player sales - from his Everton contacts and from those within the game. Which again, I’ll ties in with what we’ve been saying.

[Bumble]

They clearly wanted to make it look attractive to any potential investors.

They’ll keep it as their cash cow, sell more and more shares to other investors to eventually break even and then ride their existing stake higher with a view to selling it at a later date for a big profit.

The FSG/Glazers model.

[Lazarou II]

Pump and dump.