With the news that Farhad Moshiri has agreed, in principle, to sell Everton Football Club to Dan Friedkin, it is only fitting to reflect on Moshiri’s tenure as majority shareholder. His time at the helm has seen considerable highs and lows, yet a balanced evaluation of his contribution is warranted, particularly now as the club faces a fresh chapter. One of Moshiri’s most visible legacies will be the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The project has been a longstanding ambition for Everton, and under Moshiri’s leadership, it has gone from being a dream to a reality in progress. The new stadium is not just a structure of bricks and mortar but a symbol of the club’s intent to return to the top table of English football.
The value of a modern, world-class stadium cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide a state-of-the-art facility for fans and players alike, but it also offers significant revenue-generating potential. For a club that has often been accused of lagging behind the commercial powerhouses of the Premier League, the new stadium positions Everton for future success on and off the pitch. In many ways, Moshiri's commitment to seeing this through speaks to a broader vision for the club, even if results on the pitch have not always followed suit.
One of the key outcomes of Everton’s pending sale to Dan Friedkin is that the club will reportedly become debt-free, a significant achievement in the world of football, where clubs frequently carry heavy financial burdens. This development is a testament to Farhad Moshiri’s acumen as a businessman, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and ultimately leave Everton in a more secure position than when he first took charge. While Moshiri’s tenure is often critiqued for its on-pitch turbulence and managerial changes, his ability to ensure that the club’s financial health would be stabilised upon his departure should not be overlooked.
In a footballing climate where many clubs have struggled under the weight of mounting debt, Moshiri’s efforts to clear Everton’s liabilities through the sale highlight his strategic foresight. By ensuring the club is sold debt-free, Moshiri not only strengthens Everton’s financial foundations but also enhances its appeal to prospective buyers. This move shows a businessman who, despite some missteps in sporting decisions, has demonstrated financial prudence and responsibility. It is a departure from the common narrative of football owners burdening clubs with unsustainable debt and instead reflects Moshiri’s desire to leave the club in a stable position for the long term. Ultimately, this financial outcome underlines Moshiri’s capability to manage significant investments while maintaining a clear exit strategy that benefits the club and secures its future under new ownership. It’s important to remember that, throughout his ownership, Moshiri invested heavily in the club. Whether through player signings, managerial changes, or infrastructure development, he poured substantial resources into Everton. However, like many ambitious owners, some of these investments didn’t bear fruit. The sale, and the club’s debt-free status, offers a crucial reset.
Another point often overlooked in discussions about Moshiri’s tenure is the relative control of Everton’s wage bill. In a footballing world where spiralling wages frequently outstrip revenues, this is an achievement worth noting. The current squad’s wage bill, while not insignificant, is managed carefully in comparison to many of Everton’s Premier League rivals. While the club has spent substantial sums on transfers, Moshiri and the board ensured that the wage structure remained sustainable. This discipline will serve the club well in the coming years, particularly under new ownership. Friedkin’s group will have more flexibility to invest in players and rebuild the squad without the burden of a bloated payroll hanging over them.
When Farhad Moshiri arrived at Everton in 2016, he did so with the promise of ushering in a new era of modernisation and ambition. One of his early moves was to wrestle control from long-time chairman Bill Kenwright, a man revered by some but seen as a relic of the past by others. This transition was not without its challenges or controversies. For many fans, Kenwright was synonymous with the club’s identity. His deep ties to Merseyside and his genuine love for Everton made him a revered figure, especially in a football world increasingly dominated by foreign owners with no local or emotional connection to the clubs they purchased. Yet for others, Kenwright represented a past that was holding Everton back. His reluctance to take on significant debt and his cautious approach to investment were increasingly viewed as impediments to the club's progress. Moshiri’s arrival was, in this sense, a double-edged sword – a departure from the local and emotional roots that Kenwright embodied, but a necessary step toward competing at the top of the Premier League. Moshiri’s influence undoubtedly signalled a shift away from the more sentimental, locally-focused stewardship of Kenwright towards a more pragmatic, global outlook.
As Dan Friedkin prepares to take the reins, he inherits a club that is debt-free, with a world-class stadium on the horizon and a wage structure that leaves room for future investment. Moshiri's time at Everton was not without its challenges, but his contributions, especially in the areas of infrastructure and financial stability, will be crucial building blocks for the future.
Ultimately, Farhad Moshiri leaves our club a very different club than the one he took over. While silverware may have eluded him, his tenure has laid the groundwork for what could be a more prosperous future. The next chapter in Everton’s storied history will now be written by Dan Friedkin, but Moshiri's fingerprints will remain.
The value of a modern, world-class stadium cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide a state-of-the-art facility for fans and players alike, but it also offers significant revenue-generating potential. For a club that has often been accused of lagging behind the commercial powerhouses of the Premier League, the new stadium positions Everton for future success on and off the pitch. In many ways, Moshiri's commitment to seeing this through speaks to a broader vision for the club, even if results on the pitch have not always followed suit.
One of the key outcomes of Everton’s pending sale to Dan Friedkin is that the club will reportedly become debt-free, a significant achievement in the world of football, where clubs frequently carry heavy financial burdens. This development is a testament to Farhad Moshiri’s acumen as a businessman, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and ultimately leave Everton in a more secure position than when he first took charge. While Moshiri’s tenure is often critiqued for its on-pitch turbulence and managerial changes, his ability to ensure that the club’s financial health would be stabilised upon his departure should not be overlooked.
In a footballing climate where many clubs have struggled under the weight of mounting debt, Moshiri’s efforts to clear Everton’s liabilities through the sale highlight his strategic foresight. By ensuring the club is sold debt-free, Moshiri not only strengthens Everton’s financial foundations but also enhances its appeal to prospective buyers. This move shows a businessman who, despite some missteps in sporting decisions, has demonstrated financial prudence and responsibility. It is a departure from the common narrative of football owners burdening clubs with unsustainable debt and instead reflects Moshiri’s desire to leave the club in a stable position for the long term. Ultimately, this financial outcome underlines Moshiri’s capability to manage significant investments while maintaining a clear exit strategy that benefits the club and secures its future under new ownership. It’s important to remember that, throughout his ownership, Moshiri invested heavily in the club. Whether through player signings, managerial changes, or infrastructure development, he poured substantial resources into Everton. However, like many ambitious owners, some of these investments didn’t bear fruit. The sale, and the club’s debt-free status, offers a crucial reset.
Another point often overlooked in discussions about Moshiri’s tenure is the relative control of Everton’s wage bill. In a footballing world where spiralling wages frequently outstrip revenues, this is an achievement worth noting. The current squad’s wage bill, while not insignificant, is managed carefully in comparison to many of Everton’s Premier League rivals. While the club has spent substantial sums on transfers, Moshiri and the board ensured that the wage structure remained sustainable. This discipline will serve the club well in the coming years, particularly under new ownership. Friedkin’s group will have more flexibility to invest in players and rebuild the squad without the burden of a bloated payroll hanging over them.
When Farhad Moshiri arrived at Everton in 2016, he did so with the promise of ushering in a new era of modernisation and ambition. One of his early moves was to wrestle control from long-time chairman Bill Kenwright, a man revered by some but seen as a relic of the past by others. This transition was not without its challenges or controversies. For many fans, Kenwright was synonymous with the club’s identity. His deep ties to Merseyside and his genuine love for Everton made him a revered figure, especially in a football world increasingly dominated by foreign owners with no local or emotional connection to the clubs they purchased. Yet for others, Kenwright represented a past that was holding Everton back. His reluctance to take on significant debt and his cautious approach to investment were increasingly viewed as impediments to the club's progress. Moshiri’s arrival was, in this sense, a double-edged sword – a departure from the local and emotional roots that Kenwright embodied, but a necessary step toward competing at the top of the Premier League. Moshiri’s influence undoubtedly signalled a shift away from the more sentimental, locally-focused stewardship of Kenwright towards a more pragmatic, global outlook.
As Dan Friedkin prepares to take the reins, he inherits a club that is debt-free, with a world-class stadium on the horizon and a wage structure that leaves room for future investment. Moshiri's time at Everton was not without its challenges, but his contributions, especially in the areas of infrastructure and financial stability, will be crucial building blocks for the future.
Ultimately, Farhad Moshiri leaves our club a very different club than the one he took over. While silverware may have eluded him, his tenure has laid the groundwork for what could be a more prosperous future. The next chapter in Everton’s storied history will now be written by Dan Friedkin, but Moshiri's fingerprints will remain.