Panorama to question ownership of Everton

[dead_soft]

Obviously not seen it yet, I suspect there will be a minor bit of innuendo and circumstantial evidence only. It will be a case of nothing to see here.

However if there were more to it I can't but think it is Arsenal more in trouble. Think of what City and PSG owners have been doing buying stakes in other clubs around the world, that is a grey area at least ethically. Any accusations are not focussed on clubs being bought into though, it is the 'parent' club that is looked at.

In this case even though Usmanov has no power at Arsenal legally he is still significant shareholder there. So any view of an investor at one club trying to influence another goes back to the parent club - Arsenal in this case.

And on stadium investors getting spooked - unless legal proof of wrong doing emerges this will have no effect. Big business lives on the edge of legality and if money is to be made by providing funding for the stadium a bit of 'mud' will not scare the Chinese/Russian/even UK investment vehicles likely to be involved.

City, PSG, Red Bull don’t own clubs in the same domestic competition though. And they are owned ‘upfront’ by the clubs. They are one franchise within the larger corporation. This a completely different and unrelated situation to that one

 

[Carlito]

Kenwright still hasn't got around to telling the truth about Green being the hidden hand behind Earl.

Get in line, BBC.

 

[Groucho]

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Feel this is a non story, if I'm being honest.

 

[Lee Smith]

I think I'll wait until I've seen the actual content and evidence of this investigation before I start wetting my pants if it's ok with you guys. Fully expecting this to be no more than complete hyperbole in an effort to attract viewing figures.

 

[Tramps_mate]

How many years between the two happening?

Not exactly sure, but does it really matter? Giving for free to buy back. Maybe if it's ten years or so it's not as bad. But 2-3 years... Bit dodge I reckon.

 

[brieverton]

I don’t think anything will come from it but the impact on the stadium is concerning.

It has an air of “innocent but let’s see them deny it” as LBJ would say.

The need for professional communication and the club owning and managing the narrative has never been greater.

Really only Moshiri can talk about his affairs but as with the manager situation, we need clarity on this, and not through Jim White either.

 

[whiteshadow]

I think this is an important point. Lots of people are unaware though, not many follow the dealings of Everton Football Club as our fans.

I sense this investigation is telling us what we already felt, that Usmanov is ostensibly running EFC via a proxy, and covering his tracks officially to avoid detection.

It's significant it's not posters on a forum saying it, but one of the worlds biggest broadcasters. There will be ramifications from this, in terms of how Usmanov moves forward. They may well be him fully coming on board.

Wouldn't it be more likely he'd be banned from owning a football club?

 

[Khalekan]

Could this flush Usmanov out of Arsenal?

That is the positive view I am taking.

If Usmanov is indeed behind the Moshiri takeover and Kroneke is even more and more adamant the former will be kept in the wings at Arsenal, why linger?

Get outta Dodge and involve yourself fully in your new project.

 

[davmaher]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but the Panorama programme in question is over 2 nights - tomorrow and Monday. The title of tomorrow's is "Off-Shore Secrets of the Rich Exposed" and Monday's is "Britain's Off-Shore Secrets Exposed". The one tomorrow is 30 mins, the one on Monday is an hour. I'm guessing that the Everton bit will not be the main topic but will tie in with the main, broader investigations.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Have Everton paid their TV licence?

End of the day, these are just a load of nosey journos employed to dig dirt on anything they can.

 

[catcherintherye]

I don’t think anything will come from it but the impact on the stadium is concerning.

It has an air of “innocent but let’s see them deny it” as LBJ would say.

The need for professional communication and the club owning and managing the narrative has never been greater.

Really only Moshiri can talk about his affairs but as with the manager situation, we need clarity on this, and not through Jim White either.

If we were going for mainstream funds I would suspect it could have an impact. However I believe the funds will come from more unorthodox methods. At worst this will have a very limited impact as I doubt it will be surprising for anyone looking to pitch in to the scheme. At best for Everton it might even impress people.

Th SPV seems to be the perfect vehicle for all this, to provide political cover. The FA, PL and LCC are dragged into this, and have given it an air of respectability.

 

[sixtynineseventy]

The bigger story is the criminal activity taking place on the pitch!

 

[Khalekan]

Wasn't Philip Green a bit dodgy? Did Panorama ever investigate him ?

lol

Indeed.

 

[catcherintherye]

Wouldn't it be more likely he'd be banned from owning a football club?

Maybe, but he's passed the fit and proper test long ago. I don't see how there's any new evidence to open up an investigation to what has already been passed. I suspect it may add pressure on him though, to lose his influence in one of the clubs.