Unearthing the Everton Takeover: 777 Partners Co-founder Josh Wander on a Mission to Silence the Doubters

Everton will enter the 209th Merseyside league derby at Anfield this week with renewed confidence, following their impressive win against Bournemouth in their previous game. Manager Sean Dyche has highlighted the team's improved performances, even though the desired results have not consistently materialized.

However, there remains a prevailing sense of uncertainty among those associated with the club, off the pitch.

Miami-based 777 Partners' proposed acquisition of Farhad Moshiri's majority shareholding is currently undergoing regulatory approval from the Premier League, the FA, and the Financial Conduct Authority. This process is anticipated to be finalized by the end of the year. Despite some adverse publicity, which has led to skepticism among certain Everton fans, 777 Partners remains committed to the deal announced in September.

I am aware that they have already provided the club with funding amounting to £65m. However, the company is hesitant to publicly disclose comprehensive details regarding their plans for the club and future investments—except for expressing their excitement about the potential of becoming owners. They have assured that they will communicate more extensively when the time is right.

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Wander was speaking exclusively to We

In an exclusive interview with We News, Moshiri reaffirmed his conviction that the US group is the perfect choice. He stated, "As I spend more time with the 777 team, my confidence grows that we have discovered the ideal individuals to lead the club towards success in the present era."

"They demonstrate utmost professionalism and consistently deliver on their promises. I eagerly anticipate their successful acquisition of all necessary regulatory approvals, ensuring timely completion according to the agreed timetable."

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When approached about the Everton deal, co-founder Josh Wander declined to comment. However, he did address the recent backlash from fans at Hertha Berlin and Standard Liege, as well as other negative headlines. Wander humbly admitted that they have made mistakes in the past and have gained valuable knowledge in the last few years.

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"Simultaneously, I dare anyone to deny the enhanced sporting and financial achievements we have achieved with every club we've invested in, all within a relatively short timeframe."

The official Fan Advisory Board of Everton has released a set of questions they would like the group to address before acquiring the club. 777 has already initiated private discussions with various stakeholders, but they view providing answers to those questions in accordance with the regulatory procedures as the top priority.

So who are 777 Partners?

777 Partners portfolio of clubs

They present themselves as possessing an "extensive understanding of the industry, proficient operational skills, and enduring financial resources to offer a distinctive opportunity for founders, management, employees, and investors" - all of which will be indispensable in acquiring a Premier League football club.

They have approximately 60 companies across the globe involved in a wide variety of businesses, with total investments amounting to £12 billion.

Their venture into the Sports Business began with investments in sports rights and swiftly expanded to acquiring stakes in multiple football clubs, as well as investing in the British Basketball League and London Lions.

777 individuals are currently active members of seven different clubs as they persistently develop a multi-club model enterprise. If given the green light to finalize the takeover, Everton would undeniably emerge as the prominent entity among them.

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Andriy Shevchenko was unsuccessful at Genoa

777's biggest investment among the seven clubs has been in Genoa, who held the 18th position in Italy's Serie A during the time of their acquisition. Upon taking charge, their initial move was to appoint a prominent figure like Andriy Shevchenko as the manager, which occurred within a few weeks.

Nevertheless, this decision proved unsuccessful as the ex-Chelsea striker only managed to win one game and suffered seven losses during his brief tenure. Consequently, Shevchenko was dismissed from his role after just two months, and Genoa faced relegation in that same season.

According to insiders, the previous owners made a significant error that served as a valuable lesson for the new owners, who are unlikely to repeat it. As a solution, they appointed Alberto Gilardino, the manager of their U19 team, as the first-team coach, and he successfully led them to regain promotion to Serie A in his debut season as coach. We News had an exclusive conversation with Genoa's CEO, Andres Blazquez, where he detailed the contributions brought to the club by 777.

"We entered an extremely disorganized setting, with a coach eager to leave and a roster that held minimal value. This roster consisted mainly of hastily acquired players, resulting in agent fees exceeding €10m. Subsequently, it was validated that these players had no worth."

He emphasized: "We have constructed a team driven by ambition, not solely geared towards mere survival. Our objective goes beyond mere safety; we strive to surpass expectations and achieve greatness."

Numerous issues arose in this environment. The processes employed exhibited a highly authoritative approach, with one individual making all decisions. Our solution was to introduce fresh personnel.

We not only replaced certain individuals but also unearthed hidden talents among the existing staff, ranging from receptionists to physiotherapists.

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We are dedicating significant efforts to improve our financial situation. This year, we aim to achieve a milestone that has perhaps never been reached in Genoa's history, particularly in recent decades. We expect to come extremely close to breaking even by effectively managing our expenses and implementing strategies to boost our income.

Genoa fans have embraced the new owners, 777 Partners, in a highly positive manner. After nearly two decades of disappointing management, the arrival of the new owners has brought a sense of renewal, which has been further bolstered by positive results.

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Genoa's spirits have been lifted in recent times.

"The 777 group made their entrance in Genoa during the autumn of 2021. Despite Genoa's relegation to Serie B that year, they took charge of the transfer market and achieved favorable outcomes in the subsequent season."

"They quickly secured promotion to Serie A and now boast a significantly more competitive team than in previous years. Currently, the stadium is consistently filled with a minimum of 32,000 fans for every home game, a record-breaking achievement for the club."

"However, both Hertha Berlin and Standard Liege fans have recently organized protests during matches to voice their discontent with 777 Partners. Hertha fans specifically express unhappiness with the company's commercial aspects."

777 Partners company model explained

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Standard Liege fans call out 777 during their side's 1-1 draw with RWDM

The company's structure model deviates significantly from the conventional English football club model. It usually involves a CEO who reports to the 777 board, and adopts a committee-style approach encompassing all aspects of the business, ranging from kit sales to player trading. This approach fosters an environment where all participants are encouraged to challenge and contribute to each other's suggestions and ideas.

Implementing that model at Everton would bring about a significant transformation from previous and current structures. The adoption of the multi-club model is anticipated to yield numerous advantages, encompassing financial expertise and access to a wide talent pool for recruitment and scouting purposes.

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A new owner is needed to take the club forward

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Moshiri is utilizing all his available funds for the stadium.

Don Dransfield, a member of the 777 team, previously held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Manchester City. He has extensive experience in working with various clubs within a multi-club setup and is well-versed in the Premier League.

The recruitment during Moshiri's ownership in the first four to five years has arguably been the driving force behind the club's current state. Undoubtedly, the billionaire lived up to his promises by investing heavily during that period. However, the players signed for exorbitant fees did not contribute to a cohesive squad, and as a result, multiple managers struggled to find the right formula. In the world of football, it is widely recognized that recruitment is the make-or-break factor, and despite the substantial financial investment, the level of achievement has been disappointingly low.

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Everton is ready to depart from their iconic former stadium. The 777 co-founders, Wander and Steve Pasko, had a meeting with Everton manager Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell at the club's training ground. This encounter took place before their visit to Goodison Park for a match against Luton Town. It appears that the co-founders were pleased with both individuals and were satisfied with the information they received.

The Moshiri era's substantial funds have depleted in recent seasons as the businessman allocated all available funding to the construction of the stadium and the club's operational expenses.

The conflict in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions have resulted in the discontinuation of support from Alisher Usmanov, his longstanding business partner and friend, through multiple sponsorship agreements.

A new owner is needed to lead the club into its new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey. 777 Partners seeks to fill this role and persuade the skeptics within the fan base to join them on this journey.