Dan Friedkin is prepared to offer a stake in Everton to George Downing and Andy Bell to get them on board with his takeover, according to Alan Nixon.
Writing on his Patreon account (15 July), the newspaper journalist reports that the American wants the Toffees fans as part of his new-look set-up at Goodison Park when his takeover of the club gets completed [Gazzetta dello Sport, 6 July].
Downing and Bell are currently owed around £200m thanks to their investment in the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium, and with Friedkin obliged to pay the debt back as part of his takeover he is willing to “give them a slice of the club in negotiations”.
Everton super fans to be part-owners?
It would be every Everton fan’s dream to become a part of the club and take them back to glory after a torrid few years, and this is a great opportunity for Downing and Bell to do so.
The business partners were keen on purchasing the club once the deal with 777 Partners collapsed [Telegraph, 14 May], however, Farhad Moshiri instead opted to go with Friedkin’s offer and granted him exclusivity.
But Bell and Downing will surely still be interested and if they can strike an agreement with Friedkin to be involved in running the club then they will surely take it.
It would be a fantastic thing for fans too, who would know that the people at the top of the club making the decision have the Toffees’ best interests at heart and things would only be done if they made sense.
With a new era being ushered in soon, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel and it looks like those coming in have their heads screwed on and an idea to lead the club into the future.
