An already tough task is seemingly set to be made much harder for Everton, should the Premier League get their way, in their desperate attempt to pile the misery on.
Having lost their chairman earlier this week, with the sad news of Bill Kenwright’s passing rocking English football, The Telegraph wasted no time in rubbing salt into the wounds, publishing a report that detailed the 12-point deduction sought to be imposed by their very own division.
With plans to ‘robustly defend’ such a notion, Sean Dyche now has the unenviable task of leading his men into a campaign of mass uncertainty, where only a huge number of points can guarantee their safety from whatever sanction is finalised.
With that in mind, the prospective owners have understandably begun putting plans in place, with their interest in snagging the Toffees from Farhad Moshiri well past the early stages now.
It seems that such an eventuality had actually been somewhat foreseen, with the Liverpool ECHO relaying a source that claimed: ‘The findings of the independent commission and any possible punishment isn’t something that 777 Partners haven’t prepared for, with sources telling the ECHO that all possible permutations, including fines and potential points deductions, were declared during the period of due diligence and have been ‘priced in’ to deal to acquire the club.’
They continue to suggest that the final price could vary depending on what division they end up in, before noting: ‘Whatever the outcome, sources maintain that it is unlikely to ‘deter’ 777 Partners from pushing ahead with their plans to acquire the football club.’
How much are 777 Partners worth?
As an institution willing to take on such a mess of a football club regardless of the ever-mounting issues, it would be easy to assume that there is set to be a vast financial backing to come alongside their acquisition of Everton.
That is a notion only supported by their net worth, which has been accumulated across various businesses including their investment endeavours back in Miami as well as their multi-football club business model.
According to The Sporting News, 777 Partners are worth an estimated $12bn (£9.63m), actually making them far richer than their current owner Moshiri.
Whilst that wealth obviously will not be solely at the free use of Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, it will certainly go a long way towards paying off debts, digging them out of holes, and hopefully returning them to the top of English football in a shiny new stadium too.
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