Football's Magic Money Tree

[bartons baggage]

Yes I agree.

[Chester Perry]

very vague for the 10,000th post on this thread

[Chester Perry]

The Football Governance Bill passed its 2nd stage tonight in Parliament - though it seems a number of MP's have unsurprisingly been taken in by the misinformation surrounding FA Cup replays

from The Guardian

MPs call for English football’s regulator to have power to save FA Cup replays
MPs vote in favour of progressing the Football Governance Bill
Calls for regulator to have scope to amend parachute payments
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... up-replays
https://archive.ph/NxoaB

Following that second reading of the Football Governance Bill on Tuesday - Sports Minister Stuart Andrew talks to the Price of Football Podcast in a special edition. I still see a lot of mis-information and populism in the progress of this bill and wonder how a regulator can ever meet the expectation so many are placing upon it, when the key influencing parties are out of sphere of the regulators control. Particularly when those influencing entities have an interest in weakening the Premier League.

Interview: Sports Minister Stuart Andrew MP
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1482886394

[bartons baggage]

very vague for the 10,000th post on this thread

Yes I agree again,but it was on 9999 and couldn't resist the temptation.

[Chester Perry]

Next summer will see FIFA decamp to North America for the first of what could yet be 3 consecutive years (Club World Cup, World Cup and potentially the Women's World Cup) - anyone still think the US market is not important to football. Broadcast arrangements for the latter two are more established but the first is a new event designed to give clubs from around the world the opportunity to compete with the big European clubs, though there is much about the competition that is still far to vague for those who need to plan ahead, like the participating clubs. So how do FIFA ensure that everyone can watch? by selling the global rights to a streamer large numbers of the world's population cannot afford to use.

from The New York Times

FIFA Said to Be Close to TV Deal With Apple for New Tournament
The agreement would give the tech company worldwide rights for a monthlong World Cup-style competition between top teams set to take place next year.
https://archive.ph/8w8BU

[Chester Perry]

We were initially led to believe it would be this coming winter, but it looks like being sooner than that, or does it?

from The Telegraph

Manchester City’s 115 charges: Premier League says hearing ‘in near future’
Richard Masters says ‘a date has been set and the case will resolve itself at some point in the near future’
https://archive.ph/Ifubp

[Chester Perry]

Following that second reading of the Football Governance Bill on Tuesday - Sports Minister Stuart Andrew talks to the Price of Football Podcast in a special edition. I still see a lot of mis-information and populism in the progress of this bill and wonder how a regulator can ever meet the expectation so many are placing upon it, when the key influencing parties are out of sphere of the regulators control. Particularly when those influencing entities have an interest in weakening the Premier League.

Interview: Sports Minister Stuart Andrew MP
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1482886394

So this is interesting about DCMS and the Sports Minister Stuart Andrew - not football but an indicator of how government politics goes against the wishes of athletes, fans and domestic sporting bodies

Martin Zeigler in his column for The Times

Leaked letter reveals government U-turn over Russians at Olympics
Correspondence with IOC undermines culture secretary Lucy Frazer’s claim that Whitehall has not changed stance on Russians and Belarusians competing as neutrals
https://archive.ph/Ifubp

The culture secretary Lucy Frazer’s continuing insistence that the government has not diluted its policy on Russian athletes competing as neutrals has been blown out of the water by a leaked letter from the IOC.

The Times revealed two weeks ago that the government about-turn means it now supports the IOC’s policy on Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals. Yet Frazer issued a statement saying it was the IOC that had “changed their approach”.

However, an IOC letter in response to one from the sports minister Stuart Andrew — which told Thomas Bach, the IOC president, that ministers “no longer advise the need for any additional neutrality conditions where events are taking place in the UK” — makes clear it is the UK government that has changed its stance.

The IOC letter states: “Thank you for your letter of March 28 updating the IOC president on the change in position of the UK government regarding the participation in sporting events of independent neutral athletes who hold either a Russian or Belarusian passport.

“We are pleased to note your full support for the position of the IOC … in particular at the Olympic Games in Paris.

“We assume that the UK government will also share their position with the group of ‘like-minded’ sports ministers who issued a series of letters and statements against the IOC’s position previously and make this public so as to ensure full transparence [sic].”

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport responded to the latest leak by saying its core policy remains unchanged.

[Chester Perry]

This story about DAZN being upset with The Bundesliga over the awarding of a premium rights package in which DAZN believed that they had substantially outbid Sky for has been running for a while now. It seems that DAZN have chosen to overlook a crucial point - they failed to provide the necessary financial guarantees in support of the bid. Anyone with the remotest understanding of how excessive bids for football broadcast rights have gone onto create financial turmoil for leagues in England, France, Germany and Italy (to list but a few) should understand the criticality of that.

from The Financial Times

Len Blavatnik’s DAZN threatens to sue German football league over TV rights auction
Sports streaming group accuses DFL of ‘unlawful behaviour’ after losing out to Sky
https://archive.ph/ImRRP

[Chester Perry]

While this is better than B-teams, I am not sure that this is all that helpful to the National League if fans react in the same way as those in the EFL have done to the EFL Trophy. Overall it just feels like an F.U. to the EFL

from The Athletic

Premier League and National League in talks over new cup competition featuring under-21 sides
https://archive.ph/FZfxp

[bfc8]

I suspect that this piece in The Athletic today about the proposed spending caps for the Premier League is presented in to optimistic a light - some clubs benefit from Multi-club organisations, and as I have previously highlighted, Manchester City in particular have managed to persuade the games authorities that there is nothing untoward in the fact they are very profitable, while CFG itself is hugely loss-making.

Why a spending cap could signify a subtle but important power shift in the Premier League
https://archive.ph/RpUlh

Been thinking more about this. Doesn't mean all clubs have same effective cap limit. Depends on multiplier used on base figure, some clubs may not have suffcient revenue to spend up to cap. Does mean cap not dependent on each individual clubs revenue, which is difficult to police as we've seen. Could be a cleaner and better approach. There will still be the 'richer' and 'poorer' clubs but maybe less room for side-stepping the rules.

[bfc8]

ps, some smaller clubs could be tempted to spend beyond means up towards cap, so maybe some maximum debt type rule would also need to be introduced or the % of revenue kept in some way.

[Chester Perry]

Been thinking more about this. Doesn't mean all clubs have same effective cap limit. Depends on multiplier used on base figure, some clubs may not have suffcient revenue to spend up to cap. Does mean cap not dependent on each individual clubs revenue, which is difficult to police as we've seen. Could be a cleaner and better approach. There will still be the 'richer' and 'poorer' clubs but maybe less room for side-stepping the rules.

ps, some smaller clubs could be tempted to spend beyond means up towards cap, so maybe some maximum debt type rule would also need to be introduced or the % of revenue kept in some way.

What is interesting about the proposals is it becomes a triple rather than double measure

So we have:

- Squad Cost to Revenue - 75% for UEFA qualifiers and 85% for the rest, which will be awful for some Europa League/Conference qualifiers
- the 4.5 wages to bottom clubs TV revenue know as an anchor
- Allowable losses over a declared period

In many ways as I have already suggested it is in the best interests of the UEFA clubs to make the Premier League broadcast share more equitable so that they can spend more on players and make themselves competitive in the international club competitions. Interestingly the anchor was proposed by Arsenal, who are fearful of where Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are taking wage spend and particularly the commercial revenues that facilitate it.

[Chester Perry]

Legacy Fans v Corporate sensibilities - The Athletic picks up the baton

The new Premier League culture war: Corporate interests vs ‘authentic’ fans
https://theathletic.com/5416265/2024/04 ... e-culture/

Jonathan Wilson is the next writer to pick up on this theme

from The Guardian

Ange Postecoglou the ‘plastic’ manager is perfect fit for a club at odds with its fans
There’s always been a tension between connection to place and the commercial reality – but it has never felt more acute
https://www.theguardian.com/football/bl ... h-its-fans
https://archive.ph/Tfngt

[ClaretPete001]

Jonathan Wilson is the next writer to pick up on this theme

from The Guardian

Ange Postecoglou the ‘plastic’ manager is perfect fit for a club at odds with its fans
There’s always been a tension between connection to place and the commercial reality – but it has never felt more acute
https://www.theguardian.com/football/bl ... h-its-fans
https://archive.ph/Tfngt

The latter is a very Guardianesque piece, a nominally middle class liberal paper, chooses to critique football from the prism of globalisation and a vaguely anti-foreign stance. What emerges is an incoherent rationale seemingly arguing that clubs can be both traditional and at the same time expensively market themselves to tourists without any consequences before coming to the conclusion that none of it really matters anyway.

You feel the journalist really wants to make a point but the more GB News it gets the more he desperately wants to avoid making it.

At the end of the day, the big 6 will become global institutions that have little in common with the local community and will all look the same. Diversity will be constructed by branding and marketing executives.

As Morrissey points out, to the chagrine of the Guardianistas, globalisation leads to homogeneity not diversity and in 30 years time the difference between Milan, Madrid, Spurs and Man Utd will be the corporate logos and the histories and social artefacts determined by branding consultants. Local communities will be priced out if they are not already.

The choice is there, but clearly The Guardian, on this issue and most others, end up with almost nothing coherent to say.

[Chester Perry]

In a clear indication of just how much football finance has penetrated football fandom - The Price of Football Podcast released it's 500th episode today with a special interview with Kieron O'Connor better known as Swiss Ramble - it is chatty but Swiss gives a bit of an insight as to what investors get into football for

Episode 500! Swiss Ramble interview
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e ... 0653858222

[Chester Perry]

Philippe Auclair with an extensive new article about Asian betting operations, the Isle of Man and the importance of holding a British gaming license - there has been recent police action and some interesting activity by brands we see associated with football, particularly in the Premier League - note that includes BK8 and W88 both associated with Burnley Football Club

from Josimar

The earthquake
The Isle of Man has been a safe haven for betting companies, many of them partners of Premier League clubs. Last week police raided several companies and this unprecedented action has sent shockwaves throughout the gambling industry.
https://josimarfootball.com/2024/04/29/the-earthquake/
https://archive.ph/Dxe70

[Chester Perry]

What is interesting about the proposals is it becomes a triple rather than double measure

So we have:

- Squad Cost to Revenue - 75% for UEFA qualifiers and 85% for the rest, which will be awful for some Europa League/Conference qualifiers
- the 4.5 wages to bottom clubs TV revenue know as an anchor
- Allowable losses over a declared period

In many ways as I have already suggested it is in the best interests of the UEFA clubs to make the Premier League broadcast share more equitable so that they can spend more on players and make themselves competitive in the international club competitions. Interestingly the anchor was proposed by Arsenal, who are fearful of where Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are taking wage spend and particularly the commercial revenues that facilitate it.

It will be interesting as to how the vote goes on this today - if discussions allow it to get that far

from The Times

Premier League clubs to decide on spending cap
A vote in principle on the cap, which would restrict top teams’ spending on transfers, wages and agents, is expected to be taken at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting in London on Monday
https://archive.ph/Q5uJa

[Chester Perry]

It will be interesting as to how the vote goes on this today - if discussions allow it to get that far

from The Times

Premier League clubs to decide on spending cap
A vote in principle on the cap, which would restrict top teams’ spending on transfers, wages and agents, is expected to be taken at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting in London on Monday
https://archive.ph/Q5uJa

The principle has been agreed today the detail will have to wait for June's meeting - which kind of makes sense as that is when the promoted clubs will officially join

from The Athletic

Premier League clubs agree to push ahead with spending cap plans
https://archive.ph/eIPgf

it is interesting that the dissenters were the two Manchester clubs and Villa with Chelsea abstaining

from The Independent

Premier League agrees new spending cap - but three clubs vote against ‘anchoring’ approach
The English top flight has already agreed to remove Profitability and Sustainability Rules from 2025/26
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 36543.html
https://archive.ph/uIETl

[Chester Perry]

The principle has been agreed today the detail will have to wait for June's meeting - which kind of makes sense as that is when the promoted clubs will officially join

from The Athletic

Premier League clubs agree to push ahead with spending cap plans
https://archive.ph/eIPgf

it is interesting that the dissenters were the two Manchester clubs and Villa with Chelsea abstaining

from The Independent

Premier League agrees new spending cap - but three clubs vote against ‘anchoring’ approach
The English top flight has already agreed to remove Profitability and Sustainability Rules from 2025/26
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 36543.html
https://archive.ph/uIETl

It seems that there is no decision yet as to whether an anchor applies to wages or overall squad cost and indeed what the multiple would be - the notion that it would not affect any clubs current spending ratios makes it seem a little pointless

from The Times

Clubs agree to Premier League spending cap principle
Manchester City and Manchester United among four sides not to vote in principle on the cap, which would restrict top teams’ spending on transfers, wages and agents
https://archive.ph/5kwB9

[Chester Perry]

Miguel Delaney appears confident that the new FFP/cost control proposals being examined by the Premier League are a step towards a more competitive competition

from The Independent

How a Premier League spending cap can stop the destructive race of the richest clubs
As the English top flight moves to vote on a rare measure to safeguard its future, Miguel Delaney explains why such a drastic change to the framework of the league is needed
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 36636.html
https://archive.ph/7K5Kl

[Chester Perry]

Schalke 04 are one of the true giant clubs in Germany and Europe - they may be about to drop out of Bundesliga 2 and that makes their situation desperate - it is a combination of circumstances from poor management in the boardroom to a huge reliance on Russian sponsorship - in many ways this is the future that Everton have so far managed to escape

from the BBC

Schalke's fall to the edge of existence
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... r5yy29k82o

[Chester Perry]

possibly not anymore though it is expected that they will be putting more operating money into Everton in the coming days

This is an interesting if unsurprising move

https://twitter.com/sachatavolieri/stat ... st-new.php

which translates as

As rightly written
@sudinfo_be
this morning, 777 Partners is open to a sale of the #Standard de Liège.

The American group has an urgent need for liquidity to manage the operations and structural debts of #HerthaBerlin but also and above all to maintain the acquisition of #EvertonFC. #EFC #HBSC

In this line of ideas, Josh Wander and his partners have already discussed a sale of #RSCL with several investors including the American Bill Foley, formerly interested in Sporting Charleroi who still wishes to buy a club in Belgium.

777 Partners is also holding a similar speech behind the scenes for Red Star FC and has already received a purchase offer for the #NationalFFF club, whose financial value should evolve considerably during their rise to #League2.

Wait&See… #JPL #Ligue1


I imagine that there are predators with an eye for a bargain sniffing around other 777 Partners assets too.

Meanwhile another 777 Partners enterprise, Bonza airlines, has called in restructuring advisors to help rejuvenate that businesses economic prospects

Bonza hires restructuring advice amid turbulence at Miami-based owner 777 Partners
https://www.melissa-payne.ca/trending/8ad476cd20/

Is this the beginning of the end for 777 Partners? It certainly underlines their cash issues

Budget airline owned by Everton suitor, 777 Partners, enters voluntary administration
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwe ... nistration
https://archive.ph/CRpAi

[Chester Perry]

Consider the above post to this, the monies suggested last week have now gone through apparently - it appears that 777 are still juggling their limited funds to pursue Everton - it is all quite desparate and ruthless really

from The i

Everton’s loans from 777 Partners exceed £200m after fresh injection of capital
The American-based investment group have provided further financial assistance and hope to complete a deal at the end of May
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/ever ... al-3030818
https://archive.ph/5QkNI

[Chester Perry]

Miguel Delaney appears confident that the new FFP/cost control proposals being examined by the Premier League are a step towards a more competitive competition

from The Independent

How a Premier League spending cap can stop the destructive race of the richest clubs
As the English top flight moves to vote on a rare measure to safeguard its future, Miguel Delaney explains why such a drastic change to the framework of the league is needed
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 36636.html
https://archive.ph/7K5Kl

More detail here on how anchoring could benefit the other 14 in the Premier League (though I still wonder how long that will last, given the pressure from FIFA/UEFA on the football calendar) put in the context of why Manchester United voted against the idea

from The Athletic

Why Manchester United voted against Premier League spending cap plans
https://archive.ph/rAQic

[Chester Perry]

The last week or so has seen plenty of dramatic reports in the media about the prosecution of Football Agent/Intermediary Saif Rubie and his alleged threat to Maria Granovskaia then of Chelsea over a disputed fee. Rather than clog up the thread with these articles I have waited for something along these lines which covers the case from beginning to end but also shows just how seedy our beautiful game is off the pitch and how seemingly impossible rises to power in club's appear to happen seemingly on the whim of an owner, occasionally (as in this case) justified by ensuing performance and results.

from The Athletic

Marina Granovskaia, Saif Rubie and a trial revealing ‘the difficult and ugly side of football’
https://archive.ph/9MZMP

[bfcjg]

Everton must be teetering on the brink. Could they go into administration this season?

[Chester Perry]

Everton must be teetering on the brink. Could they go into administration this season?

Probably only if they make the choice, I doubt anyone will force it at this stage

There are some interesting things going on in the background, 777 Partners were briefing that they would complete the takeover before the end of the season last week, yet Farhad Moshri agreed to meet with the club's Fan Advisory Board after the end of the season - why would he do that if he didn't think he would still be in ownership of the club.

The question is who will force the issue? While the impression has been given that Moshri is party to an exclusivity agreement with 777 Partners, there are some including The Esk that do not believe that is the case. MSP Capital have previously been blocked by the senior debt partner at the club (Rights and Media Funding who are funded by noted Coolmore stud partner Michael Tabor (those with long memories will remember Coolmore's John Magnier relationship with Sir Alex Fergusson and how that led to the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, they are very hard nosed businessmen). That was as much about the club's sale valuation in relation to the the charges on it as it was about the demand for a sizeable capital reduction on the clubs loans from Rights and Media Funding.

The agreement MSP have with Moshri re Bramley Moore could see them take half of Moshri's 94% holding plus the stadium company if 777 Partners fail to find the necessary £158m in the next few weeks. That would not give them full control of the club, the same would be true if they added the late Bill Kenwright's 1.3% holding in the club. I sense that the MSP Capital deal with Moshri, in regards to the stadium loan (remember Moshri has a 12.5% stake in that) is the maximum allowable under the terms of the Rights and Media Funding loan agreement before the loans have to be substantially paid down in a lump sum

There are stories of a Qatari bid in the background and indeed another American bid, it comes down to how much of a loss Moshri (or whoever is funding him) will finally be prepared to take and what can be agreed with Rights and Media Funding. The now £200m+ loan from 777 partners just adds complications, though given the junior status of their debt it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a pre-packaged administration is used to transfer the ownership of the club subject to prior agreement with Rights and Media Funding.

[NewClaret]

Some interesting stuff there from CP.

“Whoever is funding Moshiri” I could hazard a guess at. Wouldn’t shock me if the same were now funding 777 somewhere down the money chain.

Now that 777 have funded the May operating and stadium costs, I can’t see any scenario where they go in to administration. It’d likely be best for all concerned though as they’d still stay up and get all their points deductions covered in one season before the inevitable fire sale. After that, they may find points deductions are less easy to absorb and still stay up.

That is unless one of the other rumoured buyers were to step in.

Will say I have no idea how the premier league could determine 777 to be fit and proper owners.

[Chester Perry]

,,,,Will say I have no idea how the premier league could determine 777 to be fit and proper owners.

This is the thing that most people haven't quite grasped - The Premier League have not said that 777 Partners are 'Fit and Proper'.

I posted a while back that is doesn't seem to be in The Premier League's powers to refuse a potential owner outright, all it can say is that you have not met the criteria at this time, for 777 Partners this means that they have been set what in some parts of the world is known as an 'impossible task', not unlike PiF were when they first walked away from Newcastle.

The criteria laid before 777 Partners has been designed to encourage them to walk away and open up the field to others. If the criteria are met it will mean that 777 Partners will have shed some of their other businesses - there is a requirement for them to use a substantial amount of their own funds, which they do not have in a liquid form - and therefore de-risk their other activities and the group. Indications from various media reports are that 777 Partners are trying to do just that, even though it is not in their nature (just look at all the frantic calls around April 15th.

We will just have to wait a for MSP Capital lose their patience, the 777 Partners bid relies just as heavily on that now as their ability to raise the necessary funds.

[elwaclaret]

Think there needs to be a serious investigation as to whether there is sports washing going on with Everton. My (without much basis) hunch is there is still Russian money being plowed into Everton, and some sanction busting going on to be reclaimed in the long term by people who are currently blacklisted (or should be).

[bfcjg]

Very murky,ironic that Everton fans hold up banners that proclaim the Premier league is corrupt whilst their own club wallows in this dubious cesspit.

[Chester Perry]

Think there needs to be a serious investigation as to whether there is sports washing going on with Everton. My (without much basis) hunch is there is still Russian money being plowed into Everton, and some sanction busting going on to be reclaimed in the long term by people who are currently blacklisted (or should be).

Most 777 Partners funds are traceable within North America or from 777 Re.

Interestingly 777 Partners activities with 777 Re has led to a major investigation in the US as to how Private Equity and funds are leveraging assets from Reinsurance entities they have bought. A huge clampdown is coming, because they are using the moneys to invest in Parent group activities rather than spreading risk (it has bee regarded as cheap money in financial circles) - The American Federal Authorities are concerned it is another CDO type fiasco in the making

[elwaclaret]

Most 777 Partners funds are traceable within North America or from 777 Re.

Interestingly 777 Partners activities with 777 Re has led to a major investigation in the US as to how Private Equity and funds are leveraging assets from Reinsurance entities they have bought. A huge clampdown is coming, because they are using the moneys to invest in Parent group activities rather than spreading risk (it has bee regarded as cheap money in financial circles) - The American Federal Authorities are concerned it is another CDO type fiasco in the making

Thanks for that. My immediate thought is because it is American money that shows up is not necessarily the whole picture. There are many hawks who have nothing but disdain for the West’s sanctions and opposition to Putin, who will have no compunction doing favours and hiding Russian Money.

[Chester Perry]

Thanks for that. My immediate thought is because it is American money that shows up is not necessarily the whole picture. There are many hawks who have nothing but disdain for the West’s sanctions and opposition to Putin, who will have no compunction doing favours and hiding Russian Money.

there is plenty of that going on I would say - some quite openly in the Middle East, India, China and Africa

[Chester Perry]

The Guardian are reporting that Everton have called in Insolvency Advisors - because the monies reported by The i has having been paid yesterday have not arrived

Everton call in insolvency advisers amid fresh doubt over 777 takeover
Club believed to be waiting for further £15m of loans from 777
Advisory firm Teneo deals with restructuring and insolvency
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... over-doubt
https://archive.ph/gcxLP

[Chester Perry]

this thread has long noted that the Premier League likes to go into mutually beneficial long-term relationships with its major broadcast partners - this long look at the relationship with NBC explains why

from The Athletic

Behind the scenes at NBC: ‘We want to be the network of the Premier League’
https://archive.ph/IW97y

[bfcjg]

Everton is in a mess,reading that report.

[Chester Perry]

So this is an interesting one - essentially FIFA rules are getting in the way of sanctions against Russia

Fifa transfer rules may breach EU regulations, says adviser
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 2p3vd83edo

[Chester Perry]

The Guardian are reporting that Everton have called in Insolvency Advisors - because the monies reported by The i has having been paid yesterday have not arrived

Everton call in insolvency advisers amid fresh doubt over 777 takeover
Club believed to be waiting for further £15m of loans from 777
Advisory firm Teneo deals with restructuring and insolvency
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... over-doubt
https://archive.ph/gcxLP

The Guardian have followed up the above with this summary of events to date

Everton
Explainer
The Everton crisis explained: how did it get to this point?
Owner Farhad Moshiri once said the club were ‘robust’ enough to fund stadium but now they need working capital injections
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -explained
https://archive.ph/zjng5

meanwhile the BBC are reporting that the £16m loan from 777 Partners has now been received

Everton given delayed 777 loan for day-to-day costs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cqqnkgv0k19o

[Chester Perry]

While this the title of this article from Phillipe Auclair may have been made out of date by that BBC revelation there is much else in it that is still relevant particularly the questions about whether major 777 Partners financial backer Kenneth King of A-Cap will find ways to meet the demands of regulatory bodies and keep on supporting 777 Partners

Kind of blue
Another missed payment deadline by 777 Partners, this time to Everton, puts the firm’s takeover of the club into fresh doubt, while one of its airlines has just entered voluntary administration.
https://josimarfootball.com/2024/04/30/kind-of-blue/
https://archive.ph/EvDGZ

[Chester Perry]

this thread has long noted that the Premier League likes to go into mutually beneficial long-term relationships with its major broadcast partners - this long look at the relationship with NBC explains why

from The Athletic

Behind the scenes at NBC: ‘We want to be the network of the Premier League’
https://archive.ph/IW97y

In the above piece NBC freely admitted that they would love a couple of in season games to be played in the US - to them (and many others) it is a logical step in the growth of the Premier League. Of course the Premier league know that it is quite a complex issue, with Richard Masters stating quite clearly last week that it would be a difficult one for domestic fans to accept, so this comes as no surprise to anyone.

from The Independent

FSA promises ‘two-footed’ response to any plan for Premier League games overseas
American broadcaster NBC has expressed a wish to stage games in the United States on the opening weekend of the season.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 37424.html
https://archive.ph/LMSAq

[Chester Perry]

the Times are reporting that the Premier League are still looking at this deal and have yet to give it their approval - there is no way that Chelsea can lay this at the door of the precious owners like they have with so much else

Chelsea’s £76.5m hotels deal under scrutiny from Premier League
West London club could be in danger of breaching spending rules, with Premier League yet to approve value of owners’ sale of hotels to sister company
https://archive.ph/VTmci

Suggestions that The Premier League are refusing to sign off Chelsea's sell to a related company hotel deal - that would likely see them heavily in breach of PSR, I imagine there are a few clubs upset that a commission and points deduction will not happen this season - a six point penalty would see them fall 4 places in the table - at the end of the season that equates to circa £12.5m in merit payments and more money (at a little over £3.1m per place) for those that would benefit and a further PSR challenge for Chelsea's next accounts

from The Times

The £76.5m Chelsea hotel deal that Premier League refuses to sign off
Lengthy delay is a huge problem as it leaves uncertainty over whether club have been compliant with Profitability and Sustainability Rules for the 2022-23 season
https://archive.ph/pEN7r

[Chester Perry]

As has been shown a number of times in this thread - the multi-club approach is particularly popular with owners of English clubs most significantly in the Premier League - the common idea is for the Premier League club to sit at the pinnacle and benefit from it's siblings either financially or from a player development model and ideally both. There is seemingly little concern in the boardrooms of these organisations about the the independence and history of those clubs that are acquired to pursue 'higher' goals. So far despite ever growing protests, there has been little that fans have been able to do to stop the acquisition of their club (NEC Breda apart).

Here the Athletic looks at growing outrage within supporter groups in France as the impacts of clubs being bought by Premier League Clubs (more strictly their owners) is assessed

The French clubs being bought – and distorted – by Premier League teams
https://archive.ph/SymLW

[Chester Perry]

The Guardian have followed up the above with this summary of events to date

Everton
Explainer
The Everton crisis explained: how did it get to this point?
Owner Farhad Moshiri once said the club were ‘robust’ enough to fund stadium but now they need working capital injections
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -explained
https://archive.ph/zjng5

meanwhile the BBC are reporting that the £16m loan from 777 Partners has now been received

Everton given delayed 777 loan for day-to-day costs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cqqnkgv0k19o

The Esk is saying that the latest monies that arrived at Everton this week were not from the source state - which is 777 Partners

https://twitter.com/theesk/status/17853 ... ark-bid%2F

I will return tomorrow to answer earlier questions, but just to establish a couple of things (i) Everton received some funding to meet our monthly obligations but not from the source quoted extensively in the media (ii) The Bonza situation has considerable knock on effects for 777 & associated companies (more tomorrow) (iii) the club is secure between now & end of season (iv) those "waiting in the wings" continue to be ready to support/acquire the club at the appropriate time, which is not too far away

[Chester Perry]

In the above piece NBC freely admitted that they would love a couple of in season games to be played in the US - to them (and many others) it is a logical step in the growth of the Premier League. Of course the Premier league know that it is quite a complex issue, with Richard Masters stating quite clearly last week that it would be a difficult one for domestic fans to accept, so this comes as no surprise to anyone.

from The Independent

FSA promises ‘two-footed’ response to any plan for Premier League games overseas
American broadcaster NBC has expressed a wish to stage games in the United States on the opening weekend of the season.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 37424.html
https://archive.ph/LMSAq

Miguel Delaney offers his thoughts on NBC's desire for the Premier League to host games in the US

from The Independent

Why playing Premier League games in the US is the last thing football needs
Comment: As the Premier League’s American TV partner said it would ‘push’ for fixtures to be played in the US, the prospect of more global expansion is an insult to football fans and further proof of clubs detaching from their community roots
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 37776.html
https://archive.ph/B5Zy5

[Chester Perry]

Is this the beginning of the end for 777 Partners? It certainly underlines their cash issues

Budget airline owned by Everton suitor, 777 Partners, enters voluntary administration
https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwe ... nistration
https://archive.ph/CRpAi

It appears that 777 Partners have parted ways with their other Australian Airline interest - Flair

From Australian Aviation

FLAIR REPORTEDLY SPLITS FROM 777 PARTNERS AS BONZA SAGA CONTINUES
https://australianaviation.com.au/2024/ ... continues/
https://archive.ph/0Gxkt

[Chester Perry]

It has been a while since we have heard about Southend United - there are still problems

from The Guardian

‘Ryan Reynolds never had to deal with this’: the slow death and (possible) rebirth of Southend United
In 20 years, this Essex club has tumbled down the leagues and seen its ground fall apart. Is a revival finally coming – or will hopes be dashed again?
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ustin-rees
https://archive.ph/unrUd

[Chester Perry]

after all the recent furore over season ticket prices is anger over next seasons shirt prices next? the situation with Liverpool's new shirt seems to suggest so

from The Athletic

Liverpool insist Nike responsible for rise in cost of new home kit
https://archive.ph/2wlpF

[Chester Perry]

there have been accusations that The Times had prevented the right of reply to Richard Masters (and others) who had advocated caution re the proposed Football Regulator - perhaps potential responders were waiting for their moment

From The Times

Premier League should not fear regulator, insists culture secretary
‘We have no intention of damaging the golden goose,’ says Lucy Frazer after league claimed the new independent football regulator risked harming the competition
https://archive.ph/Z5gSW

Richard Masters has responded to questions from DCMS about the Premier Leagues concerns re the propose Independent Football Regulator

from The Guardian

Masters outlines Premier League’s objections to ‘risk-averse’ regulator
Premier League CEO makes most forceful intervention to date
Masters challenges plans for ‘complicated, duplicative system’
https://archive.ph/tKYRL
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ar ... -regulator

[Chester Perry]

Richard Masters has responded to questions from DCMS about the Premier Leagues concerns re the propose Independent Football Regulator

from The Guardian

Masters outlines Premier League’s objections to ‘risk-averse’ regulator
Premier League CEO makes most forceful intervention to date
Masters challenges plans for ‘complicated, duplicative system’
https://archive.ph/tKYRL
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ar ... -regulator

That Richard Masters/Premier League response to the DCMS in full

https://committees.parliament.uk/public ... 7/default/