Everton on the brink Questions over club's future as urgent as ever

Everton fans are used to the club's owner, Farhad Moshiri, telling them that better times will be arriving soon. He began his reign in 2016 promising to give fans "whatever I have" - the type of soundbite he would continue to deliver during the following eight years.

- Simon Goodley

He promised fresh financing for the new stadium at BramleyMoore Dock, a new star striker, and to bring in a wealthy investor.

In January 2023, Moshiri told Everton's Fan Advisory Board: "The club is not for sale, but I have been talking to top investors of real quality to bridge a gap on the stadium... We are close to having a deal done."

Roll forward to now and Moshiri is not funding Everton or its new stadium development, nor has his subsequent choice of buyer the US investment firm 777 Partners managed to complete its takeover, even after seven months of trying.

Despite the owner assuring supporters last month that 777 was in the "home straight", it emerged on Tuesday that fans would now have to wait even longer. The US company did not comment on why it was taking it so long to find the money, but the delays raise questions about its funding lines as Everton seems to be approaching financial and footballing cliff edges.

The club's auditors have already said there is "material uncertainty" over Everton's future financing "that may cast significant doubt about the group's ability to continue as a going concern". The possibility of Everton entering administration has even been suggested - meaning the team would endure yet another Premier League points deduction on top of those already incurred for reporting heavy financial losses. And while the fans wait, the club's day-to-day operations have been funded by more and more debt.