Everton takeover: Keith Wyness shares ‘exclusive deal’ update

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has suggested the club have dropped a huge clanger by giving 777 Partners an extended exclusivity period to complete a takeover.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the US-based group should’ve been given three months to seal the buyout.

777 agreed to buy Everton back in September, but have been waiting for Premier League approval for nearly eight months.

According to the BBC (23 April), the Merseysiders are searching for third-party investment to push through the deal.

Everton look set to secure Premier League survival after pulling eight points clear of the drop zone with their 2-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday (24 April).

Everton chiefs have made huge 777 blunder, says Wyness

Wyness suggested club chiefs have made a huge blunder by failing to hold 777 to a strict timeline with other potential buyers ready to

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “You have to agree an exclusivity deal with any potential buyer, or they won’t be interested.

“They have to know that once they’ve given the offer and the structure, they get the time to complete. That’s normal.

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“What’s not normal is the time that has been given. I think three months, with an extension if things are close, would have been sensible.

“For things to drag on for eight months, is a real problem.

“The only exclusivity period which has gone on longer was at Newcastle, which was down to politics.

“It’s a different situation.

“Three months should be the finishing line.

“There are enough potential buyers which would be organised in three months. It can be done. “777 should have been able to be checked out within three months, with an extension if there were any problems.