Farhad Moshiri has confirmed fresh interest in the Everton takeover saga.
The club’s majority shareholder agreed a deal with 777 Partners for his 94.1% share last September but the group have yet to receive regulatory approval.
Completion of the Americans’ proposed buyout appears increasingly unlikely with their business embroiled in growing financial turmoil in recent weeks.
777’s agreement with Moshiri is set to expire at the end of May, raising the possibility of other investors stepping in at Goodison Park to replace them.
In a meeting with the Everton Fan Advisory Board, the British-Iranian billionaire admitted that he had received other expressions of interest.
However Moshiri admitted that he could not engage in discussions over the sale of the Blues with unnamed parties until the 777 deadline has elapsed.
“The Fan Advisory Board requested a meeting with the club owner, Farhad Moshiri, in February, in light of the growing number of reports around the sale of the club,” read a FAB statement.
“Earlier this week, members of the FAB attended a meeting, which was held virtually, since Mr Moshiri was not in the UK.
“Present at the meeting, as well as Mr Moshiri, were members of the FAB, and members of Everton’s senior leadership team. We requested the meeting so that we could put fans’ concerns and issues directly to him.
We thought it was extremely important that he took the time to listen, directly from the fans’ elected representatives, about what matters to them.
“Clearly there are some issues that still cannot be answered, for legal reasons, due to there being a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) in place with 777 until 31 May.
“But the meeting allowed us the opportunity to reinforce fan sentiment on a number of issues, including the suitability of 777, validate information we’ve already received, or known about and to get clarity on some other issues.
“We made clear our disappointment that the meeting had taken so long to arrange, and we urged Mr Moshiri to work harder at keeping the club’s biggest stakeholders; its fans, informed with better communications, whenever there are new developments which can be announced.
“Mr Moshiri told us that he accepted our points, saying that they were valid, and he apologised for the meeting being delayed for so long. He also accepted that there should be better communication and more often.
“He confirmed that he has received unsolicited approaches from other parties, but that he could not engage with any of them while the SPA is in place.
“We have written to Mr Moshiri, requesting a further meeting after 31 May, to be informed of any developments, or next steps.”