Fresh claim emerges over why Friedkin Group changed Everton plans

A fresh claim has emerged over why The Friedkin Group changed its plans for Everton during the summer, with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules said to have played a significant part.

Football finance analyst Paul Quinn, better known as The Esk, says the Friedkins had initially believed they had found a solution that would allow Everton and Roma to operate under the same ownership if both qualified for UEFA competition.

UEFA issue linked with change in Everton plans

Speaking on the High Performance Business podcast, Quinn said people at Everton had been confident the proposed arrangement would be acceptable to UEFA.

“They made it very clear very early on that they had a solution to the multi-club ownership problem that exists in UEFA,” he said. Quinn added that he had been told Everton believed that solution was acceptable before the position subsequently changed.

According to Quinn, the proposed arrangement ultimately did not receive UEFA approval, which he believes became an important moment in the Friedkins’ thinking over Everton.

The issue matters because TFG also owns Roma, who are competing in the Champions League this season. UEFA rules restrict the control or influence one owner can exercise over multiple clubs taking part in its competitions, creating a potential problem should Everton return to Europe while both remain under the same ownership.

Quinn also claimed there had been talk of around £100m being available for Everton during the summer before the situation changed. He believes the money was subsequently withdrawn, describing the Friedkins as effectively having “turned the taps off” once their proposed solution to the multi-club issue was no longer viable.

TFG has since confirmed that it is exploring new investment in Everton, including the potential sale of a controlling interest. The group has not publicly attributed that decision to UEFA, saying instead that the club has reached a point where it is appropriate to consider its “next chapter”.

Quinn’s account therefore offers a possible explanation for the change in direction, although it remains his assessment of events rather than an explanation confirmed by either Everton or TFG.

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