Pursuit Sports: TFG's new vehicle for their 'soccer' clubs | OneFootball

The Frieldkin Group have created a new entity to host their growing collection of 'soccer' clubs: Pursuit Sports, headed up by new CEO Dave Beeston.

TFG, who own AS Roma and AS Cannes, in addition to Everton, have selected Beeston as a strong professional with a CV that includes experience in a similar role for Clearlake Capital and Fenway Sports Group, owners of Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively.

“The intention has been to form a parent company that would do two things: provide operational excellence — amplify our operations for the clubs we own now — and evaluate opportunities to grow,” Beeston said on a video call. “When I wake up, I am thinking about how I am helping Roma, Everton, Cannes get to where they want to get to … and at the same time thinking about growing the company through acquisition.

“Truthfully, there’s a focus on the next thing we do — in North America and not soccer would be my guess,” Beeston said. “We are actively evaluating a few opportunities right now across the sports that you would think. Our focus in the short term and medium term is teams. Sports is the last must-see viewing opportunity. We want to be where the eyeballs are.”

Beeston says that the formation of Pursuit Sports isn’t to create a multi-club hierarchy where lower clubs feed players up to higher clubs. Club management and player decisions will remain separate from each other and led by the local executive teams. “We’re focusing on ways we can scale where appropriate,” Beeston said.

Beeston added: “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen fan bases pop champagne bottles for ownership groups, but if they begrudgingly say, ‘These guys have been good for our club, they’ve backed up what they said they were going to do,’ then that’s a massive win for us. These sports teams have souls you really need to nurture.”

Reader Comments (104)

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Tony Abrahams 2 Posted 16/07/2025 at 15:32:01

Thanks Michael. That paragraph were he talks about popping champagne, is a definite head-scratcher though, unless we are going to be hearing some news about TFG’S, overall plans for Everton.

Being thankful for small mercies, I’d say that would be a massive win for us!

“These sports teams have souls you really need to nurture” Fucking hell Beeston, do you actually know who you’re talking to and who you’re talking about🤦‍♂️

Jonathan Oppenheimer 3 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:05:49

Tony 2, I’m not sure what about that comment is so upsetting to you. He’s basically saying that ownership doesn’t need to be loud and vocal and all about themselves, that you generally don’t want to hear much from them — you just want them to do their job well in the background. And if they do that, everyone is happy. Run the club like a top-class business and everyone benefits. I don’t need to hear lots of news from TFG, we just need sound decisions being made by our leadership structure. That’s all he seems to be saying.

As for nurturing the souls of the clubs, he seems to be saying that they know they’re outsiders and are only stewards of Everton. We are the soul of the club, and that should be nurtured. What else would you want to hear?

Michael Burke 4 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:07:55

Tony, I see this a good sign. He isn't a naricisst like some of the other owners who feel like we owe them a debt of gratitude for what they've done. He understands that they are going to make strategic decisions we aren't happy with, but they are the ones with the business acumen. Hence why they are multimillionaires and we aren't!

Mike Gaynes 5 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:31:52

Jonathan #3, agreed. He's expressing the long view that TFG intends to do what's best for its clubs and stay clear of the limelight, two philosophies that should sit well with Everton fans whose impression of Yank ownership in the PL is drawn largely from people like the Glazers and Todd Boehly.

Tony #2, I think he does know who he's talking to and about, and is expressing TFG's sense of responsibility to them.

Alan J Thompson 6 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:33:39

It would appear that this strengthens links between the three clubs but does this mean that no two clubs could play in the same UEFA competition in the same season?

Tony Abrahams 7 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:39:46

I prefer actions to words Jonathan, although it would be nice to hear our owners, tell us about their overall plans for Everton.

So before they have made any real key strategic decisions they are telling us that we know that we might not be happy with them Michael?

I didn’t read it like you Jonathan, because even through the bad times, I have always believed that Everton, have always been an English institution because of our longevity, and I genuinely believe that the last thing that needs nurturing at Everton, is our great fanbase.

So he’s telling his new bosses that they have a lot of responsibility towards the fans Mike?

Jay Harris 9 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:42:51

Tony,Im just grateful to see the back of the muppets that ran our club into the ground over the last 25 years.

Time will tell if TFG are the answer but they are surely a big improvement on what went before.

Danny O'Neill 10 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:53:44

It's kind of how I envisaged TFG running Everton and their other entities, including Roma, although I didn't realise Cannes were also in the mix.

They've put separate boards in each club to run them separately and now they have put top layer oversight in place to run their sporting businesses.

So TFG are removed from direct involvement, which should avoid a Crystal Palace type scenario when we qualify for Europe.

If they are seeking to take on an NFL team, then don't be surprised to see that appear at the new stadium, despite Tottenham and Wembley's monopoly on that to date.

As for soul. There is only one group that owns the rights to the soul of Everton and that is us. We've lived and breathed it since before we can remember. As Tony says in a different way, get to know your audience and be careful what you say and how you say it. As much as we support to the hilt, we can be an unforgiving bunch.

We may be grateful for the investment, but scars run deep and a combination of the last nearly 40 years, plus being a deep rooted traditional fan base doesn't mean we will be bowled over with buzz words. We will judge on actions.

Always finish on.a positive. The change we've wanted for years is happening, so I hope he comes in and lives by his words.

It will be a very different Everton, but we, the supporters, won't lose our heart and soul.

Mike Gaynes 11 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:57:56

Tony #7, that's not my read. I think he's telling us fans that his new bosses know exactly what they're supposed to do. And as I've said before, you'd better get used to the Friedkins sharing their plans and views with us only through subordinate executives like Angus Kinnear and Beeston, because they never, ever speak to the press themselves. I've gone back 15 years and not found a single interview that Dan Friedkin has ever given -- except one to his own club website at Roma.

Incidentally, Beeston is very highly regarded in the industry. He's a former key executive of RS owners Fenway Sports Group, where for 12 years he oversaw their commercial ventures, generating the kind of cross-sponsorship revenues we'd love to see at Everton:

“One of the companies I oversaw by the end of my tenure was Fenway Sports Management, which was selling sponsorships for the Red Sox, NESN (that's New England Sports Network, where I once did freelance work), Liverpool, [Pittsburgh] Penguins, PGA Tour, Boston Common Golf. The more you can scale that, it doesn’t sacrifice anything, because it drives incremental revenue.”

James Hughes 12 Posted 16/07/2025 at 16:57:59

Jay, sorry mate but please enligtment me, but what club portfolio do either of those clubs have?

In regards to ManUre I thought that was the Leprechaun's only adventure in to footie, Not sure about Buehly though, cheers

Tony Abrahams 13 Posted 16/07/2025 at 17:03:35

Time will tell Jay.

It’s only words, and you only have to read the first few views on this thread to realise that a lot of us take what has been said, differently.

Maybe not everyone, maybe just me, but because I have always felt that most people in football, just pay lip service, then when they don’t, I tend to look into things that little bit more.

The article isn’t even about Everton, (we are still waiting patiently for TFG’S real plans, imo) it’s about our owners forming a new company in the USA, to bring together their sporting assets.

Truthfully there’s a focus on the next thing they do - in North America and not soccer would be his guess. Even though they want to be where the eyeballs are?

The premier league is the biggest football league in the world, so if they want to be where the eyeballs are, then hopefully they concentrate on getting Everton, into the champions league!

Tony Abrahams 14 Posted 16/07/2025 at 17:13:03

So he’s telling us fans that his new bosses know exactly what they’re supposed to do Mike?

That’s good, stop worrying everyone, because although they are very, very quiet, my new bosses know exactly what they have got to do?

Sometimes it’s better saying nothing, but as I have said, the only real connection to Everton football club, in this article, is the forming of a new company, even though we already belong to TFG, anyway

Mike Allison 15 Posted 16/07/2025 at 17:15:33

The bit that really matters is where we stand in relation to Roma when it comes to multi-club ownership. We obviously don’t want a situation like Crystal Palace have found themselves in.

Jamie Clancy 16 Posted 16/07/2025 at 17:17:24

Tony - What are their plans for Everton you say? Angus Kinnear told the fanbase what TFG's plans were for the club when he joined. The interview is on the clubs official site! Time to wake up for you Tony. Short to medium term - win a trophy. Long term - compete at Europe's top table i.e Champions League. He was very specific about this. What more do you want him to say? 🙄

Tony Abrahams 17 Posted 16/07/2025 at 17:33:31

I hope Everton can wake me up again Jamie, but I thought Kinnear, was just paying lip service mate, hopefully he proves me wrong.

It’s just that when I read the words; these sports teams have souls you really need to nurture, then it doesn’t make any real sense to me.

If I’m being honest it sounds like he his talking absolute shite, trying to convince others that they just have to nurture our soul.🤷‍♂️

The last thing anyone needs to do to an Evertonian, is nurture their soul, and I’m sure even Liverpool fans would tell you this, if they were being honest

Danny O'Neill 18 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:12:05

Jamie, I think we are all appreciative of positive messages coming from the people TFG have put in place to be custodians of our club and I look forward to them delivering the success we crave.

They are the custodians. We are the constant.

I get where Tony is coming from. We don't need telling us to nurture our soul. There is a fine balance between recognition, praise and being patronising.

I don't need reminding me of my Everton soul. I think my Dad sold that to the club the day I was born.

We are a very demanding support-base and rightly so. One that for generations like mine has been hurting for decades. It has made us very protective and suspicious about something that is ours.

We have been seriously let down but won't let go. We never will.

The younger ones embarrass me with their persistence and ability to keep going. I'm looking forward to a brighter future for those younger generations. They deserve it more than me.

To finish, I don.t mind a bit of corporate talk. We've needed it for years, and to be run professionally. But I would just be careful as to how they communicate with a lot of our traditional support base.

They need to understand Everton and Evertonians.

A bit of a ramble, but I hope it makes a bit of sense.

Ian Jones 19 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:13:27

Danny, Cannes was also news to me. Must have missed that. They don't appear on The Friedkin Group's website unless it's tucked away. Had a quick google at Cannes and they seem to have been the starting places for a few decent French players, Zidane, Gael Clichy and Vieira amongst them.

Jake FitzGerald 20 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:31:58

My considered and constructive opinion on this is - he looks like a gimp.

Tony Abrahams 21 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:34:09

The French league might not be the best Ian, but they have arguably produced as many very good football players, as any other football nation has over the last 25 years, imo.

Wenger probably tapped into French players because he was French, but they produce a lot of very powerful physical footballers, and this is definitely one of the major attributes required to play in the very physically demanding EPL.

He looks alright to me Jake, definitely much better than the 777 Dude, who loved his baseball caps

John Raftery 22 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:36:43

I quite like the idea of our souls being nurtured rather than tortured.

Tony Abrahams 23 Posted 16/07/2025 at 18:41:50

Exactly John! If mine hadn’t been tortured so much (by a great Evertonian allegedly - if you can believe that?) then I might not have taken offence at suggestions that we just need a little nurturing!

Robert Williams 24 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:03:02

Hi Tony A, I like to read your posts but not sure what you have against this soul nurturing bit.I too have been an Evertonian, for the over 60 years, many will have been longer.The fans are the soul of Everton, everyone knows that. So is this new fellow saying the fans need 'nurturing'? If so, bloody spot on, we do. We do not need to be breast fed, we do not need spiritual nurturing either - what we do need is being nurtured with a team that will put silverware where there hasn't been any for years. With a Bod that can steer us away from the austerity years of 'the greatest Evertoinian'. We need to be competitive in the Premier league, and in European comps.So as a true Welshman and Evertonian I would like my soul to be nurtured. In the immortal words of Cwm Rhondda - 'Bread of Heaven - feed me till I want no more!!'

Mike Gaynes 25 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:03:44

Tony, Robert and John, I don't much care about my soul being nurtured, but I'd like it if the club took better care of my stomach lining and blood pressure than it has in the recent past.

Ian and Danny, the Friedkins bought out the remnants of AS Cannes a couple of years ago, almost a decade after the club's financial collapse. It's just a fourth-tier club now, although they did reach the semis of the French Cup this year.

Dan Friedkin goes way back in Cannes. His movies have been big winners at the Film Festival. Not a wild speculation to guess that's how he got acquainted with the club.

Ian Jones 26 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:15:13

Mike, thanks for the extra bit of info and for the connection between Dan Friedkin and Cannes, the place. Just gone back on to their company website to read a bit more. Interesting background, but still surprised AS Cannes don't get a spot on their 'Companies' page. Anyhoo, onwards and upwards.

Danny O'Neill 27 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:23:11

Robert @24,

We probably got a bit carried away on words. A way of describing it is that we won't give our trust away, until. well, we trust. After what we've been through, that may take time.

Mike @ 25, thank you for that. It makes sense now given Dan Friedkin's connection with the film industry. He flew a Spitfire in the film (movie) Dunkirk right?

Duncan McDine 28 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:29:37

I'm not suggesting for a minute that this fella is crazy, but the photo of him reminds me of Elon Musk. There's something a bit mental about his eyes in that pic.

Hopefully though, whatever he does will be good for Everton.

Dennis Stevens 29 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:34:10

I'm not saying anything untoward about him, Duncan - not after seeing those eyes!

Colin Glassar 30 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:36:42

I just want someone to hug me and tell we are going to be ok and there’s nothing to worry about. The last 35 years have left me traumatised.

Liam Mogan 31 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:41:52

He's not real. He's an AI bot come to take over Everton and then the world.

Sean Kelly 32 Posted 16/07/2025 at 19:48:26

I agree with Tony A. What kept Everton afloat over the recent past it it soul. That’s us fans. We never gave up and got behind the team when they crossed the white line. It wasn’t pretty but we stuck with them all along even when the management had given up. No other club has this so the friedkins and there mouth pieces should get to the new stadium and witness this for themselves. They haven’t experienced “when Everton touches you” moment yet. So I take all these mouthpieces with a pinch of salt. When they are “touched” they can stop patronising us loyal fans.

Tony Abrahams 33 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:01:42

We need nurturing with a team that will give us silverware where there hasn't been any for years.

Exactly, Robert, 30 years to be precise, 30 long years that have taken us to the absolute depths of despair. But we are still standing.

When the club was on its knees and the team plummeted into the relegation zone, four points from safety, with six matches remaining, the younger Evertonians, fans who have seen us win zilch, organised a coach welcome, that was attended by over 7,000 defiant Evertonians and a dog, because they have a love for our club that definitely does not need nurturing.

If Dan Friedkin wants to give us what we want, then he can fly his plane after he has delivered and I'm sure he will be overwhelmed at the party that is going on below.

I love that song, Robert, brilliantly sang and instinctively recognised as a song of joy, but our own song “We Shall Not Be Moved” is about defiance, it's about pride, and it's about longevity, and anyone who has ever heard us sing it, definitely knows that Evertonians don't need fucking nurturing!

Choose your words better, Dave. And Mike, I just hope your blood pressure can take it when you finally see Everton win the cup.

Derek Taylor 34 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:04:18

Yet another layer of management Moyes has to work to — I just can't see him sticking that for long!

Under the late departed, Everton had no governance structure; now, we're drowning in it. Just imagine all those 'super execs' vying for the Friedkin ear. God spare us!

Ian Bennett 35 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:07:14

Don't want to piss on the parade, but the ability to use Cannes to hoover up the best French and African talent has done zero so far.

They missed a trick by not starting this first. South of France, jet set lifestyle...

Brendan McLaughlin 36 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:08:30

Except Jamie #16

"Short to medium term - win a trophy" wasn't actually in his short to medium term vision statement.

David West 37 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:11:11

Funny this multi club ownership.

TFG, Pursuit Sports, or any other businesses, and it is business, they are not in it to give away their hard-earned $$$, want maximum return for whatever they put in!

So they must see one club as the top of the tree, they must see where the biggest return for success will be if they invest?

I'm not saying that's definitely us, I'm just saying they can't have each club, even on how they are willing to invest for success, because success at each club is viewed totally differently.

Would it take as much investment at Cannes in the French league to achieve relative success? I'm not saying overtake PSG, but is there huge competition? However the rewards are not as rich as the Premier League.

Roma are not as successful in Italy is we are historically, yet it may not need as much investment to achieve European football, or success, or even domestic titles as it would here in the Premier League.

Yet the difference with winning Serie A and winning the Premier League is enormous. The return for coming 4th, 5th or 6th in the Premier League could outweigh winning Serie A.

Yet the competition is so fierce it makes it harder to achieve the relative success, and therefore a return on the investment.

Money may be the driving force of these multi-club owners, however, money won't guarantee success in football. Evertonians know this more than most fans. TFG know this, Roma must have learnt them lessons.

Football now, even with all the money, is about people, finding the right people!

Yes, you may need big money for the top people, but there are people out there now who are going to be the top coaches, scouts, & DOFs that will take clubs forward.

A Simione, Klopp, Pep is still the most important person at a club.

Christine Foster 38 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:15:27

This is all about cross fertilization of scale over sporting opportunities that TFG are currently involved with and future ones which are not necessarily the same. It's about the money. It's about scale.

It's about company growth through the acquisition of individual sports teams that can leverage other financial opportunities for the group (eg, the selling of club credit cards to its supporters, the manufacture of merchandise and its sales structures across the group for economies of scale as examples).

The value of the sum of all teams together outweigh the individual sum. Scale.

But herein lies a serious problem for football clubs in the same region – in our case, Europe. The measure of a successful club in Europe is winning titles, silverware, or at the very least, qualification to European competitions. Having two or thee clubs in Europe vying for the same measure of success will result in ownership issues with eligibility to compete.

What concerns me, as I have said before, is exactly how Everton FC and AS Roma are going to square that circle with authorities when, not if, they both qualify for the same competition? Lastly, nurturing my soul... well, after the last 25 years of shame, humiliation and pain, a little bit of nurturing of my bruised soul won't go amiss but, with respect (that means "none whatsoever") I don't need anybody to tell me I need fixing, it's condescending. They didn't purchase my soul when they bought the Everton shares!

Tony Abrahams 39 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:22:49

Mike knows a lot more about The Friedkins but I think Christine makes a lot of very valid points as usual.

Maybe they have learned after Roma that it's not good to get attached and they don't want to be truly touched by Everton because they are just pure businessmen.

I might be being a little bit condescending or patronising myself but, until I see real actions, I'd much rather prefer not to hear words that I personally found very out of touch with how I'd personally describe Evertonians.

Christine Foster 40 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:28:28

David 37# perhaps TFG's measure of success is not winning the trophy but just "being" in the competition, eg, The Premier League. The fans measure is winning it, a difference.

Incremental growth without significant expenditure or striving to win?

Tony Abrahams 41 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:36:25

I've said it before many times in jest, David W, but it's so true when you say it's about people, finding the right people.

Kendall played with Harvey, but he didn't appoint him as his first team coach until he allegedly watched his reserve team playing and was supposedly impressed with his tactics.

When I think about the success Louie Walsh had on the X-Factor, creating both a boy band and a girl band, that both went on to smash America, out of a few contestants he had on the show, I often ask myself: Where is the real creative vision in professional football? 😂😭

Jonathan Oppenheimer 42 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:42:28

I really do believe we’re all saying the same thing here, including Beeston, as we have these ongoing debates about semantics.

We, all of us on TW and across the world, who bleed Evertonian blue, are the soul and the true owners of this club. By TFG recognizing that — the history, the joys, the pain of the past 30 years — and always keeping that front of mind, we will have a shot at success and trophies and future joy (and pain) along the way, if coupled with shrewd business decisions.

Yes, they have to earn our trust, which they haven’t done yet. But they haven’t yet fucked it up either. And that’s a start. With Moyes, a new stadium, a squad rebuild happening if a bit more slowly than some would like, exciting new players, the signing of ones we needed to keep. We’ve survived the awful Moshiri era and things are looking up. I don’t blindly trust anyone, certainly not billionaires, but I don’t think they’ve much put a foot wrong so far — except maybe not showing up for the last match at Goodison, but even that I could see the reasons for being in the background: To let the true guardians of the club lead the way.

I’m not sure what TFG could be saying right now that would make everyone happy or that would be very revealing. As such, I’m happy for them to not say much at all. This article came out only because it was an announcement about a new business structure and hire in place.

Christine Foster 43 Posted 16/07/2025 at 20:42:30

More from the article:

"What might that look like? Beeston suggests the success of FSG could be a road map. “One of the companies I oversaw by the end of my tenure was Fenway Sports Management, which was selling sponsorships for the Red Sox, NESN, Liverpool, Penguins, PGA Tour, Boston Common Golf. The more you can scale that, it doesn't sacrifice anything, because it drives incremental revenue.”

One example: Submarine advocacy group BuildSubmarines.com expanded a high-profile Red Sox sponsorship across more FSG properties, looping in RFK Racing to brand a car for NASCAR's New Hampshire race last year, for instance.

Another operational benefit can come from sharing technical and strategic resources among clubs. Friedkin recently bought Insight Sport, a London soccer sports tech business that is the first non-team asset housed in Pursuit Sports. While Insight's purchase price isn't publicly disclosed, the business is very profitable, pulling in revenue of £332,500 ($445,000) last year, about half of which was net profit, according to a financial disclosure filed in the U.K.

Beeston declined to discuss potential purchases in NHL, NBA, NFL or MLB, other than to note the family probably prefers control stakes compared to limited partner interests. “It would be silly to rule anything out, but our focus is more on areas we can control, because we intend to be the best operators,” he said, adding, “We got to prove it still.”

Of course, it's not always simple: AS Roma fans protested the American ownership this past season after the club won just three of its first 14 matches, falling to 15th in the Serie A table before recovering to close the season in fifth place. Similarly, Everton seemed destined for relegation after a poor start to the Premier League before finishing 13th, two slots better than the season before Friedkin bought the club.

David West 44 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:07:58

Tony.

Are you advocating Louis Walsh for DOF? Maybe that's who Moshiri wanted but ended up with Steve Walsh!

I just think the next 12 to 18 months are crucial, to give Moyes the opportunity to show that with investment this club is capable of challenging…

Maybe not for the title but he's got to be the guy who lays the foundations for the next man and, if we get that right next man, he could be the one who pushes us right to the top. Look at Aston Villa, they were relegated not long ago, but the right appointments have shot them to the Champions League. When the right man is available we need to do everything to get them, even if that means sacking Moyes.

I'm not talking about an Ancelotti who is waiting for the call from the big clubs...

Christy Ring 45 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:12:03

Isn't it great that they are going to concentrate separately on our commercial marketing, a word which was always embarrassing when it came to our merchandise franchise.

You could find all the outlets on the back of a stamp. I agree with Christine in her excellent post: the big worry is owning Roma as well.

Tony Abrahams 46 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:26:03

I can still remember Steve Walsh, getting off the plane in Italy, looking like he meant real business with a big black leather briefcase, looking like Tom Hagen, going to see Walt Disney, David!

Like Tom, he went back empty handed, apparently saying that Bill, wouldn’t be happy if Farhad, signed any players, without his knowledge 🤦‍♂️

I suppose I could also say that you are “nurturing my inner belief”, when you talk about Villa, David, because apart from appointing Steven Gerard, they have got a lot of things right, since they got back in the premier league in time for 2019/20 season.

Maybe they got very lucky with both the chip in the goal and hawk-eye, inexplicably helping to disallow a goal, which kept them up and relegated Bournemouth (I might be wrong?) but Villa, really impressed me at times last season, and definitely look like they are one of the better teams in the league, right now?

Brendan McLaughlin 47 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:27:11

An Everton fan, a Roma fan and a Cannes fan walk into a UEFA bar...

Tony Abrahams 48 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:29:33

And Pierluigi Collina, said to the Evertonian, I’ve been told to fucking bar you🤦‍♂️

Brendan McLaughlin 49 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:40:39

Ha ha Tony #48

That's the type of "bar" I meant...

Tony Abrahams 50 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:48:08

If I was in that type of bar Brendan, I’d be asking Robert, if bread of heaven, was really a song about sheep!

Nothing better than quick fire banter, although I suppose that’s another thing that needs nurturing, now that we live in the era of diversity and inclusion, which helps people take offence at almost everything🤷‍♂️

David West 51 Posted 16/07/2025 at 21:48:17

Tony. There was a time we were trying to get monchi as our DOF, since he and the manager took over villa they are transformed!

We should be looking at who we want to replace Moyes now, who is the man who would take us on a similar path ? I'm not sure myself, but if I had several billion I'd know how the top 3 people were I'm the world and I'd be talking to them now !

Billions help, and sponsorships, commercial deals, bigger stadium & thousands more pints & pies at matches, but as Spurs have shown it won't get you nowhere unless you have success on the pitch.

Excited for the first time in a long time. We spent 4m on a back up keeper !! We are not selling to buy ! We are looking what we need to progress not what we need so survive !

Tony Abrahams 52 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:06:43

It’s a long time since I’ve felt excited David (every summer, I miss watching EPL football, less and less) but I can genuinely see the reasons why you are feeling excited, mate.

Maybe it’s because of the things you wrote about in your last paragraph, because when it comes to football, I have always been big, on what some people might describe as being very minor details.

It’s only words, but id have much preferred it if Dave Beeston, would have spoke about total professionalism.

Ian Jones 53 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:13:00

Brendan, is this the barperson's response...

'Is this a qualification round or just a support group?'

Thought I'd change barman to barperson just in case...

Brendan McLaughlin 54 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:25:25

FFS Ian #53

"barperson"...you're losing us customers already!

Dale Rose 55 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:31:03

Is it me or was life less complicated years ago. It all seems to be smoke and mirrors these days.

Dale Rose 56 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:31:03

Is it me or was life less complicated years ago. It all seems to be smoke and mirrors these days.

Ian Jones 57 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:50:55

Brendan :)

David West 58 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:56:16

Tony. I'm sure there's a blue pill for that ! 😅Excited might of been the wrong phase, maybe optimistic would be better.

Maybe I'll get get Excited when I'm at the Roma friendly and see 50 odd thousand in that ground.

Mike Gaynes 59 Posted 16/07/2025 at 22:57:07

Everything he said reads very professional to me, Tony.

Derek Thomas 60 Posted 16/07/2025 at 23:16:24

I can't wait for the possible complications when both Everton and Roma qualifying for the Champions League...well actually I couldn't give a stuff one way or the other about Roma, but if we get there that will be progress.

Nobody will be caring about all this current Corporate gobbledegook shite.

Make it so!

Christine Foster 61 Posted 16/07/2025 at 23:26:30

Derek, one hopes TFG have sought advice from Baldrick for one of his "cunning plans" to get around the ownership rule..Nothing in this latest corporate shuffle will make any difference to the ownership rule in place.. can't see Roma conceding a qualification place (and why should they?) But can you imagine the uproar if both clubs qualify for the Champions league?

Brendan McLaughlin 62 Posted 16/07/2025 at 23:34:09

Christine #61

I'd take the uproar in a heartbeat.

Mike Gaynes 63 Posted 17/07/2025 at 00:04:39

Amen, folks. That would be some joyous chaos to navigate!

Si Cooper 64 Posted 17/07/2025 at 00:29:51

Derek (60), I think of it like you do. If it ever becomes an issue it will be because TFG have been very successful in improving us.Just have to hope we finish higher in our league than Roma do in theirs and then the problem is theirs.

Don Alexander 65 Posted 17/07/2025 at 00:39:48

If you didn't know better you might just think that the entirety of allegedly "professional" football for decades has been run by owners/administrators whose only intention was/is to screw the ambition/loyalty/financial-commitment of genuine fans whilst they line their own pockets on raft-fulls of constant bullshit to those very same 24 carat fans.

Derek Thomas 66 Posted 17/07/2025 at 01:51:23

Don @ 65;..."football for decades has been run by owners/administrators whose only intention was/is to screw the ambition/loyalty/financial-commitment of genuine fans"

I had no idea it was thus - I'm shocked, shocked and stunned with your 'road to Damascus-esque' revelation...but now you mention it, it was hiding in plain sight all along.

Don Alexander 67 Posted 17/07/2025 at 01:58:08

Derek, these days I can hardly find my way to my nearest clap-clinic, but I know shysterism when I see it's gone manic.

Eric Myles 68 Posted 17/07/2025 at 02:50:07

I don't really think he's saying much to have fans argue with each other about.

It's an American talking American corporate speak for the benefit of other Americans. Not aimed directly at footy fans.

All he's saying is we're going to buy up some non-'soccer' teams and have set up an umbrella company to oversee and leverage the positions.

Matt Traynor 69 Posted 17/07/2025 at 06:20:54

I only met the late great Sir John Moores once, at Everton. Older folks than me can confirm this - but under his stewardship, the club wasn't in constant dialogue with the fans via the media?

Sir John's mantra was simple, Everton had to have the best of everything - players, manager, stadium, facilities. He underwrote the investment, but it had to be financially sustainable.

It was a simpler time. Now we live in a social media age where every comment (whether made or not!) is dissected, analyses, interpreted, etc.

It's why there's a need for the Malcolm Tucker's of this world. "If some c**t can fuck something up, that c**t will pick the worst possible time to fucking fuck it up cause that c**t's a c**t."

Or, put succintly - the life of an Everton fan for the last 35 years.

Eric Myles 70 Posted 17/07/2025 at 06:29:32

TFG looking to buy a NHL team apparently? I hope they don't turn up for an exhibition match at BMD only to find they've brought the wrong sticks, footwear and ball.

Eric Myles 71 Posted 17/07/2025 at 06:32:01

Matt, I think Sir John Moores left all the talking to the loquacious Harry Catterick.

Danny O'Neill 72 Posted 17/07/2025 at 07:02:06

David @37. I'm not sure they will have a club at the top of the tree. Each club is a separate entity, run by separate boards. I would assume they will be run financially according to their own revenue streams. Of course, that doesn't mean that TFG can't step in to shift or allocate additional funds, but I see the 3 clubs being run according to their own different situations.

They've not quite been at Everton for 7 months yet, but the restructuring and improved marketing has looked positive. They've had Roma since 2020. Roma narrowly missed Champions League qualification last season by one point. The will go straight to the group phase of the Europa League.

Si @64, I don't think it works like that, but you can correct me. I've only read that if it came down to it, the decision can be made on previous recent participation in European competition. I don't know the time period, but that would leave us in a precarious position compared to Roma.

The only one I looked into was the conflict when Manchester City & Girona and Manchester United & Nice qualified for the same competitions and how they circumnavigated the UEFA rules. Nothing to do with national league positions or previous European history.

They demonstrated that the clubs were run separately with no direct day-to-day involvement from the joint ownership. UEFA approved the application for all clubs to compete.

Crystal Palace would have been in the Europa League were it not for an administrative oversight. They didn't get their paperwork or request in on time, probably never thinking they would win the FA Cup, as I think it has to be in by March. Still very harsh though in my opinion.

Anyway, we can cross that bridge when we get to it. Hopefully next May.

Alan J Thompson 73 Posted 17/07/2025 at 07:20:17

Danny(#72); Assuming the transfer went through as I've seen nothing more about it, does Everton signing a right back who doesn't get a go and goes direct to Roma not suggest a monopoly despite both clubs having separate Boards now seemingly to come under TFG appointed Beeston, well, I assume "hosting" means something more than an unnecessary level of management to bulk buy stationery.

I'd have been far less worried if we have had to negotiate the difference with Blatter or Infantino.

Danny O'Neill 74 Posted 17/07/2025 at 08:00:09

Just my own personal opinion Alan @73, but it's not uncommon and I don't think it constitutes favouritism. It might work the other way around.

The City Group (13 clubs) and The Red Bull Group (5 clubs) practice it.

When you look into it, it's interesting to see how many have adopted this separate umbrella company model to distance from the owners. The owners of Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton and Leicester to name a few.

Going back a few years and less glamorous, but we had a relationship with Home Farm, who became known as Home Farm Everton for a while, with us getting first choice on their players. If I recall, it might have been where we got Richard Dunne from.

Alan J Thompson 75 Posted 17/07/2025 at 08:12:18

Danny; I suppose that raises the question of how many if any of those clubs under those company models have qualified at the same time for the same UEFA competition while this regulation has been in force and if indeed there is any need for such a regulation.

I suppose there is a vague similarity to players on loan not being available for selection against their "parent" club.

Danny O'Neill 76 Posted 17/07/2025 at 08:15:47

It's all very murky and mysterious to me Alan. As with business, I don't confess to understand it in detail.

Alan J Thompson 77 Posted 17/07/2025 at 08:21:11

Home Farm, didn't that eventuate after we got the "next George Best", Martin Murray was it? Was it injury that did for him?

John Gall 78 Posted 17/07/2025 at 08:48:42

Bullshit American business culture all over our football club. I hate it all.

The next few seasons are going to be tough.

Alan McGuffog 79 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:01:25

Alan I think we signed Martin Murray from a side in Limavady (?). Apologies to Irish Blues if I'm talking rubbish as usual. We won out over Man U for his much coveted signature.I don't think he ever settled over here...a mixture of knocks and homesick. Wonder what became of him 🤔

Robert Tressell 80 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:03:55

The future of football is the multi-club ownership model.

City already do this.

Brighton already do this.

RB Leipzig etc already do this.

A few might escape if they are sufficiently rich (albeit they are more likely - like City - to build a supporting cast of clubs around Europe, South America and further afield etc).

It might well be that in future, football is dominated by a dozen or so of these multi-club arrangements, each developing a stable of players and shuffling around those players depending on their quality / suitability for certain leagues.

This helps to avoid the massively overheated transfer market and player wages model - which must be close to broken now.

It's not a very romantic view of football is it - because it takes the local club further away from the local community it serves. But it does seem like the next stage in the evolution of the game.

Alan McGuffog 81 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:05:01

Good old Google has confirmed that, as ever, I was talking cobblers. Dunno where I got Limavady from.Apologies

Tony Cunningham 82 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:12:54

Loving the optimism John Gall (78!!). At the moment they seem organised and eager to grow the club. Whether it be for their own ends or not it is in their interests to run the club well and progress. So maybe give them a chance as you think the next few years might be tough, try looking at the last few!!!

Tony Abrahams 83 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:30:40

Of course he’s talking in a professional manner Mike, whilst discussing the expansion of TFG’S portfolio, but because I hadn’t read anything, that made me think that these fella’s are really switched on and are going to be brilliant for Everton, I read it again.

There’s a lot of good posts, with different opinions, something that was very evident to me by post13 Mike, but after reading it again, it makes me look at TFG, in a totally different manner if I’m being honest.

I initially felt patronised by nurture, and still think it’s a very poor choice of words, for anyone who has got any knowledge whatsoever about Evertonians, but the word “begrudgingly” was the most concerning, simply because why would anyone begrudge owners who are here to make us genuinely competitive?

Ian Jones 84 Posted 17/07/2025 at 09:58:06

Hi the two Alans, your posts about Martin Murray got me interested in him so googled and this popped up from the Everton Heritage Society. Interesting read. Seems I watched him play in the FA Cup Final Youth Cup along with Mark Higgins. Have no recall of them playing but renember Vince Hilaire and Terry Fenwick for Palace.

Link

John Chambers 85 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:01:06

Re the questions over Martin Murray I seem to remember that he had a heart condition

Mark Murphy 86 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:08:20

Off topic, sorry, but I just received an email about the new away kit.

Whilst browsing I noticed a few things of interest. for example,

1. They are offering a non sponsored shirt for the same price as the sponsored one.

2. They are selling "anniversary" editions of the 2003 home and away kits with Keijan sponsorship on them.

Anniversary of what, exactly??

Gary Russell 87 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:19:28

All so off topic - besides present squad members, DCL, Young, Doucouré and Harrison are still showing up on the home page banner in the top right corner. Just an observation!

Brendan McLaughlin 88 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:26:50

Gary #87

One of those very rare moments when DCL actually made the top right corner

Danny O'Neill 89 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:29:54

No idea about that Mark. Maybe "celebrating" finishing 17th in the 2003-2004 season and Wayne Rooney being sold to Manchester United?!!!

Obviously tongue in cheek.

I see that the "pro" shirt is priced at £115 (adult) with the replica £80.

I'm sure other clubs do the same. Funnily enough, the first time I encountered this was in the Roma club shop in Roma city centre a few years back as my wife and son wanted a Roma top.

I asked the difference and it was explained to me that visually, there is no difference. The pro-shirt is made in exactly the same way as what the first team use. The replica is slightly different in terms of material, but to look at they are the same.

Maybe we've been doing it for years, but I don't tend to buy the shirts these days. I think the last one was that striped away top back in 1996 and that was begrudgingly bought by the wife as a welcome back present when I returned from Bosnia.

Prior to that, I'm probably going back to 1990. I don't tend to wear colours at the match. If I do, it's usually discreet.

Gary Russell 90 Posted 17/07/2025 at 10:41:21

Aye Brendan! Going by his expression, he may well have hit the back row of the Gwladys Street.

Brian Wilkinson 91 Posted 17/07/2025 at 11:40:46

Mark, we wanted revenue coming in and sounds like we've got our wish with the new owners and commercial side— special limited football kits, kits with no sponsorship as well available, buy your own memory stone, buy your own seat from Goodison, double the membership price but asking members to pay to watch friendly games with just a 25% discount for members.

Give it another 4 seasons or so and watch how much the season ticket prices go up — only moderate this season to keep it sweet. Expect seniors and juniors to be hit hard in the future by price hikes or phased out discounts.

It's all coming and will not be long before we too enter into a tourist club, enjoy it while you can.

The Roma tickets are fairly priced, they have to fill the stadium with it being the third test event; however, watch the price of a cup ticket shoot up, kiss goodbye to value for the family tickets.

The Everton we all know will never be the same, just a matter of time before greed will take over from honest decent Evertonians. We will not be important, the daytrippers and those that stay over in hotels and spend loads in corporate VIP and merchandise, these are the ones the rich owners want attending, people that will make them even richer.

Enjoy my negative but truthful post, rip me to pieces, say whatever you like, but I would ask every Evertonian to grab the Everton we know and hold on to it as long as you can; success comes at a price.

Danny O'Neill 92 Posted 17/07/2025 at 12:01:40

I don't think your concerns are too unrealistic Brian @91, but it will take a while to catch on.

I'd like to optimistically think that the club can distinguish between the traditional match going supporter and the corporate hospitality, the latter of which they will make a lot of money off.

As for seniors, students and juniors, aren't they compelled to offer discount? A bit like on the trains. The membership is now two-tiered. The plus being the £60 one, the blue being the previous £35.

I often use living in London as a good measure, as it's a hotbed of bandwagon jumping supporters.

Man City for example, despite their success, hasn't really caught on. I bump into the odd one, but when I talk to them, they are long-time City supporters with Manchester connections.

If not London club supporters, it's still Manchester United and Liverpool that dominate.

John Chambers 93 Posted 17/07/2025 at 12:52:25

Brian, I think you are right, we can expect to see the club run in a much more “hard-nosed” business manner but, if we want success, I am afraid that is a price we will have to pay.

I've looked at some numbers for ourselves and Aston Villa as a reasonably similar club. In 2023-24, our matchday revenue was £19M and commercial revenue £21M. For Villa, the equivalent figures were £52M and £43M, a total difference of £55M.

Obviously the move to the new stadium and the increase in capacity of “Premium” and Corporate seats will be a significant improvement in match day revenue but I do expect to see an increase I season ticket and matchday prices.

Re Danny's point about discounts, I don't think there is an obligation on the club. Remember last year when mid-season Man Utd removed all their discounts on matchday tickets. That said, I don't think it is something the club are likely to do as the “optics” would not be good for the club.

Michael Kenrick 94 Posted 17/07/2025 at 12:55:43

I've not heard this before, that the dreaded Uefa rankings could come in to play in deciding between Roma and Everton:

Journalist explains Everton and Roma situation after Friedkins announce Pursuit Sport

The Uefa Coefficient business... there was a Norwegian bloke who used to be all over this...

Tony Abrahams 95 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:05:42

I would have thought it would be obvious that Roma would take preference if we both qualified for the same European competition, purely on the basis of their recent history.

Maybe this is what Dave was on about when he was talking about nurturing the souls of their sports teams?

[Please don't take that last comment seriously!]

Christine Foster 96 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:16:12

Michael, so am I right in saying that it would be the determination of club rankings coefficients and therefore no choice by TFG?

Based on that determination, not the quality of the domestic league, Roma would qualify ahead of us irrespective of our league placing or any title. Not only that, but they would have ongoing preference ad infinitum as long as they qualify, as it's based on a 5-year rolling average.

This is biased solely towards teams already in European competition, in the bigger teams. However, with the advent of multi-club ownership, no matter how "independent" the clubs are, the chances of two clubs clashing and the lesser club losing out significantly is just a matter of time. Not fairness or equality.

Peter Mills 97 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:20:12

Tony #33, you sprang into my mind last week when I was on holiday, listening on my headphones to the wonderful Judith Durham and the Seekers, and “We Shall Not Be Moved” came on.

Every other Evertonian in the world came into my mind when the following song was “When Will The Good Apples Fall? (On my side of the fence)!

John Chambers 98 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:25:13

Christine you are correct saying TFG will not have a choice.All the reporting I have seen about Palace and Lyon has referred to their relative league position and not referenced the Uefa coefficient.

I guess they must have some way of “tiering” the leagues as well as the position in the league, clearly it would be daft to compare the English Premier League with the Cymru Premier League.

Robert Tressell 99 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:35:31

As the multi-club ownership model becomes more prevalent, I expect there will be a fix.

Dave Abrahams 100 Posted 17/07/2025 at 13:48:52

I also love “ We shall not be moved “ when sung by Evertonians especially on our cup run in 1966 and I think it was sung by Martin Luther King and his followers in their fight against discrimination in the States throughout the protests from when Martin Luther started that movement until he was assassinated so I have always associated the sung with him and his brilliant and uplifting speech in Washington “ I have a dream”.

I think the song might also be connected to a hymn “ I shall not be moved “ from way back.

Andy Crooks 101 Posted 17/07/2025 at 14:13:35

Alan@81, I remember Martin Murray. As always I was elated to see an Irish lad sign for Everton. He was living my dream. He was good enough to play league of Ireland football at 16, which suggests huge talent.Billy Bingham signed him and called him the new George Best. He was plagued with injuries and sadly it never worked out. Gordon Lee didn't like him.I can recall my late father in law talking about him playing for Crusaders, I think.I hope things turned out good for him.

Andy Crooks 103 Posted 17/07/2025 at 14:17:13

Pete@ 97, I think your holiday listening is the coolest thing ever on this site!!Not even the awful "New" Seekers, but the originals!!

Dale Self 104 Posted 17/07/2025 at 14:20:31

Brian 91, just a thank you for not referencing the nationality of the decision makers in your prediction.