Everton: Sean Dyche says new owners Friedkin Group ‘fully supportive’ of him
The Friedkin Group completed its purchase of the Toffees on Thursday, bringing to an end Farhad Moshiri’s tumultuous tenure.
Incoming executive chairman Marc Watts met with men’s team boss Dyche and women’s team manager Brian Sorensen at the club’s training ground on Friday, as well as addressing all other staff in a wider meeting.
Watts, the president of the Friedkin Group, will be responsible for the management of the club and his overriding message was of bringing stability after recent uncertainty.
“I haven’t said too much about what I want.” said Dyche. “He [Watts] was really asking questions about the feel of what I have learned in my time, the overall feeling of the club, and some of my knowledge and things we can do going forwards.
“It was picking each other’s brains and a very casual conversation, nothing too heavy, but making it clear financial stability is very important moving forwards from their point of view and correcting the standing of the last few years.”
Financial issues and uncertainty around the takeover have left Everton battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table in recent years and it is a similar story this campaign.
The club sit in 16th place and are just three points above the relegation zone.
Dyche’s contract expires at the end of the season and, asked about his future, he said: “Winning games always stands you in good stead. Other than that he [Watts] made it quite clear, face-to-face, they have nothing but support for me, the staff and the team. But you have to win games, that’s a natural process.
“From the chat today it is more like a business approach, it will be hands-off and [a philosophy of] you guys are there for a reason.”
Watts also spoke about the importance of the women’s team and Roma’s women’s success under the Friedkin Group since taking over the Serie A side in 2020, twice winning both the league title and Coppa Italia.
Despite the club’s wealthy new owners coming, Dyche suggested that spending in the January transfer window on the men’s team will be done modestly rather than lavishly.
Last season, Everton were deducted a total of eight points for breaching the league’s financial rules and Dyche has had to deal with strict spending constraints since taking over in January 2023.
Since the 2021-22 campaign, Everton are the only Premier League side with a positive net spend, while at the other end of the scale, Sunday’s opponents Chelsea have the biggest negative net spend.
Speaking at his news conference before the match, Dyche said: “Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) is not about money or no money, it is about the rules.
“Only so much can be done with immediacy, which they know. There are ongoing challenges to correct things moving forward for the bigger future. January will be dominated by PSR from the years gone by.”
Meanwhile, Everton have formally taken control of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The handover comes three-and-a-half years after the start of the project, with the build phase completing on time.
A series of three test events will take place in 2025 before the club stages its first competitive fixture at the stadium at the start of the 2025-26 season.
“It is an illustrious moment in the history of Everton and marks a new era for the club on many levels,” said Toffees executive chairman Marc Watts.
The Friedkin Group, which completed its takeover of Everton this week, has financially supported the stadium development and the club through an initial loan investment in the summer and with funding during the change of ownership process.
