Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed the door could open to a stadium naming rights deal with “billionaires” if Man City win their legal challenge against the Premier League.
The 66-year-old, who ran a football consultancy advising elite clubs after serving as CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009, stated that a deal of that kind would allow the Merseysiders to “keep spending” but that it would be detrimental to football in an interview with Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
The Times (June 4) reports that Man City has filed an extraordinary lawsuit against the Premier League to overturn the Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, which the team believes to be illegal.The Times (June 4) reports that Man City has filed an extraordinary lawsuit against the Premier League to overturn the Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, which the team believes to be illegal.
APT regulations aim to stop clubs from inflating business agreements by using entities associated with ownership groups.
For instance, City has agreements in place with Etihad, the airline that flies the flag of the United Arab Emirates, for the name of their stadium and shirt sponsorship, for a combined £65 million annually..
Everton could seal ‘billionaire’ deal if ‘open season’ begins, says Wyness
In February, Everton manager Richard Kenyon disclosed that the search for a naming rights partner for the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, scheduled for completion in 2025, was making “good progress.”
“If City were to win this case, then Everton could fix some problems with a big sponsorship deal,” Wyness said on Football Insider’s Insider Track programme.
However, they would need to locate the ideal sponsor. It seems that Mr. Usmanov was the answer when he was present.
“If City wins this case, there will be plenty of multibillionaires around, and it’s going to be open season.” Clubs that are unable to establish a connection will face significant challenges.
“City is attempting to undermine the goal of these regulations, which was to level the playing field.
“But in theory, sure, Everton could find a billionaire sponsor to step in and help them keep spending if City wins the case, but that’s not what I see as football.”
“We’ve lost sight of the bigger picture if this turns into a financial arms race.”
In other news, Tottenham swoops and Everton is “confident” about the midfielder deal.
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