Everton’s prospective new owners 777Partners have been accused of missing another payment to the British Basketball League last week raising further concerns about the company seeking to take control at Goodison Park.
Mail Sport has learned that last Friday 777 transferred £130,000 of an £800,000 payment to the BBL that was due before the end of September.
777 are understood to have paid a further £777,000 to the BBL on Monday evening, meaning the American firm have now invested more than the £7million they agreed to pay for a 45 per cent stake in British basketball two years ago, but the erratic nature of the company’s business practices is causing concern in the sport.
It comes after significant uncertainty has been raised over the source of 777’s funding for the £500million deal to take over Everton, while the company are also involved in fighting several court cases in the United States.
Concerns over their purchase of the club were amplified even more last week after it emerged that Brazilian team Vasco De Gama – who are among the company’s portfolio of football clubs – have missed scheduled transfer payments. According to reports in South America, Vasco are late in paying a number of clubs – French side Lille among them – money they are owed.
Everton’s prospective new owners 777 Partners have been accused of missing another payment to the British Basketball League (pictured – managing partner of 777, Josh Wander)
Farhad Moshiri agreed a deal to sell Everton to the US investment firm back in September
BBL sources told Mail Sport that the delay was due to a tax issue, but sources at 777 say that the split payment was due to an international wire transfer.
Mail Sport revealed last month that 777 missed a £900,000 payment to the BBL earlier this summer, which has since been paid.
In another potentially worrying development 777 have also failed to make payments to Vasco da Gama this month, which has led to the Brazilian club being given a FIFA transfer embargo for defaulting on transfer fees owed to other South American clubs.
The BBL Board remain happy with their business relationship with 777, although concerns have been raised by seven of their clubs and the sport’s governing body the British Basketball Federation are undertaking a review of the company’s co-ownership of the league.
777 insist they are committed to the BBL and are providing additional funding on top of their initial commitments, with the extra money set to be used to enhance the league’s digital offerings to fans
‘All scheduled funds have been sent to the BBL, well in excess of the contractually agreed amounts and well in advance of the contractual funding timeline,’ a 777 spokesperson told Mail Sport.
‘777Partners continues to invest millions more in grassroots and community initiatives, above and beyond their commitments to the league.’
777 Partners were at Goodison Park on Saturday for Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Luton (pictured – 777 co-founders Steven Pasko (left centre with cap) and Wander (right centre with cap))
Several concerns have been raised about the suitability of 777 to take ownership of the club
