Everton Manager Dyche Confirms New Owners’ Full Support

Everton manager Sean Dyche has stated that the club’s new owners are “fully supportive” of him, his staff, and the team, as Everton currently occupies 16th place in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation zone. The Friedkin Group finalized its acquisition of the Toffees on Thursday, concluding Farhad Moshiri’s turbulent period of ownership. Marc Watts, the incoming executive chairman, held meetings with men’s team manager Dyche and women’s team manager Brian Sorensen at the club’s training ground on Friday, in addition to speaking with all other staff members during a broader gathering. Watts, who serves as the president of the Friedkin Group, is set to oversee the club’s management, with his central message emphasizing the restoration of stability following a period of recent unpredictability. Dyche commented on the discussion, stating, “I haven’t said too much about what I want.” He elaborated on Watts’s approach: “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.” Dyche characterized the interaction as “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 difficulties and the uncertainty surrounding the takeover have contributed to Everton’s struggle at the lower end of the Premier League table in recent seasons, a trend that continues into the current campaign. The team currently occupies 16th position, maintaining a three-point lead over the relegation zone. Dyche’s current contract is set to conclude at the end of the season. When questioned about his future, he responded, “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.” He further described the new approach, stating, “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 additionally addressed the significance of the women’s team, highlighting the success of Roma’s women’s side under the Friedkin Group since their acquisition of the Serie A club in 2020, during which time they have secured both the league title and Coppa Italia twice. Despite the arrival of the club’s affluent new owners, Dyche indicated that expenditures for the men’s team during the January transfer window would be modest rather than extravagant. In the previous season, Everton incurred an eight-point deduction for violations of the league’s financial regulations, and Dyche has operated under stringent spending limitations since assuming his role in January 2023. Since the 2021-22 campaign, Everton stands as the sole Premier League team with a positive net spend, contrasting sharply with Sunday’s opponents, Chelsea, who hold the largest negative net spend. During his pre-match news conference, Dyche commented, “Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) is not about money or no money, it is about the rules.” He added, “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.” In other news, Everton has officially assumed control of its new stadium located at Bramley-Moore Dock. This handover occurs three-and-a-half years after the project’s commencement, with the construction phase concluding as scheduled. Three test events are planned for 2025 before the club hosts its inaugural competitive match at the stadium at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, marking their final season at Goodison Park. “It is an illustrious moment in the history of Everton and marks a new era for the club on many levels,” stated Toffees executive chairman Marc Watts. The Friedkin Group, having finalized its acquisition of Everton this week, has provided financial backing for the stadium development and the club through an initial loan investment made during the summer and further funding throughout the ownership transition process.