Everton: Toffees begin emotional farewell to Goodison Park as takeover saga continues | Football News

The phrase ‘emotional rollercoaster’ is often used in football and Everton have endured more than their fair share of ups and downs, both on and off the pitch, in recent seasons.

But the club’s final season at the famous Goodison Park promises to be as exciting, spectacular and interesting as any that have come before.

Of course, there will be tears, touching memories and reflections on the special (and some not so special) times spent with the grand old lady of English football.

There is so much going on at the club at the moment that the pressure will be enormous for everyone involved, from the owner to the manager, the players, the staff, the fans and beyond.

Alongside all that comes with the end of an era, after 133 years at this historic venue, there will be the task of preparing the new home at Bramley Moore Pier for the 2025-26 season – a huge operation, with trial events planned ahead of the move and a whole host of commercial activity to be put in place.

Then there’s the acquisition saga, which many feel has been going on for far too long. It’s complicated.

The cumulative effects of a change in the board of directors, the death of the president, the war in Ukraine, a series of PSR violations resulting in points deductions and the club’s current financial situation have contributed to a complex series of negotiations and two failed attempts to broker a deal.

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is now the frontrunner after initiating talks with Farhad Moshiri; however, as previously noted, his bid will be complicated by the fact he will have to offload his Palace shares before he can negotiate a deal for Moshiri’s 94.1% stake.

There are still issues with the PSR, with the club negotiating with the Premier League over an outstanding issue from last season involving a £6.5m refund from the 2022 season.

All this while Sean Dyche is tasked with creating a team capable of challenging and progressing after long seasons of relegation battles, drama and, to quote the manager, “noise” around the club.

Dyche, along with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, has managed to bring about changes within the squad and, as I write, retain valuable assets such as Jarrad Branthwaite and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Everton have seen the departures of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey, Andre Gomes and Lewis Dobbin, while Arnaut Danjuma has not returned from his loan spell, but the plan to acquire new players seems sensible and intelligent.

The young talents look particularly promising. Jake O’Brien, Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom are all under 25, joining 27-year-old Jack Harrison who is back on loan.

The transfer negotiations look very different to previous years. Everton are buying players who could very well be a good investment in the future, but also players who have a point to prove and have an enthusiasm for them that has captured the imagination of the fans.

The buying and selling process appears to have been streamlined, with Dyche, Thelwell and Moshiri handling the deals between them.

It is likely that before further arrivals there will be some departures, with Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Neal Maupay all linked with possible moves.

Everton fans will face the new season with trepidation, a touch of understandable anxiety, but also a determination to give their famous old stadium the farewell it deserves.

The fans themselves have been responsible for uniting the club throughout its history and particularly in recent years. It is incumbent upon all involved to do so again, because there is no doubt that the next 12 months will be challenging in every respect.

They have faced challenges before and overcome them, and I have no doubt they will face them again with the same vigor, and with the added emotional charge that everyone expects from the new season.