Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has entered into a period of exclusivity with US billionaire Dan Friedkin over the sale of the club. Having seen the long-doomed pursuit of a Toffees takeover by Miami-based 777 Partners finally end last month after the struggling firm failed to come up with the funds to complete, AS Roma owner Friedkin was one of a number of interested parties to show their hand. Whil...

In the week in which we learned what the final fixture at the Grand Old Lady will be, the latest episode of Goodison Park: My Home sees ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley speaking to a true Blue legend, Derek Temple. Liverpool-born Temple, 85, wrote himself into Everton folklore when he scored the winning goal in the 1966 FA Cup final to complete a sensational 3-2 comeback victory against Sheffie...

The final league game at Goodison Park will be against Southampton. Everton will face the south coast side on the weekend of May 18 in what will be an emotional send off to the Grand Old Lady. It will not, however, be the final game of the season with the Blues scheduled to end their campaign at Newcastle United the following weekend. Join Ian Croll, Chris Beesley and Joe Thomas as they delve into...

Everton great Kevin Campbell passed away over the weekend. The striker, whose legendary spell in the final stages of the 1998-99 campaign helped lift the Blues to safety, was aged 54. News Campbell was battling serious illness had emerged earlier this month, prompting an outpouring of heartfelt messages of support. Kevin Campbell's son Tyrese paid an emotional tribute to his father following the E...

Farhad Moshiri's quest to sell Everton continues with a number of parties interested in a takeover.  Last night the race took a fresh twist with reports of new bidders ( Vici Private Finance) joining the mix. That wasn’t the only news circulating online late this week as reports surfaced that a deal for Everton to sell Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United was close. Everton are currently holdin...

Following the collapse of 777 Partners’ attempts to acquire Everton last month, the door has been opened to other interested parties but who are the serious contenders? Join Matt Jones live as he sits down with our Business of Football writer Dave Powell to discuss the latest on Everton’s takeover.  Everton FC podcasts from the Liverpool ECHO’s Royal Blue YouTube channel. Get exclusive Everton FC...

Join Ian Croll and Connor O’Neill as they discuss and debate who would be the ideal fit to take over at Everton. There are currently a number of parties who have lodged formal bids with reports of further interest from those waiting in the wings. So far there has generally been positive feedback from Blues fans with regards to those who have shown interest, however are there any red flags Everton...

A myriad of prospective new Everton owners are now emerging to take over the helm at Goodison Park.  With Everton released from the grip of 777 Partners after their Share Purchase Agreement expired some eight-and-a-half months on from wantaway majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri striking a deal to sell his entire 94.1% stake to the controversial Miami-based private investment firm, an increasing n...

ECHO Everton correspondent Joe Thomas joins ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley for the latest edition of the Royal Blue podcast.  The pair discuss Everton’s ongoing takeover saga and what Farhad Moshiri does next after the expiry of 777 Partners’ Share Purchase Agreement, including John Textor’s prospects of purchasing the club. This summer also promises to be a significant period of change in te...

Everton and 777 Partners are expected to officially end talks over a takeover with Farhad Moshiri's deadline approaching today. Meanwhile, on the pitch the Blues are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, while they have also been linked with Heidenheim winger Jan-Niklas Beste, who would appear to tick a lot of boxes. Everton are insistent there will be no 'fire sale' of...

Crystal Palace part owner John Textor is said to be stepping up his bid to buy Everton and is thought to be the frontrunner to buy Moshiri’s shareholding.  Join Ian Croll, Chris Beesley and Connor O’Neill for Tuesday’s Royal Blue Podcast LIVE.  Everton FC podcasts from the Liverpool ECHO’s Royal Blue YouTube channel. Get exclusive Everton FC content - including podcasts, live shows and videos - ev...

Fresh from attending Sean Dyche's pre-match press conference for Everton's trip to Arsenal at Finch Farm, Joe Thomas joins ECHO colleague Chris Beesley in the car to record another edition of the Royal Blue podcast on the road. The pair look forward to Everton's final fixture at the Emirates Stadium of what has been a tumultuous season on and off the pitch with Sean Dyche's men having achieved saf...

Richard Masters appeared in front of a select committee on Parliament's Football Governance Bill and offered new insight on the attempted takeover of Everton by 777 Partners.  Masters was asked why he had not rejected 777's takeover of Everton. You can listen to the full committee meeting right here on the Royal Blue Podcast channel.  Everton FC podcasts from the Liverpool ECHO’s Royal Blue YouTub...

Former Everton co-owner Paul Gregg has spoken to the ECHO's Chris Beesley for a special edition of the Royal Blue podcast to coincide with the release of his autobiography Backstage Without A Pass. The theatre impresario - who sold his entertainment company for the equivalent of £350million in today's money - arrived at Goodison Park in 1999 when he matched Bill Kenwright's £7.5million stake in bu...

Everton finished the season with a fifth successive home win as they defeated already-relegated Sheffield United 1-0 at Goodison Park. It wasn't a classic but once again, Sean Dyche's side got the job done thanks to a first half header from Abdoulaye Doucoure. The absence of any figures from 777 Partners was not a surprise but told a story of its own. For so much of this season the US group has ha...

After more uncertainty over 777 Partners’ takeover of Everton, reports surfaced that midweek that MSP Sports Capital are exploring buying The Toffees.  After months of talks with Josh Wander and the Premier League, Farhad Moshiri looks set to pull the plug on the deal which was struck back in September of last year.  All of this is yet to be confirmed, however should a deal fallthrough, which is l...

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has held face-to-face talks with potential owners 777 Partners in London this week after fresh doubt was cast on the deal being done. Moshiri, who agreed to sell his 94.1% shareholding in the club to the Miami-based investment firm back in September of last year, has held talks with 777 co-founder Josh Wander, as first reported by Sky Sports and since independently ver...

Join Ian Croll, Chris Beesley and Gav Buckland as they discuss the latest in the Everton takeover saga.  The Everton FC Shareholders Association have called for action from Farhad Moshiri and demanded that he recognise that 777 Partners are not “fit-and-proper” prospective owners of the club. This comes on the back of accusations labelled at 777 over a $600m fraud scheme involving double-pledging...

In the latest edition of Goodison Park: My Home, Chris Beesley speaks to a true Everton hero, Graham Stuart on the 30th anniversary of the “Great Escape.” On May 7, 1994, Stuart saved Everton Football Club with a stirring two-goal display in their dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Wimbledon to complete a “Great Escape” from relegation on the final day of the Premier League season. With their top...

Joe Thomas joins Chris Beesley for the first ever edition of the Royal Blue podcast - on the road.  Fresh from covering the 1-1 draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, the ECHO’s Everton correspondent and reporter analyse the action, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty, Jarrad Branthwaite’s clearance and the booing of Ashley Young. The pair also discuss the possibility of a potential sum...

Join Connor O’Neill & Ian Croll as they preview Everton’s Friday night fixture against Luton Town.  Everton FC podcasts from the Liverpool ECHO’s Royal Blue YouTube channel. Get exclusive Everton FC content - including podcasts, live shows and videos - everyday.  Subscribe to the Royal Blue Everton FC YouTube Channel and watch daily live shows HERE: https://bit.ly/3aNfYav Listen and subscribe to t...

Although Goodison Park: My Home is a series mostly dedicated to Everton players, we make a change of gear for part 4 as Chris Beesley speaks to Blues super fan Dr David France. Growing up in humble surroundings in Widnes and coming from a family of Evertonians stretching back five generations, the 75-year-old affectionately known as 'Dr Everton' is a retired oil and gas industry executive who sold...

Idrissa Gueye’s second goal in consecutive weekends secured a third successive home win for Everton and a result that ensured Sean Dyche’s side are now mathematically safe going into the final month of the season. Despite two separate points deductions, the Blues will now go into their last season at Goodison Park as a Premier League club. Join, Chris Beesley, Gav Buckland & Joe Thomas for the lat...

The Blues are back in action against Brentford on Saturday and manager Sean Dyche has a number of big decisions to make. Ian Croll, Dan Haygarth and Joe Thomas headed into the Royal Blue studio to discuss and debate those big decisions.  Of course, Sean Dyche will be looking ahead to Saturday’s encounter with Brentford, however the lads are still on cloud 9 from Wednesday’s famous win, with more M...

Join Ian Croll, Joe Thomas & Gav Buckland as they look back at a famous Merseyside Derby win under the lights at Goodison Park. A superb display gave Everton their first Merseyside Derby on home turf since October 2010 as they beat Liverpool 2-0. Blues fans mocked their neighbours by chanting "you lost the league at Goodison Park" after goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin eithe...