While not mathematically safe from the threat of relegation, Everton’s survival hopes were given an almighty boost with the 2-0 derby success over Liverpool at a rocking Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.
In a season in which the Blues have been hit with two separate points deductions for two separate breaches of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), for two separate accounting periods, the club look to have managed survival against the odds.
Achieving mathematical safety could be achieved this weekend if results go Everton’s way, but even if that outcome is realised, there is plenty to play for from a financial perspective between now and the end of the season.
When the Blues narrowly avoided relegation last season on a dramatic final day, a 17th-placed finish delivered them £12.5m in merit payments from the Premier League‘s domestic and international broadcast rights.
If Sean Dyche’s side to finish the season in their current position of 16th it would be worth £15.6m, while a 15th-placed finish would be worth £18.7m, which is a 49.6% increase on the previous season.
Had Everton not been subject to a points deduction (eight in total, although the club is appealing against the second docking of two points) then they would sit 14th at present, a finish that would bring in £21.8m. They would still have had the chance to post a top-10 finish, with that worth £34.3m; a sum £21.8m more than what was received last season, and a sum greater than the PSR breach that the club posted for the 2021/22 accounts.
For the Blues the main goal for this season has been to ensure their status as part of the Premier League elite in order to maintain the sums of money that membership of the 20-strong club delivers annually through broadcast revenues.
Survival is also likely to embolden prospective owners 777 Partners in their search to find the required funding to complete the takeover of the club and meet the conditional approval criteria set out by the Premier League last month, given the additional security over revenue streams for next season through survival.
Sources told the ECHO on Thursday that a further £15m was provided by 777 Partners last week for working capital purposes, with the total sum provided to the club through interest-bearing loans, which will have to be turned into equity if 777 wishes to take over, as per Premier League instruction, now just over the £200m mark.
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