Dyche 'can't control' off-field uncertainties

Everton lie 16th in the table with two wins from eight games

Manager Sean Dyche says he "can't control" the off-field uncertainties at Everton amid a possible takeover and the start of a disciplinary hearing.

But reports suggest the hearing has already started this week and BBC Sport understands it will be a number of weeks before the outcome is published.

Dyche said it is an "ongoing process".

Everton were referred in March by the Premier League, but specifics of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) case were not revealed.

In March, the club announced financial losses for the fifth successive year after reporting a £44.7m deficit in 2021-22.

The figure took their cumulative losses over the past five years to more than £430m.

Under Premier League rules, clubs are permitted losses of up to £105m over a three-year period, but Everton blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for part of the losses.

The Toffees have denied wrongdoing and said they were "prepared to robustly defend" their position, while it is unknown what sanctions they could face from the verdict.

"I have stepped into the middle of it and it is not something that involves me as the manager," said Dyche when asked about the hearing.

"I will wait and see what the outcome is and what the timelines are. At the minute I don't know any more than that.

"I am just looking at what we can control. I certainly can't control any of that side of the club. There are no messages, it is a fact, it's an ongoing process regarding the hearing.

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Meanwhile, discussions over Everton's takeover by 777 Partners are continuing, amid reports on Wednesday that the deal had stalled because the company had not been able to provide relevant financial information to regulators.

Last month, Blues owner Farhad Moshiri agreed to sell his 94% stake in the club to the Miami-based investment company.

The takeover is undergoing the regulatory process from the Premier League, Football Association (FA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and it is understood the procedures usually take about 12 weeks from agreement to completion.

In a statement to BBC Sport, 777 said it had "submitted all relevant documentation to the Financial Conduct Authority" in line with the "requests and indicative timings".

Speaking at a news conference before Saturday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool, Dyche said: "Regarding the takeover, I have met them (777) for a casual meeting and all these things take a lot of time.

"I don't know the exact timescales on that either. They do take a lot of time in my limited knowledge from afar seeing these takeovers."

Asked if the off-field situation is a distraction to him and the squad, Dyche replied: "I am not looking at that, I certainly haven't heard any voices around the changing room speaking about it or the staff.

"Everyone is focused on what we do."

Everton lie 16th in the table with two victories from their opening eight games and travel to city rivals Liverpool (kick-off 12:30 BST), who are in fourth position, three points off top spot.

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