A solution?

Dear Mr Kenwright, Like many of my fellow Evertonians, I received a ballot paper recently. I will tell you at this point that I was one of those who voted ?Yes? in support of the Kirkby project. For me, my decision was based upon the principle that I support Everton Football Club. Those charged with running ?my? club, including your good-self, advised that the Kirkby project was the best option for us all. I was aware that there are various other ?options?, but was never convinced, personally, that any of those alternatives were either viable or achievable. That left me with one very simple question to answer ? do I support those in charge club to take us forward? The answer, as I have already stated, was ?yes?.

I do however respect the opinions of those who voted ?No? to Kirkby. The main reason which is often cited by those ?No? voters, is that we would be leaving the City of Liverpool, and that would be detrimental in terms of our future fan-base, our ability to attract investment, and most pertinently ? our identity. Now, personally again, I do not lend much weight to such arguments in terms of the fan-base or investment. But as I have said I do respect people?s opinions. I also acknowledge that the ?identity? point is probably the most crucial aspect here, and certainly the most problematic.

Many fans are asking one simple question: Does the Kirkby project spell the end of the presence of Everton Football Club in the City of Liverpool? Many would be forgiven for thinking that it does. However, it certainly does not need to, and I believe that I could have a solution that would please all concerned.

Everton Football Club will be playing first team matches at Kirkby, and the training ground and youth Academy will both be just outside Halewood. So what? Everton Football Club is more that just a team, a stadium or a training ground. It is a business. It is a limited company. One of the requirements of being a legal entity such as a limited company, is of course registration with Companies House. Another is having an official registered office. Most football clubs, as far as I am aware, list their registered address as the stadium itself. Let us buck that trend.

Imagine for one moment that the club, after moving the stadium to Kirkby, retained a presence in the City of Liverpool, more specifically the City Centre itself, by way of the registered office. Wouldn?t that be fantastic? Imagine an office in the middle of town with a massive Everton crest on the wall. The words ?Nil Satis Nisi Optimum? emblazoned above the doors. Right in the heart of the City. This is where all club officials, including yourself, could have their office. It could be where we hold press-conferences. Where we unveil new signings ? in the middle of the City Centre ? imagine that! We could even have our box office there. It could, quite possibly, be the brain-centre of our Club, where the day to day business is carried out. In these circumstances, Everton Football Club will not have left the City of Liverpool, and every visitor to our City Centre will be aware of the presence of Everton Football Club. Moreover, our first team will still be playing in a fantastic new stadium in Kirkby.

Please consider what I have suggested. I am not for one minute suggesting that I know better than those who run the club, or that I am an expert in football or even business, but you can rest assured that it would make a lot of people very happy indeed.

Kind and sincere regards,

Mr Lee Spargo, a loyal Evertonian.

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