Forever an Evertonian
I am concerned that many supporters are tired of those who would argue the case for not moving to Kirkby. The issues that have plagued the project just stumble from bad to worse irrespective of what anyone has said or done. It's not those who protest that have found the transport plan is wanting. It's not those who protest that signed up for a mid-range stadium in a poor economic area desperate for regeneration, not them who made the statements...No, we have been left with the aftermath of such things and been expected to trust the board or just ignore it all because we are too dumb to have an opinion. It's not us who won?t discuss with the fans, it's not us who are silent, it's not us who have an exclusivity agreement.
Those amongst us who are sick and tired and want to leave it all up to the club should remember that the legacy messers Kenwright and Wyness is of such a high risk to our financial future and our tradition that the questions HAVE to be answered. There is too much at stake not to fully investigate and get the best deal for the club. The split in the fan base has come about by disinformation, lack of detailed information from the club, and the promises broken with scant regard for even discussion or explanation.
All of us want the best for our club. The facts we have been given and the discrepancies that have come to light required answering by the club. But they haven?t. It's not just about passion. It's not just about location. My concerns have been voiced in many of my articles for which I have been praised and condemned in equal amounts. But they have consistently asked the Board to answer the concerns of the fans. I have taken the view that a failure to do so is either because they have an ulterior motive or they have not shown competancy in their dealings with fans, councils or others. The failure to do so holds the personal reasons for not doing so up to perhaps undue scrutiny and condemnation.
They have only themselves to blame. Bill Kenwright is an Evertonian. Bill Kenwright is a businessman. He is astute in the workings of the West End not in the workings of a football club, that's why he has placed that trust in Kieth Wyness. It is a trust misplaced.
No one would begrudge Bill from making a good profit from his endeavours; so he should. But BK's expertise comes from a different industry and his already publicised history of naive dealings and an incompetent CEO make it difficult to place the trust of so many of us in this management team. We may respect Kenwright for what he has done but call on him to justify such a move.
No Matter where Everton play, they will always be supported but you build upon what you have and yes we are special, we have a tradition that makes us special. On an accountant's spreadsheet it's called goodwill and people pay for goodwill ? not give it away or sacrifice it. Those who would discount or put no value on our tradition risk all for what? A mid-range stadium in an out-of-town retail supermarket site.
I have been called a Luddite, a RS fifth columnist, delusional, sentimentalist, patronized... the list goes on. I am just a passionate Evertonian. But that does not stop the questions from going unanswered, from the club showing us any respect, from the club wanting to take us to a place that is a poor location, a poor stadium and no heart. If the move to Kirkby happens I will be heavy of heart and STILL believe it will be wrong. I will HOPE it isn?t but my personal experience will still leave me with grave doubts. I will still support the club, still go the game when I can, wherever it is, but do not ever think that I would be happy to do so especially if all the questions go unanswered.
I love the club. All my life I have loved the club. That will never change. But I call it the way I see it too. If that means I am a traditionalist, a luddite or whatever, I really don?t mind because without someone asking the questions how can we ensure truth and honesty? How can we truly call this the People's Club?
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Creme de la creme. For little or no cost
It’s now up to 78mill and counting, remember, unlike shares, which can go up OR down, cost estimate ALWAYS, or so it seems go UP. for....
The creme de la semi skimmed
Then there is, in no particular order:
Paying for the damn thing (think of a number)
Filling the place...Ave. att. in ’ 85 when we were running away with everything, aprox 37K
The transport worries....park and ride, yeah right....don’t forget the 1000 cyclists. car parks in general.
The restrictions on none football use, bang! there go the much vaunted revenue streams.
The fact that KMBC have 1st, or so it seems the only call on none football use.
Question: (digressing I know but )...
How many Yes (wo)men (apt) ALSO think that Climate change is ALL man made and written in tablets of stone, the one true faith....AND
How many Noes are climate change skeptics or out and out heretics.
To quote one Bart Simpson...
’ I know what I am, what are you??’
When the going has got tough Kenwright has become inaccessible, a familiar ploy, leaving his mouthpiece, Wyness, to try to explain. Unfortunately every time Wyness tries to explain anything yet another little gem concerning the "Tescodome" rears its ugly head.
Derek has mentioned most of the pitfalls regarding this doomed project.
However, sadly, something tells me that they will press on with this come hell or high water. To prove what ? Who knows !
Kenwright, who is also a theatre producer, continues to support the party. However, he said: ?As a football chairman I know how difficult it is to please all the people all of the time, but I think the government has lost touch with the people. The leadership has to look at some sort of quantum change. There appears to have been a bit of an energy bypass.?
In a slightly different context the mendacious bag of methane could be talking about EFC and it’s supporters.
Christine you make the point that you say it as you see it trying to differentiate yourself from the rest who you seem to suggest do not.
Well believe me everyone says it as they see it, it is not wrong that they dont see it your way.
The only thing they do see the same as you is Everton as a tradition and a club they- we all love.
All want whats best for iEverton and all have different answers to that very question.
No one has a monoply on what is right or wrong and whilst I dont want to go to Kirkby and whilst I dont like the bloody Lambbanana thing outside Goodison, someone somwhere has to make a decision on all of these things, they will be right or wrong and only time will tell.
People are trying to do their best and sometimes that wont be good enough but if they are striving for it and achieving the best relative to the situation they are in at present then good luck to them.
If you think the best is Everton moving into a 60,000 stadium simalar to the Emirates then your not living in the real world.
I applaud your passion for Everton , but passion does not run a football club ,it is a driver but you need a lot more than that to be successfull ,unfortunately Money is the biggest factor and neither you nor I can do anything about that bit.
So continue to be passionate and saying it as you see it as everyone else does and by some chance eventually some one might listen, but dont bank on it.
I am a yes supporter, but I will say one thing. Everton in terms of its publicity, approach and dealing with this issue have, to my view fucked up royally.
They’ve made a case for the move, but have not made the strongest possible case which is why legitimate, and frankly ludicrous questions persist, which is really sad.
Robert Jones : Don’t recall any posts from you that have ever made an impression on me. Why don’t you show Christine how to do it and what we’ve all been missing eh fella !
They have been criticised, more times than not correctly so, continually but realistically they are a business and they can, bluntly put, do whatever the fuck they like!
Why do you feel they need to answer our questions?, yes it would be a nice change if they did but they simply don’t have to.
I am using an emachines computer, I have put money into that company when buying it but I doubt that they would answer any of my queries on their financial/business positions.
It’s a sentimental wish that the xlub we love would be more open, but they are simply in it for the money and lets be honest they just want our money and don’t really care about our concerns. Disgusting ideal, you betcha but that’s business for you.
Jeez I’m getting ripped apart on here today...
Because of the original vote - everyone is a "stakeholder" in the decision making process - & what was always going to be an emotive issue has become even more so, because people feel a real sense of personal involvment on whichever side of the fence they sit.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t remember any other large club asking their fans to make a decision on a groundmove before?
As Tony Williams says it’s business & by asking for a fans mandate BK took the wimps route IMO. If HE felt it was the right decision - HE should have stood up & said - I’ve decided we’re off lads - end of. Then all of the "lies & deception" spin & waffle debates - ceases to be of any relevance - as he’s made a decision for his business that he considers to the right one - like it or lump it. No need for spin, no need for justification, no need for approval, make of it what you will.
They can?t do whatever they want to with OUR club, we CAN end their control and force them out, it's happened before and can again. Abusive content removed by moderator
Tony is correct of course they can do what they like. It may not be a popular thing they do but they can.
As for forcing them out really? The majority that you see fill Goodison seem to be content to go and watch the team they love irregardless of the sh*t thats going on.
Explain to me how one would force the board out considering my above point? As long as the stadium keeps filling then they will have nothing to fear.
Now with regards to the Vote on the move. They only asked us to vote because of this whole percieved "peoples club" title.
They didn’t and still don’t care what we think.
The only way to cripple a company like EFC is to stop giving them business. Realisctally these days that won’t happen. Not enough people would boycott EFC.
Maybe if the vote hadn’t have taken place & the decision rested firmly & squarely on the shoulders of BK & BK alone - he might have been a tad more considered in his view & examined the other possibilities in more detail before dismissing them.
As now he’s obtained his "fans mandate" the decision to move isn’t soley his - if it hadn’t happened the gravity of the decision may have weighed heavier on him IMO. He may still have come to the same conclusion - but we’ll never know.


1 Posted 29/06/2008 at 06:08:57
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