Everton: What Has Happened to My Club?

Over at FootyScene, THT laments the seemingly increasing disconnect between Everton's marketing and the fans.
The reason for writing this is my total disbelief in how poorly we are marketed and how poorly we portray ourselves in the media. We market our club in a very insular way and always seem to sell ourselves short from a commercial point of view.

We are NOT plucky little Everton, and at times David Moyes annoyed me because he played up to that image. I felt insulted at times the way we portrayed ourselves; it's bad enough when others do it but when we do it ourselves I can’t abide it. We are a Big Club with passionate fans so how can we have got it so wrong of late?

» Read the full article at Footy Scene



Reader Comments (28)

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Peter Bell
1 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:09:36
It hasnt gone wrong of late, it started a long time ago and has just got worse since Kenwright took over. Our club is rotten to the core. Just been away on holiday with me son, and whilst walking round the shops looking at football shirts he conveniently said " Dad, why is there never any Everton tops ".
We are not just the laughing stock of English football but also Europe, no one knows us anymore. You only have to look at how many top class footballers supported us as kids and wanted to play for us, but slipped the net, to know everything from the scouting system upwards is rotten to the core.
Speed, Stubbs,Rush,Owen, Fowler, McManaman, Carragher,
James Martin
2 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:22:02
I think that was one of the thing Moyes changed Peter. I know of loads of kids now that are Liverpool fans but are playing in Everton's teams because there's a better set up. That all came from Moyes though when it should of been there decades earlier. Basically the people at the top missed the boat when the premier league started whilst the people at Man U didn't.
Andy Hegan
3 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:22:34
I agree with the plucky little Everton mentality. Every point we earned over the past few years was seen as an achievement.
We sing a song about Liverpool and how we don't care what they say, (presumably about how much more successful than us they are).
Only a few short weeks ago Bill was seen on tv shouting "YES" at the end of the derby draw, a result that felt more like a loss to me regardless of another refereeing aberration.
The amount of games we should have won and league positions lost, well you know the rest.
I just hope we don't miss this opportunity to change the whole mindset at the club in our search for a new manager but I already know that we will, and if you're honest, so do you.
Peter Bell
4 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:45:17
Andy, I hope to be proved wrong, but the whole thing stinks at the moment of an internal appointment. Can you imagine trying to get top class players into our club, only for them to ask.
' Who is this David Weir ?
Where sinking faster than the titanic mate
Mark Frere
5 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:48:29
It really shows what bad stewardship before and during kenwright's reign can do to the reputation of one of the most successful clubs in English history.

We've been turned into a sleeping giant and nobody thinks big when Everton are mentioned anymore

John Gee
6 Posted 27/05/2013 at 20:49:49
Andy, the institution isn't going to change to match the vision of one man, the institution will pick someone whose vision aligns with their own.

Bill Kenwright needs to step aside now. He could stay on as a board member, club president/ambassador or whatever he wants but, the decision making has been seriously awry for years and now my biggest fear is that the process the club must go through before a decision is now entrenched at the club. Such as advisors or confidants having official positions or political capital at the club.
Someone must come in to the club at the top level who has no allegiance to anyone already there. Someone who can act with objectivity and can avoid the opinions of those at the club who might be acting in their own interests. When that person is in place, the first job would be to find a manager. That way we can be sure we're not compounding the past mistakes.

I've argued for Terry Leahy although I don't know much about him other than he's reported to be a Blue and he made a success of his time at Tesco. Maybe he could be tempted by the fame and additional riches that comes with Premier League football.

Colin Wainwright
7 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:12:13
John, Terry Leahy was one of the main orchestrators of DK. Wouldn't have him anywhere near the club. You're right though, got to be better than Bill.
John Gee
8 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:18:24
Colin, my suggestion comes from exactly that 'anyone but Bill' point. I would be willing to forgive the TL's role in the Debacle Kirkby because he was acting in his role for Tesco although I don't see what the problem was with them building a superstore independently in my home town and don't quite understand why they thought they needed Everton as a partner to do so.

But, anyway, surely there is an Everton supporter with business acumen, a passion for football and a desire to see the great blue phoenix rise from the flames.

Tony Marsh
9 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:01:23
The club has been rotten to the core for as long as BK has had control. One of my main gripes with Moyes was, for all the stability he brought, he helped prop up the most corrupt regime ever know in the Premier League.

BK is still that grief-stricken over DM's departure, he can't bring himself to appoint a new guy at this most crucial of times. The big daft weepy shitbag will in the end destroy us yet all we seem to care about is the fucking club badge???

WTF!!! — JUST DON'T BUY THE KITS.

Patrick Murphy
10 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:40:59
John I don't even think it has to an Evertonian it just has to be someone who understands the sport and has the business acumen to grow the club. A Business that is wholly reliant on TV and season ticket holders is doomed in the modern era. We have to have somebody with a vision a long-term goal and the drive to achieve it. Of course what happens on the field is important but the club needs a kick up the backside and soon.
Colin Wainwright
11 Posted 27/05/2013 at 21:52:29
John, you're right mate, they didn't need us. It was all tied up with the larger shopping "precinct", which, no doubt, would have included a number of Arcadia stores, owned by one P. Green. Top Man, Topshop, etc.
Jay Harris
12 Posted 27/05/2013 at 22:01:52
Lets be honest Kenwright doesn't matter and lives in cloud cuckoo land..

As long as he can show up for every game as chairman he thinks that's his big contribution to the club.

We have an accountant as Chief executive and second rate rednose marketing people.

Is it any wonder we are run like a corner sweet shop.

Nobody gave a fuck except Moyes who has now gone because he couldn't take any more of it.

While people ridicule the Blue Union but show no initiative themselves we will put up with this regime until we get relegated then find out it is too late.

Richard Dodd
13 Posted 28/05/2013 at 09:17:24
The most sickening thing about Moyes leaving is that he wanted to leave.I know a lot said 11 years was long enough but it was 27 years before SAF said that about United!
And Moyes saw Man Unt. as promotion to a better job and,of course he was right.That is a club who before the Prem had little to brag about in terms of history of achievement and even in the seventies sank into the lower league.
But whilst Everton had the past to brag about,those in charge of the Club thought that was enough and even the sacred Moores was happy to let things just swan along.
I have a dreadful feeling that all BK will ever have to brag about is the Moyes years.Certainly in taking the Club forward in terms of marketing , development of facilities and PR,he has failed dismally.The truth is we`ve gone backwards and have further fall ,I fear!
George McKane
14 Posted 28/05/2013 at 09:50:42
We all have a little bit of blame for accepting the absolute garbage over the past few years. Other clubs have major protests. here you disagree and you constantly get asked asre you an Evertonian.

Once you allow yourself to be fooled once the powers that be know then they can get away with anything.

I did not like the past 5 years of Moyes reign here but people are still using words such as dignified and Integrity.

Surely the past few weeks have shown that Everton, like all clubs, like The FA, FIFA, Big Business, Sky and son on will put al great deal of energy and effort into maintaining the status quo and promoting mediocrity.

How many times have we been told how great it has been to finish in the top 8 or whatever number you want to say - - and wasn't it great to finish 4 all those years ago.

Well we fell for it, we were had, fooled and now the "roosters have come home to crow".

Moyes said quite categorically in his final Press Conference - - "The Chairman never put pressure on me".

If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

They were all in it together.
Seems to me that they knew all about this for months on end but thought no need to worry we've fooled them again. Just throw the seals a little fish now and then and they will clap and clap.

We need a clean out. But sadly it 'aint going to happen. It will just drivel on and on and on.

Of course I will renew my Season Ticket. But as everyone who knows me in The Dark House I will never sit back and be quiet over mediocrity.

I am for complete change and whatever comes with it. At least we will have a clean club.

God Save Evertonians said Tiny Tim.

Richard Dodd
15 Posted 28/05/2013 at 10:36:11
George,I am one of those who do believe that finishing top seven is an achievement given the circumstances that the Club operates in. If the next manager can repeat Moyes` repeated success in that direction,he too will have my admiration.

Let`s be honest,with the players we can afford,it would take sheer genius to have Everton pushing for top honours.OK,we might get lucky and win a cup but that`s about it.

Of course,Moyes and BK were too cosy but the manager either played along or walked-and what a good job he didn`t walk -at least for 11 years.Then I think BK thought he owed Moyes for his loyalty and played along with the timing of his move to OT which I am certain was sealed at Christmas.

There was a time when I was a lot closer to the Club than I am now.Then I believed that its ills were caused by the PR department when in reality it was merely carrying out the wishes of the so-called Board for whom `clueless` would be excaggeration.

What a fecking mess!

But, like you,I will renew my season ticket!

George McKane
16 Posted 28/05/2013 at 11:23:46
Hi Richard - - good post and thanks for your comments - - I believe its fine to disagree without calling each other names - - also accept that all we want is progress and good football - - let's hope for a bit of both.

Is always sad when your "hero" does something wrong - by hero I mean Our Club - - but my heroes are all failures in many ways and certainly difficult people - - Van Gogh, Artaud, Primo Levi, John Lennon, Erik Satie - - but when you have a vison of course you are going to upset some people but at least you have some vision - - not sure what our "vision" has been for the past 5 years.

Sometimes its hard when your hero fails - - but as Confucious said (to me once in The Dark House) - "Its not how many times you fall down but its what you do when you get up that makes you". Then he got the ale in.

Best wishes to all Blues.

Patrick Murphy
17 Posted 28/05/2013 at 11:31:42
The whole badge fiasco highlights some worrying aspects to the running of the club, somewhere someone has a hidden agenda, I don't know who they are or what it is that they want, but there is something rotten in the state of Denmark.

In these modern times it is becoming clear that the ordinary folk have little or no influence on what large corporations decide is the best way to squeeze money out of the customer. Rampant capitalism despite its recent failures is the order of the day so how long will both Everton and Liverpool football clubs continue to endure being second rate in comparison to the City's, United's et al.

How long will financial institutions continue to support them with loans etc before they decide that something needs to change. A grounds share has been mooted and largely been rejected by many of the fans of both clubs. But what if these faceless people decided that the City was incapable of supporting 2 PL clubs and it would be far more profitable to amalgamate them into one single entity a super club. Fanciful idea I know, but the number crunchers don't care about history they only care about the profits they can make from the minimum return possible.

So whilst the crest is a single issue that has raised the hackles of over 20,000 fans it will in all probability result in the club pressing ahead with their new design, but Evertonians and Liverpudlians should keep an eagle eye on the way their clubs are being run and more importantly keep asking questions and challenge those who are in charge, otherwise the nightmare scenario which as I said is a fanciful one could in time come to pass.


Patrick Murphy
18 Posted 28/05/2013 at 11:47:33
sorry should have said minimum investment possible.
John Gee
19 Posted 28/05/2013 at 10:18:16
George, I agree. There's nothing dignified with running off with a neighbour. As for integrity, there are too many secrets around all this for them to be able to stake a claim for that.

During Bill's stewardship and, by extension, DM's managerial years we have contested one final, highest place of 4th, 2 failed stadium proposals, far below average net spend, an underproductive youth set up, a marketing and sales department that only knows where it's own net is and everything else I'm forgetting and you all already know. Enough is enough.

Bill, you've had your time and it's been a failure from start to finish. We're one of the 30 biggest clubs in the world, founder members of the football league, 9 times champions. Stability is the bare minimum expected.

Richard Dodd
20 Posted 28/05/2013 at 12:23:00
George,you mention `visions and values`.Even the business I`m in has those and our business is...... refuse and recycling!
Bet `visions and values` don`t get much of an airing in the Manager interviews with Bill!
George McKane
21 Posted 28/05/2013 at 12:45:40
Great stuff and comments.

I travel with my work a great deal - - see www.yellowhouse.info - - and I am always asked about The Beatles and Football and I always tell everyone about how great it is to be an Evertonian (I also tell them I was John Lennon's sister) - - my line being that its too easy to be a Red and say you are a Red in Georgia or Romania or somewhere - - and I always say that I am proud of what we have stood for - - even our old fashioned stadium. - I have converted many foreign Reds into Blues and took many many to The Dark House to meet real fans and real people and to watch real football - - and keep in touch with many of them who now keep a look out for Everton's results.

I do hope we can continue to be Proud Blues.

Peter Laing
22 Posted 28/05/2013 at 12:43:01
Blue Union have been pilloried for they way that they have conducted their business, however can anyone righfully argue with their stand-point "Oppose stagnation". Everton is a closed shop, driven by paranoia whilst in my opinion guilty of navel gazing and a complete dereliction of their duties.

Moyes for all his detractors has kept Everton at the business end of the premier league whilst operating on a shoe string budget. Kenwright's biggest worry now is if the new man can be as complicit in operating in a financial straight jacket. The woes that were played out three summer's ago and culminated in the sale of Arteta and the firing of Ian Ross, and the Wyness shennanigans a few years before that have not gone away. The overseas TV money may keep the wolf from the door a little while longer, however in my opinion we are a ruderless ship heading for a colision course with the rocks.

Robin Cannon
23 Posted 28/05/2013 at 16:49:17
Really good discussion thread.

I definitely agree that Moyes' achievement has managed to deflect a lot of criticism of BK and the board; and that no other manager will have the potential for long-term improvement/success unless the deep systemic issues at the club are resolved.

Problem is, when on-field performances do dip, more criticism gets focused at the manager than at the real culprits.

While other clubs have moved on and are run as professional, accountable businesses (which has its downsides, too), Everton seem a throwback to the "old boys' club" type of stewardship. There's no dynamism, no ambition, no desire to change.

It's a difficult one, though. I absolutely do not want Everton to be bought up by some Arab billionaire or Russian oligarch and become a vanity project. Even if it bought success, that would seem false, and a betrayal of our heritage.

What I think is a fair demand, however, is that we're run like a modern business and maximize our potential. With some investment, sure, but more importantly a solid and sustainable business model.

Robert Elstone comes in for a lot of criticism here, but I actually think his hands are tied. We have an owner who wants to be "the man", but who isn't prepared to put in the day to day work to manage the club. Which means our CEO is continually undermined because he can't run the club when it comes to the big decisions; he's left to be an administrator. BK won't trust anyone to run the club properly, and to truly delegate, and yet he's also unwilling to do that job himself. That just leaves us in continual limbo.

Tony Draper
24 Posted 29/05/2013 at 02:14:22
My honest hope with this bloody badge fiasco (and more money squandered needlessly) is that EVERTONIANS may have finally reached the deciding point

I have (until relatively recently) believed that kenwright was genuinely dedicated to the EVERTON cause. He is not.

He really is a petty little man with pennypinching approaches to everything that he does

I recently did some work for someone who has worked for/with him numerous times and over an extended period of time. My customer cited NUMEROUS examples of his fiddly nittiness and almost obsessive micro-management.
Repeated examples of tightfistedness in saving small amounts yet missing golden opportunities to to reap huge returns.

She also said something extremely telling.
Since he works in an industry in which people can make exorbitant amounts of money, why do you think that he doesn't have the kind of money that an EVERTON Chairman apprently needs ?

Because he just is not that good
Then she said, think Geoff Nulty, nice enough bloke but not exactly Alan Ball.

Harold Matthews
25 Posted 29/05/2013 at 03:30:49
Misery never fails to follow those who choose to dwell on it.
Derek Thomas
26 Posted 29/05/2013 at 09:20:26
Well said most of the above ( ' H' ...give over ) With Boys pen Billy in one of his longest running roles ( both puppet master and puppet at the same time ) until that changes all we are just Leeds in slow motion
Joe Clitherow
27 Posted 29/05/2013 at 09:58:53
It didn't start with Bill Kenwright. The seeds of destruction were without a doubt sown and cultivated by Marsh (and that's Dr David, not Tony) who never gets any kind of mention on here but is, without a doubt in my opinion, very largely responsible for Everton's relative demise in the modern era through failure to grasp the opportunities at the start of the Premier League era when Everton were still a major force. The decline started on his watch for sure and it didn't have to be that way.

I have been thinking of an article to this effect for some time just to put the record straight.

Eugene Ruane
28 Posted 31/05/2013 at 11:21:17
It is incredibly depressing.

Our problem is (of course) our board.

But what EXACTLY is their problem?

My belief is it can be boiled down to lack of imagination.

That might sound like a trite, stating the bleeding obvious comment, but I'd like to go a little further.

There is something strange and mysterious about imagination and creativity in relation to our species.

What is strange is that it is the one attribute EVERYONE believes they possess

I'll try to explain.

I have seen people almost boast about their own LACK of prowess in areas like car mechanics or house electrics etc.

I bet you have all heard - "Me? I'm useless, I can't even change a plug/lightbulb, ho ho ho"

And when a car breaks down, how many people DON'T immediately contact a garage?

It seems anything that takes specialised tools/equipment (possiblly combined with overalls with a badge on) and it's 'Best leave it to the experts' - which makes perfect sense.

Creativity however is COMPLETELY different.

Firstly, it looks easy.

No special gear and it all (for the most part) happens inside someone's head

And look at the meffs that do it - pony tails, twatty-rimmed specs, scruffs, really, how hard can it be?

I'm convinced the same people boasting about their uselessness at mechanics/electrics would never be heard saying "I have virtually NO imagination, not a creative bone in my body"

In fact if you were to suggest this to them, I guarantee they would be offended.

Think about this - out there, there are highly paid interior-designers.

They study colour, light, shade, materials and space - they are experts.

Do people employ them to make the spaces they live in more desirable?

The wealthy occasionally might, but generally, do they fuck.

Instead, all over the world, people with NO expertise, using the logic 'how hard can it be?' set to work on the interiors of their own homes.

And when they're done, you rarely hear "Yeah did it meself, looks like a blind, insane, pissed Australian's nightmare doesn't it"

No, instead, people stand there hands on hips surveying their handywork and tell you "Yeah we're quite pleased with how the heliotrope goes with the maroon" etc.

It's just a quirky human...thing.

Everyone thinks they're creative.

Now generally, this is fine and harms nobody, if you want your living room to look like complete shite, fine, you're not harming anyone.

Problem is when it comes to business and specifically ways to increase business/profit.

THIS is the problem we have, it is affecting (and has affected) us VERY badly.

I genuinely believe many of our problems could be sorted out with a few great, PROVEN creative people/problem-solvers.

People who can take problems that seemingly have no solution and find one.

People who could take minuses and make them plusses.

Is it a shitty old ground or a 'real, proper football stadium'?

Do we have an old badge that needs 'moving forward' or a badge steeped in history that, if designed well and put on the right shirt, would sell tens of thousands?

The people 'running' our club are doing one of two things (or a combination of both).

1) Not hiring good people because they don't have the imagination to know who the good people are.

2) Hiring good people and not listening to them because they think they know a better solution (see 'how hard can it be?).

And there's more bad news - If nobody buys us, there is no real solution.

Anyone who has worked in any similar situation (ie: boss knows fucking everything and won't let those he/she employs do their thing) will understand the 'choice' is..

a) Wait for the boss to die

b) Wait for the boss to retire

c) You move to another company.

And we don't have c) as an option.



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