The Blue Union – An Alternative Viewpoint

Paul Gregory 09/07/2015 119comments  |  Jump to last

The Blue Union is causing splits and divides within the Everton fan-base, yet it is becoming increasingly obvious that they have no clear blueprint or strategy as to how they will achieve any sort of positive change at Everton Football Club.

Let’s not forget that it was The Blue Union, who started labelling those with a differing opinion “ostriches”, long before former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson coined the phrase in an infamous post-match press conference earlier this year. That was at the time the latest in a series of disastrous public relations gaffes including accusations that representatives secretly taped an interview with Bill Kenwright and a clown led march that was significantly ignored by the matchgoing majority.

The Blue Union and their supporters seem to be peddling a lot of misinformation through their social media campaigns, confusing many Evertonians by presenting conjecture and opinions as fact. The infographics that they have been circulating are a good example of this. While some good points are made, the piece is little more than propaganda aimed at attracting followers by giving a distorted viewpoint of the truth.

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What exactly though is their purpose? The Blue Union’s website states:

“Our plan is simple; that the board, who have delivered nothing but failure since March 2000 and who are bereft of any tangible ideas to address this problem, are relieved of the responsibility of identifying and selling the club to a new owner who can adequately illustrate the resources and the business acumen to take the club forward”

Nothing but failure? Have Everton as a club not significantly grown in every aspect both on and off the pitch since 2000? Relegation battles have been replaced by top-half and top-six finishes. The quality of the playing staff from the days of Walter Smith have improved dramatically.

The club now attracts some of the best young talent in the region, challenging for titles across all junior levels each season. Previously the youth sides had operated out of a portakabin in Netherton.

A world class training facility has been developed using a clever leaseback scheme which allows the club to write off most of the costs against their tax return. The club now makes money from merchandising whereas previously it was losing money hand over fist.

Everton in the Community regularly wins awards all around the world and has helped thousands of people. Everton’s standing as a club in the last ten years has grown both domestically and abroad as the club have embraced surges in support in the USA and Asia.

The club’s debts are lower and seem favourable compared to the vast majority of our rivals. Quality players are being purchased, young players tied down to lengthy contracts and there seems to be no need to sell any players to balance the books.

It is true that a trophy is long overdue, but how Everton can realistically achieve this when faced against clubs underwritten by billionaires and larger fan-bases is a question that is probably being asked by potential investors. Everton being left behind is not solely (if at all) the responsibility of the current major shareholders; the game has changed in so many ways since 1992 – the year when the boat was well and truly missed by the then custodians of the football club.

With regards to the board standing aside and handing over the sale of the club to somebody else, it is a very fair question to ask why they would actually do that? The club is stable at the moment; do we need instability? Where is the evidence that the current board are turning away wealthy benefactors right, left and centre? I’m sure the vast majority of Evertonians would love a change in ownership that benefitted the club. However, how exactly is The Blue Union’s banner waving, marching and meetings in public houses going to bring those individuals in?

It’s also a case of being careful what you wish for in terms of new owners. There are horror stories for all to see in the Premier League, Championship and Football League of owners who have come in, marginalized the fan-base, ripped up tradition and ultimately failed in the planned objectives.

What is clear to me about The Blue Union is there is a underpinning resentment and bordering on personal agenda against one individual in particular – the Chairman Bill Kenwright. There is no doubting that Bill Kenwright has made some high-profile mistakes as chairman of Everton, as have some of the employees that Kenwright appointed, but if we are to put this into context, we could say the same about just about any high-profile business figure from Steve Jobs to Bill Gates, from Alan Sugar to Roman Abramovich. Mistakes happen to even the best businessmen, never mind the Theatre Impresario turned Football Chairman. I’d imagine you could count on one hand the successful executives and entrepreneurs without a single blemish on their CV.

The Blue Union’s latest line is to point out that Bill Kenwright has not ‘invested’ a ‘single penny’ into Everton, in the time he has been on the board. Yet this is not taking into account that this is the very man who – as well as remortgaging his house to purchase his shares in the club – has forgone a salary for well over a decade now. That alone must be worth around £3 million worth of employment alone, given up for free. How many other Premier League chairman, who do not own 100% of the shares in their club, have invested their own private wealth rather than just taking out loans and piling debt onto the club? How many do not take a salary or dividend each year? According to the information that is in the public domain, the answer is few if any.

A key point to consider with regards to Bill Kenwright is that he is not the owner of Everton Football Club. He may be the majority shareholder, but he only owns around a quarter of the shares in the club. It is entirely conceivable that a figure or group could purchase a majority shareholding in Everton without ever speaking to Bill Kenwright. Rather than moaning and complaining, would the Blue Union not be best advised to set up a fan ownership scheme to procure shares in the club so that they can actually have the say that they demand?

The stadium question is yet to be resolved, and the latest rumours are that Walton Hall Park may no longer be achievable as a site. Everton cannot gamble on the future of the club on a vanity project that does not make business sense. It would take years of filling a stadium to capacity for any sort of meaningful benefits to be realised; an enabling development and external funding are absolutely key for this to happen. The Everton board is being sensible in not putting a huge milestone around the club's neck. If The Blue Union have a business case that suggests otherwise – then show it! If criticism is to be levied at Everton, make it constructive criticism and suggest alternative plans.

It will be a terrible shame if the next couple of seasons see an escalation in the in-fighting between supporters. I implore Evertonians to get behind the club on and off the field and let’s have a great season watching our club rise up the league table. Spending our days trying to get to the bottom of the terms and conditions of the Kitbag deal, arguing over who owns Robert Earl’s shares, or doing comparisons of newspaper reported sponsorship figures will get nobody nowhere. It’s totally fruitless and largely irrelevant. COYB.

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Reader Comments (119)

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Brian Wilkinson
1 Posted 09/07/2015 at 14:58:54
A fair few points, but like the Blue Union this seems to go the other way and biased towards Bill and everything put against the Blue Union.

I agree some things are a lot rosier now but at the time, questions have to be asked about lack of investment, ground move, merchandicing etc.

Not everything is rosey now, some good things have happened, however quite a few matters need addressing and cannot be ignored much longer.

David S Shaw
2 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:09:05
They did show their case with a vision for a staged redevelopment of Goodison.

Re doing Goodison piecemeal has been argued for 20 years. It would have been completed by now.

Kevin Tully
3 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:11:59
You set the bar at avoiding relegation, Paul ; "Relegation battles have been replaced by top-half and top-six finishes."

ThatÂ’s fine for Bournemouth (who, incidentally, have a higher net spend than Everton over the past 5 seasons!). So, for that reason, I cannot take anything in this article seriously.

You, like some of our fanbase, are happy to just make up the numbers in the Premier League. Well, some of us want to see a clear and concise plan to take the club forward.

I also cannot take any solace in the fact EitC do some good work. We are primarily a football club – one of the biggest in the country. I don’t pay my season ticket money to watch us open a school.

"Be careful what you wish for" is no longer a defence for missed opportunities and refusal to sell the club. Aston Villa & WBA will both shortly be sold – you will no doubt make excuses as to why it wasn’t us.

Sorry mate, all the apologists have nothing but soundbites to defend an atrocious record of mismanagement. Once you see LiverpoolÂ’s commercial revenues dwarf our entire turnover, you know we are in trouble if we donÂ’t soon solve the stagnation currently emanating for the boardroom at Goodison Park.

Tony Hughes
4 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:37:57
What a nauseating rose-tinted article! It could have been penned by Black Bill himself!
David Barks
5 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:35:59
Kevin,

He did not set the bar at avoiding relegation. He was stating a fact, that was in fact where we were, not setting a goal.

Patrick Murphy
6 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:09:48
Bill Kenwright may not be the sole owner of the football club but to all intents and purposes he is the public face of the club. As the other major shareholders have little to say about the club or in which direction they hope to take it. Curiously the last 12 months have also seen a quieter less communicative Mr Kenwright in relation to all things Everton.

It is a possibility that Mr Woods and Mr Earl would not permit Mr Kenwright to release his shares without their permission and I assume that goes for each of the three individuals involved. That doesnÂ’t take into consideration what influence Sir Philip Green may wield when it comes to relinquishing shares.

WhatÂ’s gone before is largely irrelevant as it canÂ’t be changed but what comes next must be of concern to even the most ardent of BillÂ’s supporters. We can obviously continue as we have done for the last decade and if stability is what lights your candle then thatÂ’s fine. However, that stability has come at a price as despite some relative success on the field we as a club are starting to lose our grip on the coat-tails of those clubs we aspire to compete with.

Other clubs such as Stoke, Southampton and Swansea are beginning to make in-roads in the Premier League and even a Europa League place seems to becoming more out of reach than it was a few seasons ago. West Ham, Newcastle and Sunderland – if they get their acts together on the pitch – will also be a threat to our usual top seven position.

If you consider the amount of revenue that Everton have received in the last couple of decades, you would have to say that the various owners have been very fortunate to own the club during that period. Mr Kenwright in particular has been the most fortunate as millions upon millions of pounds have flowed into the club without any effort required by the Board of Directors. Yes, we have had decent players and decent teams during his time at the helm, but how much of that is down to him and his boardÂ’s vision and business acumen and how much has it been down to the good fortune of having TV revenue?

We needed an upgrade of the stadium a decade ago; we have seen nothing concrete to make us think that it wonÂ’t take another decade before the issue is addressed.

I largely agree that marching or demonstrating will have little effect upon the incumbents relinquishing their positions at the club; however, Blue Union are right to highlight the shortcomings of the club and its leadership and any legal methods that they use to get that message across is in my eyes legitimate.

I also donÂ’t believe that the fan-base is as split as you claim; I think itÂ’s more to do with the knowledge of most, that change cannot be affected from the outside. Bill Kenwright and his board will only move aside when it suits them and not necessarily when it benefits Everton FC and its supporters. For the record, I am not a member of the Blue Union nor have I attended any of their meetings. I am the sole member of Everton CF (Concerned Fan).


Steve Pugh
7 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:56:43
Hmmm, the Blue Union have split the fan base.... well, so has the chairman, the manager and half the players. ItÂ’s called life, we all have different opinions.

The Blue Union have no apparent plan or direction... again, the same can be said for the chairman, the board, and the manager. Although personally I think getting rid of the board is a heck of a good idea.

Eugene Ruane
8 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:28:28
The last paragraph of this (imo ludicrous) piece is as insulting as anything IÂ’ve ever seen on TW.

Or maybe that’s just how I see – "Keep paying your money, shut your mouth, and keep your nosey fucking beak out of it."

I urge every thinking Evertonian not to ignore Paul GregoryÂ’s post, but to read it, then do the exact opposite.

Keep digging, keep applying whatever pressure you can (no matter how small) and take everything from the club (ie: the men who gave you hits like "itÂ’s ring-fenced", "letÂ’s move to Kirkby" and "thereÂ’s no Plan B") with a King Kong-sized pinch of salt.

By the way, the Blue Union (nb: the amateurs, doing what theyÂ’re doing for no financial reward, but because they love Everton Football Club) are accused of having "no clear blueprint or strategy as to how they will achieve any sort of positive change at Everton Football Club." Maybe... maybe not.

But surely more pertinent to ask what is Bill KenwightÂ’s Â’clear blueprintÂ’?

Or what is ElstoneÂ’s Â’strategyÂ’?

Ex-fucking-actly!

Dan McKie
10 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:05:24
This board is useless! ItÂ’s been known for years how badly we need a new stadium to even hope of bridging the gap between us and the top 6 money wise. How many clubs have built/renovated grounds whilst our board occasionally get an architect to draw a pretty picture, before saying "the only problem is the finance"?

We need to know what the vision is, and why we seem to have major shareholders who either couldnÂ’t give a flying shit about football, or even worse, actually support one of our supposed rivals!

DonÂ’t worry though, IÂ’m sure Earl and Green will have a gorgeous new executive box in SpursÂ’ new stadium to cheer them on, whilst strangling the life out of Everton.

Brian Harrison
11 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:02:41
Whichever side of the argument you are on, we all have to admit that – with Spurs and West Ham getting new grounds – competing for a top 6 place is going to be tough. As sad as it is, the chances of Everton competing for a league title in the coming decade looks impossible.

So our goals are getting a Europa League spot or winning the FA Cup or the League Cup. But, even though the recognized monied clubs tend to play weakened teams in the early rounds of these competitions, itÂ’s amazing how many times they still win these competitions.

I am lucky I have seen Everton win League titles and Cups and even a European trophy, but I feel very sorry for our younger supporters who have seen us win nothing. I go to the game now more out of habit than expectation, but sadly I think that applies to many teams supporters in the Premier League. Apart from the usual teams, the rest just hope we donÂ’t get involved in a relegation battle.

We have fallen so far behind that I am not even sure a new owner would allow us to have any greater ambition than we have now. But for the sake of the younger supporters then we have got to try. So BK, we all know you’re a great Evertonian – I would urge you to do everything you can to get new owners and give the youth some belief.

Derek Turnbull
13 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:41:02
Eugene, do you ever go on the WSAG boardhost forum? ItÂ’s a bit of an eye opener the level of hatred attributed to supporters of the Blue Union and people who question the board and quite influential on our fanbase too.
Eric Myles
14 Posted 09/07/2015 at 15:33:29
BK remortgaged his house to buy his shares??? Bullshit myth, he got the £7 mill from Anita Gregg.

"The clubÂ’s debts are lower" No theyÂ’re not, they increase every year!!

"There seems to be no need to sell any players to balance the books" but we continue to have to sell players to buy new.

Come on, Mr Elstone, you can do better than this surely??

Ian Hollingworth
15 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:55:00
Eugene (#8) – Nail on head, mate.

Amusing that the articleÂ’s attack on the Blue Union of having no clear blueprint or strategy is exactly the reason they exist because of the clubs lack of clear blueprint or strategy; as others state, isnÂ’t it more important that they have one as they are employed to run the club??

We all want the same thing – an ambitious and successful Everton Football Club – it just seems that we have different views on what ambition and success means.

Jim Knightley
16 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:43:41
Paul, you are right, we have improved since 2000. We are in a much better position now. We also cannot invoke the success of the 80s as a barometer of what we should be achieving now. We have slipped behind other clubs, and the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal are simply bigger and better.

But, of the improvements made, to what extent are the board responsible? And to what extent are the improvements good good enough?

Okay, Bill did really well appointing Moyes. Then Moyes, with a minimal net spend, transformed us from a bottom 7 team to a top 7 team. Moyes did not do that because he was provided with lots of money. We spent less than our rivals each season, a lot less in many cases, but managed to bridge the gap. The board does not deserve credit for that, Moyes, the coaching staff, the players and scouts do.

The problem many of us have is our financial capacity. We have certainly turned things around lately, and reduced the debt admirably. But this reduction has been enabled by player sales, produced by good management and development. Turnover has also increased mainly because of television deals, and not because of the board.

We still earn much less than we should be, and that is the fault of the board. We have, for an extended period of time, spent less than our rivals. That may begin to change now, and last season demonstrated a better level of spending, but one season means nothing. We need to be able to invest £15-20M net each year, or we will not remain a top 7 club. Moyes sustained it for a long time, but we cannot stay consistent, or improve as a football club in this league, if our rivals outspend us considerably each season. We will make bad signings and we will slip away.

We should all put pressure on the board to invest, to look for a buyer, to look into stadium options, and primarily, to increase our turnover. Each club should look to improve. We should not expect to challenge for league titles, because we are a million miles away from that, and thatÂ’s not just because of this board. But we should strive for improvement, and we should strive to match the spending of the likes of Spurs.

If we had an effective financial structure, and increased investment capacity, then maybe we could have given Moyes an extra £10M a year. If he had had that, then maybe we could have qualified for the Champions League, or have signed that player to a make a difference in the cup. Maybe this summer we will have to ignore the player which could really improve us, because of spending capacity restricted by insufficient turnover figures. This is not good enough, and we need to improve on the board to be better, and the manager, and the players.

I do not condone unrealistic expectations, but at the moment our expectations are limited by inefficiency. We cannot improve as a club if the board is inefficient, and we canÂ’t expect to match our rivals, and push for 4th, if we canÂ’t invest in top players.

Ross Edwards
17 Posted 09/07/2015 at 17:20:46
"The BU has no clear blueprint or strategy as to how they will achieve any sort of positive change at Everton Football Club."

Funny. ThatÂ’s a perfect description of the board thatÂ’s holding us back. Ironic isnÂ’t it?

Spurs and West Ham getting new stadiums and moving forward with ambitious visions while we continue to stagnate, sitting still in a rotting, decrepit stadium which apparently could fail itÂ’s safety certificate in the future.

We missed the boat. ItÂ’s far too late. Kings Dock was our time. We could have been in Man CityÂ’s position now if it had been successful. But we screwed it up. 2 failed ground moves later and weÂ’re not only falling behind City and all them, but also West Ham and Spurs.

Paul Tran
19 Posted 09/07/2015 at 17:28:01
While we have a board that fails to find any investment, secure commercial deals that are anywhere near our competitors and continue our Â’interestingÂ’ reputation regarding transfer deals, they should be questioned at all times.

There are few things that annoy me more than the attitude of those who shy away from change because some people have bad experiences. What about those for whom change has worked well?

This business is stagnating because the management wonÂ’t invest and appear unwilling to step aside and let others do it. Our finances are shrouded in secrecy, intrigue and lack simple business logic. The fact that a respected administrator walked after a few weeks told me everything.

The idea that a small organisation of fans that points out these obvious facts is Â’divisiveÂ’ is plainly ridiculous.

Chris Feeley
21 Posted 09/07/2015 at 16:25:03
As much as Â’be careful what you wish forÂ’ is a popular tag line for anti-Blue Unionists, surely the consideration should also be to be careful what you settle for?

Bill Kenwright supporters seem to have convinced themselves that they must also be supporters of the entire board. Taking the divisive figure of Mr Kenwright out of the equation for a second, IÂ’d genuinely love to hear anybody defend how Robert Earl is good for Everton? This is a man who officially owns just 2% less of the total shares than Mr Kenwright. What has he done for the club?

Embarrassing US chat show appearances, zero interest in answering questions about his links to Vibrac, and a self-imposed exile for years from a club he is the second highest individual shareholder in. WhereÂ’s the impact from having this global marketing brand-builder associated with the club?

What happens if Kenwright dissolves his share portfolio due to ill health? Earl could potentially become the largest shareholder in the club. He, or Elstone, could potentially become chairman. Would all the supporters of the board be happy for either of these two to be responsible for the running of the club?

Peter Mills
22 Posted 09/07/2015 at 18:04:17
IÂ’ve been to one Blue Union meeting, at the Casa, to see what they are about. The opinion I formed was that that they are a passionate group of fans who are frustrated at the inertia within Everton FC, can see the writing (of decline) on the wall that many of us dread to look at, and are trying to effect positive change.
Eugene Ruane
24 Posted 09/07/2015 at 17:45:35
Derek (13) - no, never seen the online version.

Never missed buying the mag (had a mate who sold them) and I used to thoroughly enjoy it (St Vesp alone was worth the price).

However, I also remember the online forum thing they had, which basically appeared to be a bunch of surly children trying to be (ahem) ’too cool for school’ (too cool for school, but not enough knowledge for college – BOOM!).

It was where the idea of Â’kopite behaviourÂ’ (ie: protest) really took hold.

Basically it was "IÂ’d rather be considered cool (by anonymous online Kevins and Perrys) than...anything.

"How come you didn’t save your mam when that bin-man went on the rampage?" – "You’re joking, lad, me Stan Smiths would’ve got covered in meff dust." Etc etc.

I donÂ’t think any group (including the Blue Union) should be exempt from criticism, but I believe anyone who gives the (proven inept and untrustworthy) board of Everton FC an easy ride, while making a protest group the target of their ire, is either dumb beyond compare... or in league with the board.

Bill Griffiths
26 Posted 09/07/2015 at 18:46:32
Kevin Tully,

"Be careful what you wish for" is no longer a defence for missed opportunities and refusal to sell the club. Aston Villa & WBA will both shortly be sold – you will no doubt make excuses as to why it wasn’t us.

Aston Villa have been sold previously, Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham & the Red Shite have been sold twice.

Are you saying youÂ’d be happy for us to be sold to people like those who have purchased the aforementioned clubs?

While I agree BK may have made mistakes (possibly a couple of serious ones) and possibly could do a bit better I would rather have him in charge than the likes of those who have purchased the aforementioned clubs as well as many others.

I would like someone super wealthy to purchase our club but it would have to be the right people.

I agree mainly with PaulÂ’s thoughts and "be careful of what you wish for" does have some relevance. I do agree with some of the criticisms of BK and the board but donÂ’t think things are as black and white as some make out.

Jim Jennings
27 Posted 09/07/2015 at 18:29:22
A staggeringly unnecessary character assassination on what is effectively a pressure group of concerned fans, who are trying (sadly in vain, it seems) to raise awareness of the complete disinterest / inability / unwillingness of the current custodians of our football club to arrest the clubÂ’s lack of progression.

Everton Football Club are in a state of permanent decline and will be until Bill KenwrightÂ’s health suffers the same fate.

To preempt the faux outrage at that statement, no I am not wishing ill of BK, just stating he has no intention of surrendering control.

Jim Jennings
28 Posted 09/07/2015 at 18:55:56
Bill Griffiths #26

I would take the current RS owners over ours any day. IÂ’d also take VillaÂ’s. At least he gave it a go by backing his manager initially, before realising he couldnÂ’t take the club forward and looking to step aside.

Joe Foster
29 Posted 09/07/2015 at 19:06:50
The last paragraph of the OP is pure defeatism. If I had such little interest in how the club was being mismanaged, I wouldnÂ’t bother going. It feels like we are going backwards while other clubs strive to move onwards and upwards. This feels like club propaganda. They must think us fools, years of this BS is all most laughable.
Darren Hind
30 Posted 09/07/2015 at 18:51:56
So itÂ’s Blue Union who are causing splits and divisions within the fan-base? Who the fuck knew?

Congratulations, Eugene #8. You are a better man than me for getting to the last paragraph.. . I couldnÂ’t get beyond the first sentence

How can any credence be given to an article penned by a guy who is blissfully unaware of the deep and bitter divisions that were prevalent long before the Blue Union came along?

Lies and deceit caused the divisions within our fan-base, Mr Gregory. Only yesterday, I stumbled across the the shamefully misleading brochure which was circulated in and attempt to hoodwink the fans into thinking Kirkby was a good idea. The bitter civil war which ensued saw divisiveness between Evertonians which at times bordered on hatred. Those wounds are reopened every time this board put forward another half-witted proposal concerning a new stadium.

If you are going to attack Blue Union (or any group of blues for that matter), it would do your credibility no harm at all if your opening sentence didnÂ’t give the impression that you have no idea of what you are talking about

John Raftery
31 Posted 09/07/2015 at 19:22:06
I agree with virtually everything in the article. When people moan about the lack of investment in our club, what they really mean is that they are disappointed that nobody has chosen to give us some money.

In the real world, we have very limited current capacity for expanding our income to exceed that of our main competitors. So no sensible investor will Â’investÂ’. It may be tiresome and irritating but we have no sensible alternative but to live within our means and make the best of what we have.

The record of most of the clubs who have been bought in recent years is mainly pathetic. It remains to be seen how Villa and WBA perform under new owners.

Eugene Ruane
32 Posted 09/07/2015 at 19:15:41
Bill Griffiths (26) something you say genuinely intrigues me.

When you say:

"While I agree BK may have made mistakes (possibly a couple of serious ones) and possibly could do a bit better..."

I know this might seem facetious but I have to ask – do you know the difference between a mistake and deliberate deceit?

It genuinely appears you donÂ’t.

Stephen Edwards
33 Posted 09/07/2015 at 19:50:32
Blue Bill got us out of a hole when we needed it and for that I think weÂ’ve to be grateful. However, he has stuck around, probably 7 or 8 years too long, like a nasty fart.

The thing I do like about Bill is he’s an experienced Premier League chairman, which, let’s be honest, is a rare thing. Take for example the Fellaini deal – he played a blinder and got the better of the new kid on the block, Ed Woodward. Same for the Lukaku deal because I for one never thought we’d pull it off.

I honestly think there is an argument for finding a role for BK should the impossible happen and we actually find some sort of outside investment. Look at Fernandes at QPR, all the will – and money – doesn’t make up for experience. In short, I’m not a fan but it could be worse.

Kevin Tully
35 Posted 09/07/2015 at 20:11:50
Bill (#26) – You say; "Aston Villa have been sold previously, Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham & the Red Shite have been sold twice. Are you saying you’d be happy for us to be sold to people like those who have purchased the aforementioned clubs?"

You do know Randy Lerner spent approx £300M propping up Aston Villa, don’t you? Imagine where we could possibly be with a shitty owner like that? Do you think Villa have to ask their local council to rescue their training facilities as we had to do?

I don’t know if you live in the city, but you will see a big, fuck-off new stand being built an Anfield — which will rake in tens of millions a season more than we could ever dream of. That’s apart from the hundreds of millions spent on players.

As far as Cardiff, Leeds & Birmingham go, I donÂ’t want to compare 9 times League Champions to clubs like those. There is no comparison to be made, even though you would like to. Why donÂ’t you go the whole hog and point out TranmereÂ’s current troubles?

IÂ’ve never understood this pointing to someone worse off as a defence of incompetence. Would you do that in work? Or in any other business? ItÂ’s a childlike response which doesnÂ’t really deserve this reply.

Saying "Bill could possibly do a bit better" is like saying Eddie the fucking Eagle could have jumped a little further.

Martin Mason
36 Posted 09/07/2015 at 20:51:51
The Blue Union is a small minority pressure group that has no mandate from Evertonians to do or say anything on their behalf. They have no answer to the problems faced by the club perceived or otherwise and they disappeared the season before last when we became a "winning" club.

I completely agree with the author of this post, the BU has no credibility, no understanding of how modern businesses are run, what the club is doing to maintain its existence and not a clue about how improvements can be achieved only an irrational expectation of success based on what we did in 1970 and the mid-1980s.

Are they coming up with investment for the club or are they just a talk shop? BK looks at them with the ultimate of contempt and I donÂ’t blame him. He has to actually run the club.

Jay Harris
37 Posted 09/07/2015 at 20:13:16
Paul,

Forgive me saying this but you seem like a club plant.

The BU, for all their faults, are a bunch of honest Evertonians who in their spare time try to bring attention to the activity and inactivity of the board with no financial gain and a considerable amount of abuse from the Bill Kenwright sycophants.

I am not a member of BU but I fully endorse their sentiments.

Peter Johnson, who was hounded out of the club, is the last director to put his own money into the club (The Park End stand) and the last chairman to oversee a trophy (the FA Cup 1995 in case Bill needs reminding).

All that Kenwright has overseen is a succession of Chief Executives, a litany of lies, a deterioration from a net asset position to a significant net liability and a total failure to improve or move the stadium or the club, all at a time when the Premier League has been awash with money and potential new owners.

If Bill Kenwright truly has the clubÂ’s best interests at heart surely his 24/7 search for new owners/investors would have borne fruit by now or is that one of his other bullshit lies.

Eric Myles
39 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:03:46
Bill (#26), Lerner funded Villa from his own pocket for years under OÂ’Neil, likewise H&G with FSW. Their mistake was having the wrong managers, much like the RS now.

IÂ’d rather have had their three owners over the years than what we have.

Eric Myles
40 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:16:47
Martin (#36), itÂ’s amazing that this bunch of amateurs in the BU know much more than the directors and management of our own Club though isnÂ’t it??
Tony Abrahams
41 Posted 09/07/2015 at 20:46:39
So Finch Farm was a master stroke, because we can write it off into our tax?

At least you acknowledge that a trophy is long overdue, but then go on about clubs with larger fanbases, putting off potential investors?

Do yourself a favour and read Patrick MurphyÂ’s Summertime Blues article on ToffeeWeb, Paul. Bill Kenwright didnÂ’t want to sell when the club was in dire straits, eleven years ago, so what makes you think he would contemplate it now?

IÂ’ve said for many years if Kenwright was serious about selling Everton, then let the people who defeated him in the courtroom, regarding Destination Kirkby, find him a buyer.

KEIOC, IÂ’m sure would be able to do this, but because they know the club is not really for sale, then their friends in the Blue Union have got to keep trying every way possible, to expose KenwrightÂ’s failures and lies.

Patrick Murphy
42 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:19:25
Miracle man Bill Kenwright should be awarded a seat in the House of Lords following his magnificent work in keeping that small-time little football club located somewhere within the confines of Merseyside, in the Premier League, not for one season but for the whole duration of BillÂ’s reign.

Not for Bill the quick profit motive, but rather a carefully executed plan of taking every penny and investing it in the first-team squad, always willing to borrow money at above market rates, often losing previously competent CEOs but never shying away from the big decisions, here is a man who has single-handedly steered the club through the shark-infested waters of the Premier League. Not only has the man achieved this but he hasnÂ’t taken a single penny piece out of the club; what more could his detractors ask for? He donates his precious time to a cause that he loves and doesnÂ’t even want thanks for doing so.

Adored by many of the 39,000 people who regularly attend Goodison Park, largely because he (like them) is a long-time supporter. If it wasnÂ’t for Old Bill, the club would probably be facing up to a Merseyside Derby against their illustrious neighbours Tranmere Rovers in a non-league match this coming season. Instead they are set to upset the odds yet again next season, when they hope to match the ambitions which in truth are way above their station by ending the campaign in 10th or who knows, perhaps 7th place in the most competitive league in club football.

It is so easy to forget that Everton FC were twice nearly sucked into the lower division on two occasions in 1994 and 1998 until Bill came along and steadied a sinking ship. Yes, the club had a period of success but that was so far in the distant past that most of the fanbase have forgotten it and those who do happen to remember it in any great detail, tend to put too much store by it.

Isn’t it and hasn’t it always been "plucky little Everton" – the club in the shadows of the giants of European Football? Hasn’t Goodison always been an embarrassment despite hosting the odd FA Cup Semi-Final, World Cup Semi-Final and occasional international? But unfortunately all those events happened before football had grown up and if it wasn’t for Old Bill, who knows what a mess the club would be in today.

Mike Galley
43 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:47:28
With regards to Randy Lerner backing Villa managers with his own money, I was told by an Aston Villa fan in work that when he bought the club, they had zero debt. This was due to Doug Ellis keeping a firm grip on the purse strings.

According to this lad, all Lerner did was authorise borrowing/overdrafts. I’ve no idea if this is true (I’m sure they’re accounts would verify it) – it’s just something he believed. I’m not adding this as a reason to defend (or attack) football club owners, Bill Kenwright included, but I’m sure some takeovers may not be all they seem.

Paul Hewitt
44 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:49:13
Jay Harris @37,

Peter Johnson may have put his own money into the club but he also had the bank demanding that we generate money or they would call in the debt. ThatÂ’s why Ferguson was sold.

Dave Ganley
45 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:29:44
Agree with most comments on this post especially Eugene (#various posts) and Tony (#4).

Erm... have I missed something about having the right to be dissatisfied, because the clubÂ’s apologists are suggesting that anybody who has the temerity to complain, like the BU, MUST have a plan to fix things. Well, in case you havenÂ’t noticed, itÂ’s not our fucking job as regular fans to make a foolproof plan to make it all okay, itÂ’s the boardÂ’s and in most Everton fans opinions, they are doing a shit job and have been doing for many years. So, as a fan, I feel I have a right to make my feelings known and suggest that they sell up and sell to someone else who may take us forward.

There are no guarantees in life but that stupid, piss-poor reasoning of "be careful what you wish for" will get us absolutely nowhere.

It is true that we are in a much better state than we were 15 years ago, but that is entirely down to MoyesÂ’s skill in the transfer market picking up gems from the lower divisions. Moyes managed to mask the lack of vision for most part due to the team doing better than it had done for a decade, barring the FA Cup win in Â’95.

The poor state of affairs on the pitch last season, and letÂ’s face it, at no point did we look competent during the season really, has just brought the lack of vision into focus once again.

We, as Evertonians, have been brought up on league triumphs, cup successes and good football and to see how far off we from that now is heartbreaking in the extreme.

So, without wishing to labour the point, don’t you dare, Paul Gregory, tell me – a normal season ticket holder with no affiliation to any particular cause apart from the well-being of EFC – don’t you dare try to insult my and many other Blues fans’ intelligence by trying to make us accept that utter nonsense. You could give Goebbels a run for his money with that kind of propaganda.

Kevin Tully
46 Posted 09/07/2015 at 22:03:31
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-randy-lerner-spent-7131673
Peter Laing
47 Posted 09/07/2015 at 21:53:15
I had to laugh when Paul came out with the belter that all businessmen make mistakes, and then cited Steve Jobs, Alan Sugar, Bill Gates and Roman Abramovitch in the same context as our very own William Bullshitter.

Martin Mason, a short answer to you, Blue Union have asked that the board stand aside and appoint a fit and proper person / broker who will attract a buyer at fair market value.

The problem is that Kenwright et al will not name a price and have vexed the underlying issues regarding their true intentions of either wanting to hold onto the club as their own vanity project (Bill), or too make a killing (Earl / Green). ThatÂ’s why we have had to endure the embarrassment of fictitious bedsit romantisists and stooges such as Keith Harris allegedly trying to flog the club.

Oliver Molloy
48 Posted 09/07/2015 at 22:11:48
Jay @ 37...

We would have one FA Cup at least had Moyes not been the negative manager we all know he was. He never learned from the Chelsea defeat in 2009 when we played Liverpool in 2012, clearly had the beating of them had we had a more positive manager on the side lines.

We cannot blame Kenwright for that?

Mike Galley
49 Posted 09/07/2015 at 22:16:27
Kevin Tully @ 46. Thanks for the link, hope IÂ’m not being arrogant in assuming it was connected to my comment. As I said, it was just something I was told, but based on that information not right. And to think, I was desperate for us to get Charles NÂ’Zogbia!
Jay Woods
50 Posted 09/07/2015 at 23:00:38
There remains an abundance of idiotic comments about us "dodging a bullet" when the Sheikh bought Man City instead of us.

This article is scandalous and the author of it should be publicly flogged. As if consistent finishes well away from the relegation zone should be praiseworthy achievements for a club that, bar Heysel, could have been contending for multiple European Cup wins.

Yeah, I still remember that gross injustice, so my standards are no less than seeing us one day being Champions of Europe.

Steve Fletcher
51 Posted 09/07/2015 at 22:59:19
Oliver @ 48. Moyes may have made a cock-up in the 2012 semi-final but you are assuming that we would have beaten Chelsea in the Final. This was a Chelsea with Essien, Sturridge & Torres on the bench, nevermind those that started the game.

But, if we hadÂ’ve won the trophy, it wouldÂ’ve been despite the board, not because of it. Which is sort of the point the BU are trying to address, and which this OP completely misses.

Paul Hewitt
52 Posted 09/07/2015 at 23:07:18
Jay @ 50

Champions of Europe,? YouÂ’ll be waiting a lifetime mate.

Oliver Molloy
53 Posted 09/07/2015 at 23:09:13
Yes Steve, I believe we would have beaten Chelsea because we owed them one. We should have beat them first time round.

Regards your point "of despite the board, not because of it" – I would say that Bill Kenwright has made mistakes but does his best for a man with no money.

Many a debate and heated discussion have taken place on this and other fan websites over how Everton can become more successful and compete seriously for trophies. Without big money, we are and have been a competitive side that has almost always won the "Best of the Rest" Premier League (outside the big 5) in the last 5-6 years.

Aston Villa, for all their investment, won nothing and never finished in front of us; look at Spurs and the money they have spent... With big money, nothing is guaranteed other than more and higher wages, more and higher transfer feeÂ’s and on and on and on.

Even the big clubs are realising now at they must try harder at developing young players from within their academies.

I believe Kenwright is such a committed Evertonian, he wants nothing but the best for the club and because of this is too protective in the search for a buyer / investment. I donÂ’t know to be honest.

Ciaran Duff
54 Posted 09/07/2015 at 23:56:19
The whole debate on this seems to always go bi-polar! ItÂ’s either that Bill (and Board) is a saint or he is the devil incarnate. In the real world, things are rarely black and white.

I agree with some of the things in this article. Bill has stabilised the club, we have improved in many areas, on and off the pitch, and are generally fairly well run. He has made mistakes along the way and bullshitted us at times but I put that down more to naivety than deceit. It is notable how low key he has become in recent years.

I also donÂ’t believe that he is driven by financial gain as he hasnÂ’t taken a salary and is unlikely to ever get a profit from selling.

However, that is not to say that we should accept everything as it is or to stop questioning. We do need to hold the club to the highest standards possible and to seek to improve the club. This however needs to bear in mind the commercial reality of our situation.

Steve Fletcher
55 Posted 10/07/2015 at 00:44:38
Oliver – well, maybe. Well never know.

I largely agree re Kenwright. He has the club at heart and he doesnÂ’t have the mega bucks that other owners have.

But, long term, as a club, we are falling behind others. All the reasons as to why this is the case have been argued to death – but anyone who denies it isn’t really paying attention. All under Kenwright’s watch.

It"s the fact that we are making no forward progression off the pitch that worries me. With the massive amounts of TV revenues now, we should be moving forward, as other clubs are.

Yes, spending money on the pitch brings no guarantees, and Spurs have done bugger all with all the cash theyÂ’ve spunked, but they are definitely progressing, and once the new ground is in place, will generate vast revenues on and off the pitch. Southampton could be going places, the Olympic Stadium will help WHU long term, Stoke (Stoke FFS!) are well managed off the pitch, Villa may be about to be sold and have a superb debt free ground already. Treading water is not good enough, and we have been doing that for 10 years now, IÂ’d say.

I donÂ’t think it will happen under RM, and never did last season even when we were poor, BUT, if the unthinkable happens and we were relegated, nevermind winning trophies / getting into Europe, the loss of Sky cash could hamper us for years. And we have a board, that for whatever reasons, either canÂ’t or wont invest in the club for the long-term.

Paul Kelly
56 Posted 10/07/2015 at 01:26:58
Stopped reading at "Everton being left behind is not solely (if at all) the responsibility of the current major shareholders".

What a load of cack. Sadly IÂ’ll never get those precious seconds back it took to read this written diarrhoea.

Surely this is someone from the club! DonÂ’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Derek Thomas
57 Posted 10/07/2015 at 04:31:19
Poor attempt by a possible plant at a whitewash designed to counter PatrickÂ’s Summertime Blues 2004.

Â’A few high profile mistakesÂ’... KD was a bit of a high profile mistake was it?... Fill in Despot of choice who Invaded Russia... yeah well, it was a bit of a mistake, a high profile one IÂ’ll grant you, but looking back it seemed like a good Idea at the time.

For Kings Dock alone, he should be turned into a pillar of salt, never mind all the rest.

Martin (#36), They only claim to represent themselves – Blue Union. But you’re right; they are a pressure group and they try to put pressure on the Club to Improve their act.

There are those with Ideas and plans – however daft – and those with good Ideas and plans Tom Hughes for one... Ideas and Plans but no power.

Then there are those in power with no Idea, no plan other their KBO Plan... Keep Buggering On.

Tom Dodds
58 Posted 10/07/2015 at 04:52:22
As ever on these now ever growing threads concerning the running of our club, and as I believe in the political world at large, there is an ever-widening gap between those who are, and those who arenÂ’t aware of just what is going on around them. All predicted by the by diddly by, in the last chapter in the bible in Revelations... which prophesised that in the last days of our present (soscio) system that there will be a Â’great divideÂ’ ... between east-west, brother v brother, sister v sister etc etc!

Just reading the comments on this thread alone to my mind is a set-piece of that same biblical analogy in that the perceptions of how our club is, and has been run, has split into completely opposite poles of perception. So, for those who donÂ’t know, we are being led down the garden fucking path by an ageing second-rate luvvy impresario with Zilch Pounds and Zilch fuckin Pence who has NEVER put so much as a porridge oat of his NO MONEY into the acquisition of ANY player, a Â’ChairmanÂ’ who could be bought and sold by a writer of fuckin Â’Cook BooksÂ’, in this Balshazzar-like world of present generation football, whose ringmaster should be running Â’Dantes infernoÂ’ and who showers many billions of pounds down the throats of the lucky chosen few 20 teams in Colloseum-style Emporial extravagance.....

Aaaand, lest we forget, a Board of Directors that has individual assets that amount to somewhere round £1 BILLION PLUS... And who also have not put so much as a Single and I say a collective SINGLE Baked fuckin bean in either, I say this:

WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!

Rick Tarleton
59 Posted 10/07/2015 at 07:11:09
A truly ridiculous article, Paul, your basic argument boils down to a philosophy of "DonÂ’t Rock The Boat In Case You Get Worse". Kenwright has lied to us over so many issues: the KingÂ’s Dock Fiasco, that he was looking for a buyer for the club, and currently the smokescreen over Walton Hall Park.

To try to be fair to Kenwright, he is an owner in the style of a mid-20th Century owner, someone like Bob Lord, the local butcher, who presided over BurnleyÂ’s heyday in the late fifties. He is not an owner for the present day, when a coherent financial and business strategy needs to be in place, when management is not about shoring up the edifice, but managing change.

Sorry, Paul, we need the Blue Union, as a pressure group; we need the actor to retire; we need new owners – I see West Brom managed to get new owners rather quickly incidentally – and we need Bill Kenwright to go back to the Boys Pen.

Tony Abrahams
60 Posted 10/07/2015 at 09:32:33
Clarence 54, I donÂ’t like getting into arguments with fellow Evertonians, but what you wrote in post 54, is just plain daft.

"... he has made mistakes along the way and bullshitted us at times, but I put that down more to naivety than deceit!"

He fucking told us the money for the Kings Dock was ring-fenced, that silly naïve man!

Patrick Murphy, I admire your research, I wonder if you can find the piece from the front of the Echo all those years ago, which read. "I WILL BUY EVERTON A STRIKER WITH MY OWN MONEY".

No prizes for guessing who was saying this, it gave him a lot of power with us silly, gullible, Blues. We should be the most united fans in the world, when we have a future chairman coming out with statements like this!!!!

Andrew Ellams
62 Posted 10/07/2015 at 10:30:56
Ciaran @ 54, if Kenwright sold the club tomorrow, how would he not make a huge profit? Even at a realistic price, the value has probably gone up 5 or 6 fold since he allegedly mortgaged his house to purchase his shares.
Winston Williamson
63 Posted 10/07/2015 at 10:37:32
All it would take is a single relegation and weÂ’d be Preston NE... thatÂ’s how precarious we are as a club. Too much reliance on TV money. No other forms of revenue worth mentioning. No assets to sell other than players.

The additional TV money has filled the reputed black hole in the finances and has taken the pressure off having to sell a player pretty much every season, but it hasnÂ’t brought enough for squad development on a higher scale (after dishing out a fair number of contract renewals too).

Our additional TV income has brought us up to the level of our peers (Stoke, Newcastle etc)... their additional TV income has allowed them to invest further in their teams. The result? They overtake us or pull further away from us.

All the result of mismanagement for the sake of holding onto power.

Mike Knowsley
64 Posted 10/07/2015 at 11:15:33
Everton are a club in decline... a useless board that relies solely on the TV money to keep Â’pluckyÂ’ old Everton in the Premier League!

The only way to get this board out is stop buying season tickets and to stop going the game. Loyal fans will see this as unthinkable... but thatÂ’s how cynical this board is; they know the fans love their club far too much to even contemplate withdrawing their hard-earned support.

I traded in my financial support after the Arteta sale and I haven’t been to a home game since. As soon as Kenwright’s gone, I’ll return, but right now, I can honestly say – I don’t miss it!

"No bigger blue than me!" – Kenwright. There’s at least 35,000 bigger and better than him!

Dave Abrahams
65 Posted 10/07/2015 at 11:23:03
I couldnÂ’t take this article seriously. Paul, you are either a red taking the piss. Or a plant from the club.

Thanks to all my fellow, genuine Evertonians for your replies, just to add that one "Kenwright is naïve" that’s a classic, I’ll have to remember that one!!!!.

Nick Page
66 Posted 10/07/2015 at 11:52:13
I heard Bill "24/7/365" Kenwright was unwell. Perhaps he forgot which sofa he stuffed all the TV money down the back of, and had a fucking heart attack. "Jenny love, Jenny love, its not Â’ere.."
"Have you checked the Other Operating Expenses Sofa, Bill darling."

Ross Edwards
67 Posted 10/07/2015 at 11:56:27
Kenwright isn’t ’naïve’. In fact, of all the words I could think of to describe a man with little or no business sense whatsoever, ’naïve’ wouldn’t even feature.

Incompetent, inept and clueless would immediately spring to mind.

Thomas Lennon
68 Posted 10/07/2015 at 11:47:16
For me, the issue is that the current board have taken a very conservative, very risk-averse strategy which has proven to be successful to a point as the number of clubs who have managed to stay in the top half year after year with our level of funding relative to the really big spenders since 2001 is very small – just us.

Choose a good young manager, back him for more than 18 months and it has worked well – up to a point.

Debt fell markedly last year, had remained pretty stable before that. That should make the club easier to sell; however, again selling to an unknown is a major risk and I am sure Kenwright and the board havenÂ’t looked after the club all this time to throw it all away. They are waiting for their billionaire.

Even for billionaires, there has to be more than one reason to throw hundreds of millions at a club. Profit? Doubtful in cash terms. Black hole for cash? Yes, definitely.

Are Everton in a position to be bought out by a billionaire? Not without a new stadium. Investment in a new stadium is the least risky strategy to push us forward and offers the best stepping stone back to the top, but when support was needed for a move many here were spouting all sorts of protests – "we only need 40,000 capacity"; "it won’t bring in enough money" and perhaps most memorably "we will lose half the fan base if we move 4 miles". BU’s ’plans’ to redevelop Goodison were not the best put together ideas I have ever seen...

Ironically BU seem to want us to follow a riskier strategy – sell the club to an interested party with a few hundred million pounds to spend, redevelop our ground on a TINY footprint, blow it all for a shot at the Champions League, sack the manager if we don’t get it. That’s great, but don’t be surprised if we end up repeating the 1990s in the process.

Kenwright is often accused of treating the club like his trainset. BU supporters protest at this but then seem to want to gamble with the clubs future – a different type of toy perhaps.

Patrick Murphy
69 Posted 10/07/2015 at 12:23:17
Thomas (68), You make some valid points and the link below would be the reply that Bill Kenwright would give us today if he were asked:

Pride and Pain

However, my personal argument with BK would be: How can you achieve anything if you donÂ’t bring in new money to the club? How can you ever re-develop Goodison or build a new stadium without finding the finance for it? In what world would those would-be financiers be interested in providing the money without having some significant input into the clubs affairs?

Waiting for something or someone to turn up who appears to fit BillÂ’s personal criteria is a dangerous strategy and whilst it may not result in the clubÂ’s ruin, it may well see Everton struggle to maintain their place in the top-flight in the long-run.

As ever, we will have to hope that Roberto and his troops exceed all of our expectations but even that may not be enough to move the club forward for a sustained period.

Scott Goin
71 Posted 10/07/2015 at 12:21:37
Kenwright and the board have made some mistakes in judgement and finances over the years. ThereÂ’s no doubt another group could have done better. That being said, however, Everton are in much better shape than they were. You canÂ’t simply write that off. ThereÂ’s only so much the board can do without investment. Everton are being run as a business, not some billionaireÂ’s plaything.

Paul may have gone slightly overboard trying to argue against the Blue Union but I generally agree with his sentiment and admire that heÂ’s willing to voice his opinion on a site where heÂ’ll obviously face strong backlash.

We all love Everton. We all have different opinions. I never mind when people make rational arguments with facts to back them up. I just hate when rumor, innuendo, and conjecture are the sole support for someoneÂ’s justification.

Patrick Murphy
72 Posted 10/07/2015 at 13:29:53
It would appear that some others in his other world, albeit a few years ago, were also divided about our Bill:

Exactly how bad is Bill Kenwright?

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=986581&id=3722783&boardid=3

Nick Page
73 Posted 10/07/2015 at 13:46:48
"I agree thereÂ’s been some good things said about some of his tours, however the man himself is renowned for being very tight when it comes to money, (wasnÂ’t he named as paying the least amount of money to his cast in any west end/touring show? correct me if im wrong)."

Hahahaha, lol.

What a great find, Patrick.

Bobby Thomas
74 Posted 10/07/2015 at 14:20:37
In relation to the ongoing stadium issue, the author of the piece suggests:

"If The Blue Union have a business case that suggests otherwise – then show it!"

Take it you missed The Football Quarter proposal then? Large elements of which are being inplemented by Liverpool FC, whilst our lot chase never gonna happen long shots & ignore redevelopment.

Jay #37

Whilst PJ was chairman when it was built, I think I’m right in saying The Park End was funded in the main by a grant of over £1 million from the Football League. We contributed very little.

ThatÂ’s why the original plans for the double-decker wrap-around to the Bullens was scaled back by the previous board back then. It involved spending money!!

Raymond Fox
75 Posted 10/07/2015 at 14:35:13
I agree with the sentiments of Thomas 68 and Scott 71.

The bottom line is that we are now a poor investment for new owners who wish at the end of the day to get a return on their money.

The need for a new stadium is the factor that holds us back; you can blame BK for that if you wish.

Our only way out is to attract a billionaire in the mould of Chelsea and Man City, but it appears that they a very scarce animal!

Eric Myles
76 Posted 10/07/2015 at 16:52:22
Paul #44 "... but he also had the bank demanding that we generate money or they would call in the debt. That’s why Ferguson was sold."

And why Rooney and Arteta were sold also.

Chris Feeley
77 Posted 10/07/2015 at 17:37:21
Raymond 75 - "The need for a new stadium is the factor that holds us back; you can blame BK for that if you wish."

If BK isnÂ’t responsible, then who is?

Steve Hogan
78 Posted 10/07/2015 at 17:56:12

I should point out, I planned to pen this piece before the contribution by Paul Gregory, and the content is NOT a direct response to it.

Having followed Everton for the best part of 45 years, I’ve seen the whole remit of Everton sides – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

As we approach the new season, I have mixed feelings, I always get excited about the possibility of potential new signings, but this season IÂ’m not wholly optimistic about the long-term future of my local football club.

There are so many factors which are unsatisfactory, from the level of investment required to make us a real force again, to the stupid stubborness of the current manager who bored me to death at times for long periods last season, to the ongoing stadium issue.

The latter point made me have a quick look at the teams who will make up the Premier League next season, and I stand to be corrected, but only five clubs, out of 20, including ourselves, Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich and West Brom, have failed to either totally redevelop their stadiums or plan for a brand new purpose-built project in the next few years.

Indeed, the latest design by Tottenham, made me want to hide behind the settee, and not come out.

Many words have been written recently about the chairman and his co-directors, but they simply HAVE to show more ambition.

Unless a miracle happens pretty soon, I’m likely to leave this mortal coil without seeing us win another league title!! Selfish? — you bet I am, but I’m also concerned about the generations of young Evertonians who will never be able to talk to their mates about the real prospect of actually winning a trophy. How many will simply get fed up with watching mediocrity, week-in & week-out?

And their lies the biggest puzzle for me: I get the distinct feeling that many of the regular match-going Evertonians are simply content with the status quo.

Going the match, having a few pints before and after, getting the odd good win against Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea, and even against our neighbours, is enough to keep them coming back for more on a regular basis, it seems.... Just what does it take to galvanise the vast majority?

We may laugh at those lovable reds across the park, but they know how to organise a protest and use the media to great effect; can the same be said for us?

Walking through the streets full of dog shit to Goodison these days is not a great experience, the area is so run down, the ground almost reflects the current malaise in that part of L4.

I sometimes wonder what the board discuss when they meet. (Do they meet that often?) ItÂ’s so patently obvious that we are falling further and further behind, even our peer group, never mind Man City, Arsenal and the rest. There is a real lack of business acumen or leadership being displayed by any single member. In some ways, I even despair of the work done by EitC because it accurately reflects what we have become, a Â’community based clubÂ’ or put it simply, Â’plucky little EvertonÂ’.

No-one doubts the talent of the people who run the charity, but isnÂ’t it a little ironic that we lead the way in this sector, but lack the ambition in the senior management of the club the charity takes it name from?

The increased revenue from the recent media/TV deal is simply masking the financial shortfall of the club and in some respect is providing an artificial crutch in keeping us going. I honestly donÂ’t think things will change until the catalyst of our great leader passing on, or a white knight comes riding across Stanley Park.

Watch this space...

Michael Kenrick
79 Posted 10/07/2015 at 18:02:55
Seems to me thereÂ’s a logical disconnect that never really gets addressed in these discussions.

On the one hand, we want Blue Bill to sell on, so that new billionaire owners with pots of money can put pots of money into the club.

On the other hand, the phenomenal economics of the Premier League should mean that the clubs are self-sustaining. Pots of TV income are funding another surge in the already massive worldwide profile of the greatest football show on earth...

On the one hand, we have the biggest and the best clubs sustaining massive debts, despite their super-rich owners; these debts are presumably part and parcel of their success in terms of making sure they can buy the best players and can pay their obscene wages.

On the other hand, we have Financial Fair Play, which is supposed to limit any clubs spending massively beyond the limits of their Â’validÂ’ commercial income and placement winnings.

Everton appear to balance the books while maintaining manageable debt. There is no injection of extra cash or guarantee of loans from the ٟ billion of wealth that sits on the Everton Board.

Yet Everton are apparently Â’skintÂ’, paying only reasonable mid-table wages with a fixed wage structure and showing a very small net spend over the years in terms of the value of transfers in and out.

Some suggest that money is somehow being siphoned out of the club, although we are repeatedly assured that Â’super-cleanÂ’ Statements of Accounts make this impossible.

Yet those accounts continue to show huge unattributed sums under "Other Operating Costs" that have risen massively in the last 15 years.... allowing concerned fans to ask "Where is the money really going?"

Ownership of a Premier League club should include making a profit — otherwise, what would be the motive? Yet it seems that, to be a successful Premier League club, you need the injection of massive quantities of additional money above and beyond earnings season on season to get anywhere close to being successful.

Or do the owners look to the long-term return on investment when they do finally sell up? As long as this exceeds the additional injection of money over the years, they come out ahead in the end.

I guess after all these years of tracking this stuff via TW, I have to admit I still donÂ’t get how the money side really works. Is it just me or is it all smoke and mirrors? You can understand why the vast majority glaze over and focus on the latest new transfer rumour...

Jay Harris
81 Posted 10/07/2015 at 18:34:11
Very well put, Steve, and echoing the views of many Evertonians I am sure.

For those of us who had the privilege to see Goodison grace the World Cup and the great trophy-winning sides of the 60s, 70s and 80s, I feel that the current custodians are a disgrace to the legacy of the football club.

Run by bullshitters and lackeys, we are a spent force at the top level and urgently need an injection of ambition and energy.

John Keating
82 Posted 10/07/2015 at 18:57:58
Jay,

Worse by far than the bullshitters and lackeys that run the Club are the fans who accept it. I just cannot fathom out the supporters who believe that we are lucky to be where we are and run by these imbeciles.

The fact that we are lied to on a regular basis seems to mean nothing to them. We should just shut up, put up and be grateful that a "real" Evertonian is at the helm.

Patrick Murphy
83 Posted 10/07/2015 at 19:07:48
According to the BBC link below TV revenues accounted for 54% of the Premier League’s total revenue, the highest percentage of a single revenue stream ever seen in the top flight.

Revenues Soar

I wonder what % of Everton’s revenue is made of TV cash? One of the commentators said that the figures would make PL clubs more attractive to potential buyers.

Like most simple-minded punters I’m never sure as to what the reason is for carrying so much debt for those clubs with rich owners, I can only assume it helps to reduce taxation. I also can’t understand how something is deemed profitable if it is heavily indebted, but obviously there are many things about accounting that I don’t understand.

Dave Abrahams
85 Posted 10/07/2015 at 21:22:32
Steve (78) not trying to be funny, you ask: How often the board meet and what do they discuss?

Well the American fella never leaves America, Jon Woods never ever speaks, so that leaves Billy Boy. He loves talking, so maybe he talks, Woods listens and that is why nothing ever gets fuckinÂ’ done!

Tony Abrahams
86 Posted 10/07/2015 at 21:44:18
People go on about millionaires playthings? Chelsea and Man City aside, I canÂ’t think of any others. Maybe QPR, but they donÂ’t seem to be very well ran.

I heard today that two thirds of LiverpoolÂ’s new stand will be for corporate support? ThatÂ’s eight thousand corporate tickets for every game, so it wonÂ’t take them that long to get their money back on their investment. "Money makes money" but debt will always cripple you in the end.

James Flynn
87 Posted 10/07/2015 at 21:30:24
Well, Earl works out of the BVI. Surprise me if we discover the 9% interest loan isnÂ’t him. Collecting interest for, what, 10-12 years for doing nothing? Funny to read about "Be careful what you wish for", while the real article owns part of the Club. Poster-boy for Carpet-bagging, Earl is.

Wood never speaks because he doesnÂ’t want to. Not sure what that has to do with Kenwright. Sure, Kenwright takes the brunt. HeÂ’s earned it, since he all but preens before the cameras. But, heÂ’s nothing more than a mouthpiece, however many shares he "owns".

"How would I know? IÂ’m just the Chairman." Openly honest there, our Bill.

We need to stay up. Fucked to put it that way, but thatÂ’s where we are with this ownership group. We donÂ’t score much. An improvement in how we defend needs to be Priority #1; the key for us to fight off relegation. ItÂ’s one thing to view last season as an anomaly. Perhaps it was. But reading OsmanÂ’s observations on RobertoÂ’s approach to defending still sits with me. Was it an anomaly or only the first step in our deterioration?

Sean McCarthy
88 Posted 10/07/2015 at 22:16:29
Every day, I have the Â’pleasureÂ’ of driving past both Goodison Park and Anfield on my way to and from work and it really sticks in my throat when I see the huge crane hard at work building what looks likely to be a huge new Main Stand at Anfield whilst there isnÂ’t so much as the slightest bit of evidence of anything happening at Goodison. Not even as much as a lick of paint!!

The ground is an embarrassment. The only Â’improvementÂ’ we seem to have had in recent years are bright shiny new floodlights and a Marquee in the Car Park (which we donÂ’t even own!!) This alone is an indictment on the current board irrespective of all their other failings, half truths and downright lies.

But will it ever change??? Not with our Dear Leader in the chair with his adoring fans applauding every time his fat head appears on the big screens.

James Flynn
89 Posted 10/07/2015 at 22:35:53
Does anyone know Paul Gregory? What fellow posts in ToffeeWeb so passionately and then doesnÂ’t defend his position?

Have infuriated BU members hunted him down and silenced him? Can we get an APB out on Paul?

Graham Mockford
90 Posted 11/07/2015 at 07:04:52
James #89

Because heÂ’s having you at it.

The post is an obvious wind up. HeÂ’s managed to get nearly every cliche in there. Oh how he was chuckling as he typed the words Â’be careful what you wish forÂ’...

The best thing, however, is the posts defending him.

Matt Traynor
91 Posted 11/07/2015 at 07:59:10
Patrick #83, the recent accounts should show the breakdown between matchday, commercial and broadcast, but you can guarantee that if the average for broadcast is 54% of revenue, weÂ’ll be way above that.

Before the new TV deal kicked in, if you did a comparison between the accounts of the two clubs, the RedShiteÂ’s commercial income alone outstripped our total revenue.

Perversely, provided the club was for sale and the price was right, that would be a selling point to the right sort of investor – something to improve on (commercial, etc.) to justify the purchase.

Eric Myles
92 Posted 11/07/2015 at 09:10:27
Thomas (#68), "Debt fell markedly last year, had remained pretty stable before that"

Total debt increased last year as it has done every year, borrowings also increased.

Eric Myles
93 Posted 11/07/2015 at 09:40:41
And Thomas, how could you support Desperation Kirkby when it was never a viable proposition?
Tony Abrahams
94 Posted 11/07/2015 at 10:02:33
I went to bed after reading PatrickÂ’s Pride and Pain, thinking: How does Kenwright get away with it?

FFS, he says, We came seventh, David Moyes, had done it again? This would normally get us into Europe?? Done it again? So much ambition for a man who is lucky enough to have seen Everton, play when they were Champions???

But the best line has to be the very nice buissnesman who wanted to invest in Everton. After listening to the best salesman we could ever HAVE, for an hour and a half, he decided against it, because he wanted to be able to take his kids to school of a morning!!!!! " FUCKIN BRILLIANT!!"

Thomas Lennon
95 Posted 11/07/2015 at 15:19:06
Eric - two broken records if I ever heard them, done to death several times over.

Net debt http://debt.co.uk/football/Everton/

Agree or disagree with any particular stadium proposal, we need a new one. Someone in this thread wrote of the new development at Anfield and how that would raise many extra £££. Odd that when we try to do the same it isnÂ’t financially viable?

Odd also that when Kenwright keeps ticket prices down especially for youngsters he is applauded, but then is vilified for not making enough profit at the end of the year. That of all things should tell us something about why we struggle to make money on merchandising!

When you think about it short-term gain is being sacrificed for long-term interests, ie, new young fans. More potential for the next owner to exploit perhaps, or just ensuring we keep supporter numbers up -- genuine supporters who would struggle to pay well over 㿞 per ticket.

Eric Myles
96 Posted 11/07/2015 at 16:58:47
Thomas, you are making the mistake that most people make in thinking that nett debt is real debt. I refer you to the Club accounts detailing the ever increasing debt and borrowings.

Who says that developing Goodison isnÂ’t financially viable? Only our board!!!

Tony Abrahams
97 Posted 11/07/2015 at 20:24:27
IÂ’ve just read the Blue UnionÂ’s plan, they want the club to revamp Goodison. Will it happen? I hope so, especially if it can be done for 𧴜 million.

We must have paid that in interest alone, since the saviour came to our rescue...

Paul Burns
98 Posted 12/07/2015 at 15:41:06
In my eyes, every single person who goes to Goodison while Kenwright is destroying the club is partly responsible for the inevitable total demise of the club because, letÂ’s be totally honest, weÂ’re heading the way of the dodo if things donÂ’t change.

Loyalty doesnÂ’t come into it; people have got to look at the things long term and paying out for season tickets only condones the tactics of the phoney leading our club into oblivion while the true holders of power hide in the background and care nothing for Everton. WeÂ’d be better if things went totally tits up sooner rather than later because the current situation is death by a thousand tiny cuts and itÂ’s agony to witness.

Vote with your feet, stay out of the ground until Kenwright is forced out, hang around outside shouting the odds, anything to end this intolerable, excruciating slow demise of a true giant of English football.

Paul Gregory
99 Posted 13/07/2015 at 06:25:31
James (#89) you will be pleased (or maybe not!) to know that I am alive and well.

I havenÂ’t got the time or inclination to respond to every single point raised above, however if there are some specifics, IÂ’d have no problem in debating them.

I noticed that according to ClickLiverpool.com only 70 people turned out for The Blue UnionÂ’s meeting the other day. I think this may indicate that the apathy and discontent may not be as high as some would have us believe. Also, of those 70 people, not all were members or even supporters of The Blue Union itself.

David O'Keefe
100 Posted 13/07/2015 at 14:50:37
Paul, you live in the UAE, but you have the inclination to commit to a laptop this rubbish. You also tweeted me at 7am a jibe at the BU. Your commitment to attacking them is beyond belief.
Paul Gregory
101 Posted 13/07/2015 at 19:45:29
#100 - David O’Keefe

I find it amusing that you are contacting me via here when you have gone out of your way to block me rather than answer my totally valid questions on other mediums.

Given the basis of the article is about misinformation peddled by The Blue Union, perhaps you could shed some light on the main two topics of discussion at the recent meeting:

a) What is Joe Jennings source for his "QPR get £10 million a season from Nike" nonsense?

b) With regards to Goodison, will the Blue Union now actively campaign against WHP if it gets the green light?

c) Does Trevor Skempton really think there are hotel chains who are desperate to set up in Walton but can’t do so unless Everton let them build us a new stand at Goodison?

Many thanks.

David O'Keefe
102 Posted 13/07/2015 at 21:41:42
Paul Gregory: I blocked you as for trolling me on twitter at 7am. It wasnÂ’t a valid question at 7am and now your just firing flak at me to draw me into a debate.

You have question after question for me but, based on that baseless garbage above the line, you have an inclination to troll and abuse, but not conduct any research into the past 16 years at the club.

I mean you havenÂ’t even read ElstoneÂ’s statement on Walton Hall Park! Nobody, be they for or against the board, believes that this is going to be built.

All you have done with your contributions on here and whiny complaints about being justifiably blocked on Twitter is complain about my refusal not to answer valid questions? What valid question could you possibly want me to answer at 7am? It was just abuse.

HereÂ’s an idea, Mr Gregory: do your own research before demanding answers from others. And Bill Kenwright did not remortgage his house to buy the club for starters.

A debate, if you want one, should be based on facts and theyÂ’re easy to find, but you choose to believe that long-since debunked urban myth.

IÂ’m not going to waste my time. Thanks for the invitation.

Tony Abrahams
103 Posted 13/07/2015 at 21:56:38
Paul, I think we can all see what the Blue Union are trying to do. Rid this Club of stagnation, isnÂ’t this what we all want?
Mike Galley
104 Posted 13/07/2015 at 22:08:54
Steve Hogan @78. YouÂ’ve put my feelings about the current state of our club more eloquently than I could ever hope to do so.
Paul Gregory
105 Posted 14/07/2015 at 06:32:05
Tony #103,

We all want the club to progress but there are right ways to go about it and wrong ways to go about it and my issue with the Blue Union is that their entire strategy is based around misinformation.

TheyÂ’ve also divided the fan base by calling people who do not agree with their approach and/or views both "ostriches" and "arse-lickers".

The meeting in the Casa focused on two issues:

Kitbag – the main talking point being "QPR get £10 million a year off Nike, Everton got nothing". There is zero evidence to support QPR get £10 million a year off Nike – misinformation.

Goodison Park – telling us that GP can be redeveloped. I don’t think anybody disputes that Goodison Park could technically be redeveloped but where is the business case that proves this is viable. Talking about a hotel in the middle of Walton to part fund this is just nonsense. Again – misinformation.

I believe the Everton Shareholder Association are a much better (and professional) body to hold the Everton directors to account.

Eric Myles
107 Posted 14/07/2015 at 08:01:05
Paul #99, I think the low attendance probably had more to do with not having published a time for the meeting.

It was announced on this website with no time, I checked BU and KEIOC websites and walked past the Casa on Saturday and there was no notifications.

Maybe they wanted to restrict numbers considering how packed the place had been on previous meetings.

John Daley
108 Posted 14/07/2015 at 08:08:53
"We all want the club to progress but there are right ways to go about it and wrong ways to go about it"

Is there? Who decides which methods are right and proper then? If there is only one end goal... a healthier, more competitive, less likely to be left behind Everton... why does it matter how we get there? Why should it concern you so much whether the current incumbents miraculously steer us there on their own steam, or are dragged there kicking and screaming every step of the way?

Eric Myles
109 Posted 14/07/2015 at 08:14:51
GIYF Paul, youÂ’ll find many newspaper reports on QPRÂ’s 㿙M 5-year deal with Nike.

Being better informed is really only a few clicks away if you make the effort.

Paul Gregory
110 Posted 14/07/2015 at 09:56:13
#109 Eric Myles

There are tabloid articles which speculate that the deal is worth anywhere between £30-45M over five years. No figure has been released, it’s all guesswork.

What also hasnÂ’t been released is the terms of that deal.

Is it based on performance? bonus based? Set fee?

Do the club have to buy the stock out of any payment? Are there any penalties?

IÂ’ll save you the bother as IÂ’d already done the research and tell you that none of these terms and conditions exist in the public domain, therefore it is not reliable evidence.

Perhaps you should be a little more critical about what you are reading and being told?

Ste Traverse
111 Posted 14/07/2015 at 12:39:22
So the BU are accused of giving out Â’misinformationÂ’?

ThatÂ’s priceless. It really is.

LetÂ’s remember the Â’misinformationÂ’ these knobs in our boardroom gave out regarding:

The Â’effectively free stadiumÂ’ in Kirkby.
Fortress Sports Fund.
"We wouldn’t sell Rooney for £50m" etc etc

As for the BU splitting the fanbase, Kenwright and his cronies did that years before the BU even existed.

WeÂ’ve been a fractured set of fans for a long long time.

Erik Dols
112 Posted 14/07/2015 at 13:05:22
Well, Ste, to be honest on the £50M Rooney-quote, I always read that as negotiation talks. He was hardly going to say "you can have him for £10M now, £10M over the next years and perhaps £1M here and there if you guys win a trophy", was he? I don’t blame him for that.

I do blame the board, however ,for never giving real arguments why Goodison cannot be redeveloped. The reason is quite obvious if you ask me: there is more money to be made in building a brand new stadium with all kinds of retail enabled by it.

A phased redevelopment of Goodison might be efficient if you look at it from purely the football stadium-perspective. But thatÂ’s not what our board will look at. See Kirkby for what they want. I would respect them a lot more if they admitted this, and stopped the bullshit about Goodison not being safe and stuff.

Tony Abrahams
114 Posted 14/07/2015 at 20:09:05
Paul, without the telly money, we would be fucked. This club has been stagnating for years.

We have sold the training ground, and now rent at a ridiculously high price, despite the council making it cheaper. Somebody was going to put offices and whatever at the back of the park end, until they found out the bank already had a charge on Goodison Park.

The Blue Union proved you wrong the other day, even if your thread was a load of bollocks to begin with!

Eric Myles
115 Posted 14/07/2015 at 21:04:22
Paul #110, can you provide links to all the Premier League clubs that share such financially sensitive information on their shirt deals???

"Perhaps you should be a little more critical about what you are reading and being told?" That's rich coming from someone who beleives the story that BK remortgaged his house to buy his shares!!!!

John Raftery
116 Posted 14/07/2015 at 23:47:19
Tim Sherwood today reckons the Villa takeover is dead. This is after Randy Lerner said he was keen to sell. The potential purchaser seems to have become less than keen to buy.

Meanwhile Jeremy Peace is looking to sell West Bromwich Albion by the end of the month to, if rumours are correct, a 'Chinese consortium'. I wish them well with that one but, if I was an Albion fan, I would be more than a little concerned about the future, especially with the Chinese stock market experiencing some turbulence recently.

People may moan about our club standing still on all fronts but low risk stability is sometimes to be commended.

Tony Abrahams
117 Posted 15/07/2015 at 08:19:21
So you're not concerned that Everton's actual debt stands at £107 Million, John? That's what I read on ToffeeWeb yesterday. We have outstanding debts of £107 Mill.
Jim Lloyd
118 Posted 15/07/2015 at 08:40:37
I'm assuming that Paul Gregory is either a wind up merchant, or he actually believes in what he's written.

Well, it takes all kinds to make this site the best Everton Supporters discussion group by a country mile and the debate is often passionate, usually well informed and always (well nearly) interesting. Humourous too, on many occasions, and we have some brilliant contributors who inform us of the many wonderful aspects of the history of our club.

However, the humour is usually intended. But I think that the prize for humour goes to Paul at (105)

"I believe the Everton Shareholders Association are a much better (and professional) body to hold the Everton directors to account."

Gordon Bennett, I spat me coffee up me nose and everywhere on reading that. Excellent Paul. Top of the class.

Is that before or after the Chairman either refuses to answer, or if he does, he doesn't know stuff cos he's only the Chairman, or when he decides to stop holding the meetings?

Dearie me.

John Raftery
119 Posted 15/07/2015 at 18:22:05
Tony (117) I would of course be concerned if the debt was £107m but I doubt that figure is anything like accurate.
Denis Richardson
120 Posted 15/07/2015 at 18:38:58
John the £107m is in the financial statements for the year ended May 2014 and includes all liabilities at that time.

These are public -- they're on the EFC website.

Patrick Murphy
121 Posted 15/07/2015 at 18:34:26
John (119) That figure of £107m was not a stab in the dark or a guess it was extrapolated from last years accounts. Now I'm no expert on the subject matter, how I wish I were, but the range of debt depending on who happens to post it albeit using official figures is mind-blowing.

I yearn for a qualified accountant who is also a TW member who could provide once and for all the actual situation regarding the level of debt held by the club in order to get a true handle on the subject. Alas there appears not to be anyone out there and so the uncertainty continues.

Ray Said
122 Posted 15/07/2015 at 18:46:53
Paul Gregory (#101) re your remarks about a hotel; I have just come back from a meeting right by Hotel Football next to Old Trafford. It is owned by G Neville and R Giggs (or they front it), cost £24M to build and, apparently, it has been such a success, Man Utd now want to buy it.

The Reebok also has a De Vere Hotel built in to it... so Trevor Skempton may have something with his idea?

Lyndon Lloyd
123 Posted 15/07/2015 at 19:59:39
It might be worth spelling out exactly where that £107m figure comes from.

The 2014 accounts show gross debt of £49m (up slightly from 2013), with £28m of that due within a year, and cash of £20.9m (up significantly from 2013 – where it's reasonable to expect that a chunk of that has gone to servicing some of that short-term debt).

Denis Richardson
124 Posted 15/07/2015 at 19:36:20
Patrick - its been a few years since I did my accountancy exams but roughly the amounts owed as at May last year were;

22m remaining from 2002 loan (will be fully repaid in 2027!)
21m owed to BVI company (pays 9% interest)
12m owed to the tax man
19m trade creditors (will include transfer fees owed, e.g. lukaku)
28m accruals & deferred income (includes 2015/16 season tx money)
5m other (other loans and interest payable)

totals about 107m, of which 77m was payable within 12 months (presumably the reason we keep rolling over the BVI loans, to help with cash flow...)

Not all doom and gloom though as on the other side we also had;

18m cash sitting in the bank
32m owed to us by various people (prob includes fellaini money)
Xm for the true value of the playing staff (the value in the accounts is bollocks compared to reality).

Per the accounts our total 'liabilities' were 107m and our total 'assets' were 93m, so we were basically 14m in the red. To give some perspective, end of May 2013 we were 42m in the red - hence the upbeat presentation by Elstone - i.e. our financial situation was 28m better off in May 2014 than one year before, thanks entirely to extra sky money of approx. 33m.

Obviously these numbers were May 2014, the numbers per May 2015 may be totally different.

Hope that's made things a bit clearer.

Lyndon Lloyd
125 Posted 15/07/2015 at 20:21:00
Denis, isn't the old Bear-Sterns securitised loan listed in the "After more than five years" line as £16m?

Or other payments due on that same loan within the next five years shown in other line items that would take the figure still owed to your £22m number?

Patrick Murphy
126 Posted 15/07/2015 at 20:18:02
Cheers, Denis, that makes some sense of the overall picture. Not "let's all do a jig in the side-streets" fantastic... but not the total doomsday scenario that has often been presented.
Denis Richardson
127 Posted 15/07/2015 at 20:23:52
Lyndon, the amount owed after 5 years on the Bear Sterns note is £16m. However we pay this off bit by bit every year so the total amount still owed is more than £16m... ie, you need to also add the amounts we need to pay this year, next year, two years from now etc to the £16m due after 5 years. The total amount remaining is about £22m, mentioned in note 16 on page 85.

I believe the penalties for paying this loan off early are quite high and the interest and loan amounts are mortgaged on our season ticket sales. I read somewhere in the past that this loan causes us an issue with any redevelopment of GP as the bond holders need to approve anything that could mess up gate receipts (could be wrong but I heard this was the case).

John Raftery
128 Posted 15/07/2015 at 20:44:44
Lyndon/Denis - thank you for the clarification. The figures tend to confirm that the debt is somewhat lower than £107m. Probably more to the point is that the club is not unduly exposed to risk because the debt is being managed effectively.
Tony Abrahams
129 Posted 15/07/2015 at 21:19:55
The club is not exposed to risk, but in winning trophies, we cease to exist!
Ian Bennett
130 Posted 15/07/2015 at 21:00:57
As a chartered accountant I can tell you:-

1) We waste £5m every year in loan interest compared to the likes of Stoke. Their owners have put their wealth into the club. Ours have added debt and sold off assets.

2) We made £24m profit before player trading and interest, thanks to the TV deal that increased by.... £24m. Or put another way, player trading would have been needed to cover that £5m interest payment gap, or slash wages, or continue to increase the debt on the club and pay later.

The other point here is how much the club can keep from the TV deal before players eat it up in increased wages.

3) We had £52m of current assets, plus fixed assets covering players and the ground etc of £41m which places a book value rather market value on those assets.

Current liabilities of £77m and longer term debts of £30m. This was after the Fellaini deal (ie, We were sat on anything paid by Man United) but before the Lukaku deal (ie, The first tranche of the £28m was still to go out).

Key piece here is that we are at the mercy of the debt holders. Their support comes at a price. (a) We are paying between 8 and 9% to borrow which is very expensive, but reflects the fact that, outside of players and TV revenue, we have no other assets. Well secured businesses can borrow at 2 to 3% currently. (b). Asset charges and covenants restrict our ability to redevelop Goodison Park without their say, and they place restrictions on the finances getting out of control (which I think restricts our ability to deal in the transfer market early). If the finances deteriorate, the terms of the deal will see assets realised to ensure they are protected (Arteta sale).

4) As a fan, it is depressing that our home is so far behind the competition. A club in the top 4 at the start of the 90s, is now behind Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea. West Ham seem to be the next club to move above us. The last 10 years+ has seen us stagnate off the pitch. The off-the-field revenue story is probably the weakest in the Premier League. Cashing in £3m a season to Kitbag shows the ambition of the club. The Echo reporting we extended/didn't break the deal at 5 years tells you that a club with European standing is turning into a Regional nonentity.

5) We made profit, but so did the rest of the Premier League, so unless we can grow other revenue streams as quickly as others, we will and have fallen behind.

6). In terms of understanding our financial strength of the business, I would look to add our market value of our playing squad, plus current assets, less current liabilities and long-term liabilities from the accounts. If the squad is full of Ginola's and debt then we are in trouble. If the squad has a load of young gems/super stars we should keep the wolf from the door for a bit.

Nil satis nisi optimum... Ha!

Jim Lloyd
131 Posted 16/07/2015 at 07:29:27
Denis and Ian,

Thank you both for explaining to us, in detail, so that even those like myself, now have some understanding of the Club's financial situation.

The Latin phrase, "Up shit creek without a paddle" comes to mind.

So am I anywhere near the mark in thinking that any bits of income we make, through the deals with Kitbag, the catering (if anything!) gate receipts, transfer receipts big issue sales etc, go mainly to just pay current spending costs and loan repayments and perhaps shove a bit in the bank for a rainy day fund?

Would I be anywhere near right in thinking that since he took over the Club, Bill Kenwright, as Chairman, has overseen this financial situation arise and authorised the sale of most/all of our assets, and would it show anywhere in the accounts, whether any of the Directors of this club have put a penny into it?

Or do we just look at the state of the ground, our players, and the fact we've flogged everything of any value and outsourced (I think the word is) any possible profit-making commercial activity?

It would seem to me that we only take the loan from whoever it is sunning themselves in the British Virgin Isles because we can't get a loan anywhere else... a bit like these Payday loans, where people end up paying loads of interest because the banks won't lend them any money?

It's funny (definitely not ha ha funny) that we have two billionaires involved with the Club, one a director and I'm not sure what capacity the other one is, except that "he is a good friend to Everton Football Club."

Now, as I understand it, both of these billionaires made their money from retail activities and it would seem to me, that if they act as advisors on financial, commercial matters, the advice doesn't seem to be working.

Unless the advice is focused on keeping the club afloat, on a raft, until someone comes along and builds them a shiny new stadium.

Then they can flog the club and sail off into the sunset... or the British Virgin Isles.

Nick Armitage
132 Posted 18/07/2015 at 12:07:24
Paul Gregory - you raise some valid points and Everton have moved forward in many areas, however, when I used to go to the game I went to see Everton compete.

The fact that the trophy cabinet hasn't been opened for two decades speaks volumes. Clubs who trailed in our wake have left us standing for a variety of reasons, but the charlatans who run our club have done very very little to address this.

Joe Bibb
134 Posted 19/07/2015 at 13:57:53
Everton were not only outplayed by Arsenal in Singapore but they were outnumbered in support, Arsenal shirts where everywhere but only a few Everton were on display and that is because of our contract with Kit Bag.

Evertonians struggle worldwide to buy the official kit; merchandising is abysmal.

The Blue Union might not be right in everything they say or do but they are trying to get something done. If you do nothing you end up with no right to complain about those that do something.


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