Kenwright confident on stadium funding

Wednesday, 12 September, 2018 107comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton Chairman, Bill Kenwright, has assured supporters that plans for the club's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock are progressing.

The Blues have purchased land in the north docks area of Liverpool with a view to building a new ground on the banks of the Mersey and hope to kick off the 2022-23 season there.

How the project will be funded has yet to be fully determined, however, and that remains the chief obstacle to the club making concrete decisions over the capacity of the stadium and the timing of construction.

A proposal from Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, whereby the Council would take out a £280m loan from public funds at a low interest rate but secured against Everton's assets which would net the city around £7m a year has yet to be agreed.

Assuming the hurdles of political opposition are cleared for that loan scheme to be secured, Everton would still need to find an additional £200m from private investment and sponsorship to fund the stadium's development.

"The architect is working hard, the council are with us, the funding is going ahead but we're not there yet. But it's very exciting, the prospect," Kenwright told talkSPORT today.

"Any new stadium at this moment has to be carefully planned and thought out. Look at the problems poor Daniel (Levy) is having at Tottenham. It's step by step."

The prospect of Everton leaving Goodison Park after two decades of stop-start planning has been enhanced by the arrival on the scene two years of Farhad Moshiri.

The Iranian-born billionaire purchased an initial 49.9% stake in the club in February 2016 and it was announced this week that he recently increased his holdings to 68.6% of outstanding shares to become the majority shareholder.

Moshiri has also consolidated Everton's debts with a personal loan of his own and secured additional lines of credit from Commercial Bank of China that has paved the way to the kind of financial footing that would enable the club to make concrete plans to relocate to the docks.

"I don't have to tell you the commitment he's given to Everton in terms of time and finance and he's put hundreds of millions in the club," Kenwright said of Moshiri, "and I think there was a part of him now wanted that extra shareholding with the new stadium coming up.

"I think it will help with the further finance of the club but I don't think he did it with any massive ulterior motives."

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Reader Comments (107)

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Steve Ferns
1 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:06:31
Poor Daniel? He’s such a luvvie.

Anyway, seems like the drip drip of info shows progression, just not at the speed we all want.

Joe O'Brien
2 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:17:29
Does anyone have any idea when the council were going to vote on that? I saw somewhere that that vote had to happen; you would think it would be soon enough.

Moshiri's buying of more shares is definitely stadium-related.

Pat Kelly
4 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:20:42
Usmanov's cheque is in the post...
Brian Williams
5 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:22:51
Right, come on then — who's gonna be the first to lay into Kenwright and blame him for Third World famine as well as everything else?

Roll up, roll up.

Steve's "He's such a luvvie" comment doesn't count by the way coz he said that about the Krays too!

Kieran Kinsella
6 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:22:54
"The architect is working hard." What is the deal with this joker? They roll him out every few months to show us illustrations of other stadiums. But, if there is no funding in place, we have no budget, and with no budget, you cannot plan a building. So other than offering a few vague blueprints – which he already did about two years ago – what exactly is the "work" he is doing?

Also, Bill's comments comparing us with Spurs are meaningless. Spurs never had a money issue, it is a safety inspection issue that is causing the delays. Or is that what Dan Meis is working on? Making sure we have no loose wires for the unfunded stadium with no budget.

Finally, based on Bill's history – "money is ring-fenced," "the check will be in the bank in the morning," it doesn't fill me with confidence when he says "we're not there yet." If we extrapolate from the true meaning of his previous quotes, then "we're not there yet," means "there will never be a new stadium and in fact next week we are knocking down Goodison Park to make way for a giant Bill Shankly memorial, oh and Mike Walker will be replacing Marco Silva."

Brian Williams
7 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:24:11
And give that guy a coconut!
John G Davies
8 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:29:53
Not fair to blame world famine on Uncle Bill.

Best to stick to the facts. He never invested 1p into EFC in all the years he was there.

He sold his shares and received a kings ransom for them.

Dave Williams
9 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:31:58
Pathetic – there is clearly work still to be done and a deal involving £500m takes time to put together so stop trying to blame the directors or owner and let them do their jobs. This criticism for the sake of it is tiresome.
Kieran Kinsella
10 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:32:46
Brian Williams

Actually, according to the New York Times and various other outlets, a lot of money smuggled out of Third World countries by thieving dictators is laundered through theaters and move production companies. So yeah, Bill Kenwright is to blame for Third World famine too.

Jerome Shields
11 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:44:06
I don't think Mr Bill has a clue where the money is coming from.

Just as well that Moshiri does or at least knows someone who does.

Dave Williams
12 Posted 12/09/2018 at 17:52:11
No sane businessman will reveal details of a deal until it is signed and sealed. We just have to be patient.
Garry Corgan
13 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:06:14
Speaks a lot. Says nothing.

I’m generally supportive of Kenwright but I won’t believe this is happening until there’s a spade in the ground.

Dave Abrahams
14 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:17:26
Brian (5) and guess who will be the first to defend him.
Jimmy Hogan
15 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:18:37
I work in the Music Business. West End Theatre is not really my area, but years ago I was having lunch with someone in that world and they mentioned that Bill Kenwright was renowned in the West End Theatre world for being the meanest employer going. Make of that what you will.
Brent Stephens
16 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:19:13
Brian #7 - can I throw it at him? Sorry, to him.
Brent Stephens
17 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:20:53
"Bill Kenwright was renowned in the West End Theatre world for being the meanest employer going. Make of that what you will".

Most employers would be jealous of that.

Kieran Kinsella
18 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:21:30
Jimmy Hogan...

I know two actors (one very famous) who worked for him and said the same thing.

Paul Brown
19 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:35:52
Let's be honest — he is the Worzal Gummidge of the Premier League, with a different head for every occasion — a con-man, a ball bag, a gibbering fool — all spring to mind whenever he is mentioned.

I wish he would just be gone.

John G Davies
20 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:39:13
Wonderful news that Bill has had a miraculous recovery from the debilitating illness that the media speculated caused him to sell his shares a few months after this interview:

Bill Kenwright at 70 – a profile of the very private Everton FC Chairman

John Keating
21 Posted 12/09/2018 at 18:45:06
The only words I am interested in hearing from the World's Greatest Evertonian are those he utters when he finally sells up his remaining shares.

It will be interesting to hear what legacy, if any, he is leaving HIS Club with the millions he's made with a zero investment.

Len Hawkins
22 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:23:42
I bet Jenny gets fed up with the cheap dishcloths he buys her from Homebarpoundkinsons.
Lewis Barclay
23 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:29:54
“but I don't think he did it with any massive ulterior motives.”

Err?

Colin Glassar
24 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:36:03
Is Chairman Bill still around? I thought Moshiri would've kicked him out by now.

Anyway, whatever he says has no significance as far as I'm concerned, he's a part of the past, fortunately.

Eric Paul
25 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:42:05
I am not a supporter, nor am I anti-Kenwright, but I would be interested to know if any posters have any evidence he really is the charlatan he is portrayed to be. Other than a dislike of the man.
Paul ONeill
26 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:45:05
Is the money ‘ring-fenced'?
Dave Williams
27 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:45:35
John #20 – shameful.

Dislike the man you have never met, by all means, but to question his ill-health is going a bit far!

Alan McGuffog
28 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:54:26
So, we are more or less where we were 12 months ago then. Still no planning permission or secured funding. Maybe it will happen in spite of my pessimism... but for 2022-23? – dream on.
John G Davies
29 Posted 12/09/2018 at 19:55:00
I've met him twice, David. One of the most disingenuous men I have come across.
James Flynn
30 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:10:18
Kieran (6) - Meis isn't gonna have anything definite until Moshiri has the funding in place.

Guessing, he has several versions of the pictures we saw and is waiting for the choice Moshiri decides on once the money is in place.

Clive Rogers
31 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:23:31
Eric, #25, the evidence is all the statements he made which turned out to be lies, some of which have been quoted above.
Tony Everan
32 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:27:24
There will be some hard bargaining going on with the council over the terms of the loan. Once the ink is dry on the finance contract, things will move a lot faster.

Moshiri and Usmanov, if he is involved, will be fighting for acceptable terms for the loan. The council's bean counters will be after more cash. An agreement will be reached soon, I think, that is good for both parties.

Once that's done, Usmanov will show his hand and it will be all systems go.

Dermot Byrne
33 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:29:11
Surely he has no power now. Moshiri may mistake him as a friendly face to many but this is nowt to do with the hard economics.

I think it will happen... because of Moshiri.

Clive Rogers
34 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:29:49
Kieran, #18, Su Pollard walked out of a theatre just before a performance because she couldn’t get paid by Kenwright.
Eric Paul
35 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:30:58
Clive,

Has anyone heard him make these statements or are they second-hand quotes?

Clive Rogers
36 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:35:46
Eric,

Several were reported in the press, so second-hand, but no reason to not believe them as they weren't controversial until they turned out not to be true.

Kieran Kinsella
37 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:37:20
Chairman of the actor's union, Equity, Harry Landis said: "Now I'm not backward in mentioning names, some people don't like to, but I'm going to. Bill Kenwright is the worst payer in the West End, paying minimum for everything."

At the conference, Landis presented Trades Union Congress general secretary Brendan Barber with a football shirt branded with "Play Fair on West End Pay", to be given to Kenwright.

Eric Paul
38 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:41:15
Clive,

The only thing I believe in the press is the date.

John Keating
39 Posted 12/09/2018 at 20:54:18
Eric @25,

I don't want to sound disrespectful, but have you been around for the past 20 years?

If so, you wouldn't have asked that question.

Scott Hall
40 Posted 12/09/2018 at 21:06:56
Is it season ticket renewal time or something?
Kieran Kinsella
41 Posted 12/09/2018 at 21:12:28
Eric 39,

Everton fans – actual non-press ordinary fans – had the infamous meeting with him a few years ago. I was just reading through a transcript and it just encapsulates Bill in a heartbeat. Contradictions, talking in circles.

"Robert Elstone never said we weren't selling the club." — Oh wait, he did at the public AGM.

"Keith Harris is doing a great job trying to sell the club, he set up a meeting with ICI and I was about to sign off on it when I discovered they were charlatans from a bedsit in Manchester."

"Keith is trying to sell the club every day – oh I am not sure why Ian Ross and Elstone say he has nothing to do with the club."

"I would be honest with fans – but David Moyes told me not to."

"I can explain where all our money goes – oh except the £24 million in"other operating expenses" because I am not an accountant."

"Keith Wyness is a liar, Trevor Birch is a liar, the city of Liverpool were to blame for King's Dock..."

"We will not sell Fellaini," "I will be gone by aged 70", etc etc etc.

Dermot O'Brien
44 Posted 12/09/2018 at 21:55:21
"...but I don't think he did it with any massive ulterior motives."

What the fuck? He might as well have said "but I don't think he's a massive cunt". Bill Kenwright might think that he has Everton's best interests at heart but history shows otherwise. And here he is blabbing shite again.

And anyone who thinks that he has been good for the club are, quite frankly, gobshites. Wallowing in the glory of all the Not Relegated This Year Trophies, the Finished Above Liverpool Cups, and the Didn't Get Beaten Twice By Liverpool Cups.

John Atkins
45 Posted 12/09/2018 at 22:24:31
Dear Mr Moshiri,

Thank you for believing in our amazing football club, the best football club in the world, and thank you for investing your well earned wealth.

We pray you will elevate us to our rightful position, to the summit of the Premier League, a founder member of the English Football League.

Please can you retire Mr Luvvie himself for good, give him a Life Presidency and / or a lifetime Directors Box ticket, whatever you see fit. but please get rid!!!

Please do not think that the majority of us fans see him as a role model fan, a saviour of the club, Mr Everton, Blue Bill, blah blah blah blah blah.

Our Club Motto includes ‘Nothing but the Best' and yet the only similarity I can relate to his stewardship is the word 'nothing' which is exactly what this magnificent football club has won whilst he has been at the helm – yes, absolutely nothing.

I personally can't forgive him over the failed Kings Dock, selling the world's best player on the cheap, the Arteta money, and allowing David Moyes to manage our football club for circa 6 months knowing he was off to Old Trafford – a laughing stock... oh, and becoming a selling club for the past decade or so. I wish him good health but please remove him from the Board.

Bill is no more of a fan than thousands and thousands of us. Pass on our thanks for little but ask him to close the door on his way out and to leave the future of this wonderful football club in your hands, hopefully bringing a world class dockside arena which will be envied around the world.


Dave Abrahams
46 Posted 12/09/2018 at 22:31:52
John (45), Any chance of putting my name on the bottom of your letter as well as your own, please. And I think there would be a few more to ask the same.
Tom Dodds
47 Posted 12/09/2018 at 23:08:20
The World's greatest living football-club-owning A'rl Arse.

He has no rivals.


Drew O'Neall
48 Posted 12/09/2018 at 23:30:37
Paul 19

‘..a ballbag’

Genius haha.

Derek Thomas
50 Posted 13/09/2018 at 01:38:25
I can see it now, not too far in the future, the Everton Letterhead will have on it somewhere...

Hon. Life President; Sir William Luvington Boyspen Hickson Kenwright. KBE. CBE.

(Hope I remembered it in the correct order, Eugene.)

And you know what, he'll be laughing all the way to the bank and won't give a fuck.

John G Davies
52 Posted 13/09/2018 at 06:45:19
John 45,

Every last one of the thousands and thousands of Evertonians you mention have invested more money into Everton Football Club than Bill Kenwright.

We pay for our tickets.

Steve Brown
53 Posted 13/09/2018 at 08:17:58
Get a taxidermist in, fill him with formaldehyde and prop him up in a corner with a glass of bubbly in hand and replaying tape loop as his jaw flaps up and down 'Boys Pen blah blah, Bill Hickson spew spew, Davie and little Mickie Arteta weep weep.'

Add fake tears trickling down his yellowed flabby chops and a cheque for £30 million sticking out of his pocket and we should have nailed it.

Eddie Dunn
54 Posted 13/09/2018 at 08:56:38
Blue Bill is still seen by Moshiri as a credible face of the club. Farhad probably thinks all our fans revere (some do) our old thespian. Of course, this is the same Moshiri who thought that Jim White was worth chumming-up with, that appointed Steve Walsh and big Sam (with all his baggage).

If he also brings Usmanov in, many will applaud it. There are some right dodgy feckers out there and Blue Bill may one day be regarded as the most decent of all of them.

Personally, I wish Kenwright had tried to organise a fan-ownership scheme – after all, we will be around for life, unlike Moshiri, Usmanov and their like. That would have been a truly worthy legacy to be remembered by.

John Keating
55 Posted 13/09/2018 at 09:18:56
Eddie,

A fan ownership scheme a good idea; however, that ship has long sailed.

I suspect for a fleeting millisecond it is possible The World's Greatest Evertonian thought of that, however, he possibly thought it might cost him 50 quid or something to set up and possibly dilute his shares, thereby reducing his payday when it came.

Bill's legacy will be his final departure.

Brent Stephens
56 Posted 13/09/2018 at 09:45:01
Steve,

"Get a taxidermist in, fill him with formaldehyde and prop him up in a corner with a glass of bubbly in hand".

Why not - they did it with Jeremy Bentham at University College London:
Link

Kim Vivian
57 Posted 13/09/2018 at 09:50:29
This is becoming embarrassing – I really would not want to upset you lot. Very vitriolic – to an unnecessary extent, I think.
Laurie Hartley
58 Posted 13/09/2018 at 10:38:29
This £280m of the council fascinates me. I read somewhere that if the council do provide that funding, they would have first call on the club's assets if things went pear-shaped down the track. If I was the "person" providing the additional £200m, that would concern me – especially if I had the wherewithal to provide all of the £480m.

What am I getting at? I think that the council funding is probably at very commercially attractive rates but the caveat could be a sticking point for the second financier.

A £480m finance package is a big and potentially lucrative deal for the financiers. My gut feeling is the money is there, it's the split and terms and conditions that are delaying matters.

Eddie Dunn
59 Posted 13/09/2018 at 11:58:26
The idea of the council facilitating a loan will be sure to antagonise those lovely reds. So many of them will want to stop it, and some will have the means to obstruct it. The buggers hate the idea.

Personally, I was shocked at an in-law who works for the council at just how horrid her reaction was... as if the council was acting like a charity to us!

Like the stadium, I will believe it when I see it.

Tony Marsh
60 Posted 13/09/2018 at 12:27:25
Why does Bill Kenwright feel the need to talk to the media about stadium finances after his disgraceful handling of the King's Dock and Kirkby fiascos?? I don't want to listen to Kenwright on this subject and I am pretty sure most of us who remember Kings Dock feel the same way. None of us ever wanted Kirkby so we will let that one slide.

The fact of the matter is EFC have yet to secure financing for the Bramley-Moore site as well as having no planning permission or stadium plans to mention. So why not keep quiet on stadium news until there is something tangible to show the supporters???

Message to Bill Kenwright: We the fans would prefer complete silence rather than complete bullshit on stadium-related matters. Especially when it's you giving out the information.

Bill Kenwright's credibility never recovered from Kings Dock, so why does this man feel the need to go to press?? I wouldn't trust Kenwright to open a chippy on Goodison Road, let alone oversee building a new ground.

James Marshall
61 Posted 13/09/2018 at 12:40:55
I don't and never have had any great dislike for Kenwright, but I do wish he'd pack it in and go away nowadays. He's a relic, just like Everton and he stands up for the proud 'istory of our great club, blah blah blah.

Personally, I find all that misty-eyed shite tiring, and while I understand it, I've always felt it holds us back and makes us look like 'plucky little Everton' in the eyes of the football world. We can be traditional all we like, but tradition doesn't win football matches.

I've said it time and again on here, I'm sick to death of supporting a club that lives on its history. I want Everton to win things, and be an ultra-modern club that wins some trophies before I scuttle off this mortal coil.

Bill Kenwright makes us look like the dusty old relic that he himself embodies. He's truly the living embodiment of that notion of Everton as a great club. We're not a great club these days, we're a mid-table side that had some success years ago.

Like Nottingham Forest who still sing songs about having 2 stars on their shirts. Nobody gives a shit.

Pat Waine
62 Posted 13/09/2018 at 12:46:05
I wish Evertonians would stop with the conspiracy stuff in relation to Kenwright. My view is that the sale of shares to Moshiri is not a positive. If Usmanov was going to buy into Everton, would he not have done that at this time? So I think the indications are that he is not going to buy in.

On the anti-Kenwright stuff, a question: Who insisted on Ronald Koeman being Brought in? Answer: it was Moshiri. Who insisted on bringing in Fat Sam? Answer: Moshiri.

Both of these I am led to believe were opposed by Bill Kenwright. And both times he was correct. Koeman was the worst manager we had since Mike Walker and wasted more money.

Dave Williams
63 Posted 13/09/2018 at 13:39:44
Kim, I agree. No need for stuff like this. Evertonians are usually better than that!
Rob B Williams
64 Posted 13/09/2018 at 13:59:09
Interesting to note that our resident expert, in all things Everton, Snr Steffandinio Fernandez has so little to contribute to a debate about Everton's biggest ever project, preferring to focus on the plight of one 'luvvy' as opposed to the other even bigger 'luvvy'. Or should that be 'Luvvie'? I never know...

Ian Jones
65 Posted 13/09/2018 at 14:00:56
Looking forward to the reaction on here when names are suggested for a stand at the new stadium.
Steve Ferns
66 Posted 13/09/2018 at 14:03:32
Rob, it’s all been said before. It’s very little new information. There’s nothing to actually debate. I don’t want to get involved in the Kenwright bashing.
Eric Paul
67 Posted 13/09/2018 at 14:53:09
John @ 39,

I've been a match going Evertonian since 1969. As I said, I'm indifferent towards Kenwright but I don't think you can blame him for Lescott getting outjumped by the smallest man on the pitch in the League Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge, Distin putting Suarez through on goal in the FA Cup semi-final, Lukaku missing a penalty and numerous chances in the FA Cup semi or losing the final in 2009 – all of which could have ended our trophy drought during the last 20 years.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

68 Posted 13/09/2018 at 15:15:37
Rob @ 64.

And your single contribution to this thread on what you describe as "a debate about Everton's biggest ever project" is... what, exactly?

To add absolutely nothing to the debate, other than to have a pop (yet again...) at a poster who clearly irks you.

I'm guessing you don't do irony, Rob.

Jer Kiernan
69 Posted 13/09/2018 at 15:18:57
Pat @62,

Moshiri also dispensed of both pretty sharpish. Credit where it is due, Kenwright should be judged on 2 things only: hard cash invested and success on the pitch.

I will leave it open to the floor but I think I would be safe in saying he was not a resounding success in either of the above

The club now needs to cleanse itself of him and move on. He is no longer in charge and can fuck off as far as I am concerned. No room for soppy sentimentality – which Billdid offer in abundance.


John G Davies
70 Posted 13/09/2018 at 15:33:44
Rob, 64.

If you do do irony, I've got four shirts and two pair of kecks ready here.

A condescending post aimed at a very fair-minded poster.

Andrew Ellams
71 Posted 13/09/2018 at 15:37:52
So I take it we can assume the rumours of him having a deal with Moshiri seeing him leave the club in August were not true then? Shame that.
Kieran Kinsella
72 Posted 13/09/2018 at 16:08:26
Pat Waine 62

"On the anti-Kenwright stuff, a question: Who insisted on Ronald Koeman being Brought in? Answer: it was Moshiri. Who insisted on bringing in Fat Sam? Answer: Moshiri."

Based on those rumors, BK wanted to replace Moyes with O'Neill, and he also wanted Unsworth as the manager. Not sure either would have been a good move.

I will also add in something that you can categorize as a "rumor" since you are only hearing it from me and not firsthand. But, BK was publicly slagging off a recent management team to a person in the media, and distancing himself from all decision making at the club saying that Moshiri's people run everything and he has been frozen out. From my perspective, this isn't a professional way to conduct yourself as he is undermining employees and the owner. Secondly it is typical Bill and very convenient that on one hand he presents himself as the face/chairman of the club and takes credit for all things good, but on the other hand washes his hands of all responsibility and claims innocence of all things bad.

Steve Ferns
73 Posted 13/09/2018 at 16:23:07
Seems so Andrew.
Clive Rogers
74 Posted 13/09/2018 at 16:34:12
Kieran, #72, don't you mean Martinez rather than Moyes? Kenwright was in full charge when Moyes went and could pick who he wanted.
Kieran Kinsella
75 Posted 13/09/2018 at 16:42:09
Clive Rogers 72,

Sorry, in that paragraph, I was referring to the days when Bill Kenwright was in full charge and giving examples of his supposed great ideas. Apparently, he wanted to sack Moyes after two seasons and had approached O'Neill about replacing him. I think that would have been a bad move. Since then, he has had the temerity to criticize the more recent management appointments.

Rob B Williams
76 Posted 13/09/2018 at 16:56:22
Jay 68, No irony, mate, but I did enjoy your recent post about our Brazilian No 9... XX
Rob B Williams
77 Posted 13/09/2018 at 17:03:49
JGD 70 - 'Condensation' did I hear you say? All steam and mirrors, mate – always good to keep things on the boil though. Don't you think?
John G Davies
78 Posted 13/09/2018 at 17:06:02
Compensation Rob.

And you deserve every nicker you got.

Martin Berry
79 Posted 13/09/2018 at 17:16:32
Bill will be remembered by many as a great Evertonian, a man who made a few mistakes (don't all Chairmen?) and sometimes gushed when he should have gulped, but his heart was and still is true blue — otherwise, why suffer the angst and abuse that his position offers?

He will also be remembered for actually getting something right – by making the biggest impacting decision in Everton's history – in finding, and selling the Everton dream by bringing in Farhad Moshiri into the Everton fold, a man who is transforming Everton both on and off the field to levels that 10 years ago would have been seen as fantasy. So think about that and give Bill a bit of slack and credit.

I await the Bill haters...

Andrew Ellams
80 Posted 13/09/2018 at 17:19:28
Martin Berry, a great Evertonian? For finding Farhad Moshiri? Well for me the jury is well and truly still out there too.
John G Davies
81 Posted 13/09/2018 at 17:24:59
Martin,

"... but his heart was and still is true blue – otherwise, why suffer the angst and abuse that his position offers?"

I could give you 45,500,000 reasons...

Kev Jones
82 Posted 13/09/2018 at 18:13:23
I wonder if green-eyed envy plays a part when we think about blue Bill? From the Boys Pen to the Boardroom, living the dream of many a fan of this beautiful blue club?

Whatever we think of what he was able to do with the dream, who amongst us got anywhere near it? Lucky bastard!

Kieran Kinsella
83 Posted 13/09/2018 at 18:28:48
Martin Berry 79

"He will also be remembered for actually getting something right – by making the biggest impacting decision in Everton's history – in finding, and selling the Everton dream by bringing in Farhad Moshiri."

I think it is premature to call Moshiri's deal being the "biggest impacting decision in Everton's history". Under his reign, we have moved from 8th to... 8th.

How about the decision to leave Anfield? The decision to sign Dixie Dean? The decision to not fire Howard Kendall at Christmas 1983? The decision to let Gareth Farrelly play versus Bolton in 1998? Or indeed the UEFA decision to ban English clubs in 1985?

John Cartwright
84 Posted 13/09/2018 at 18:57:15
We will see if Mr Moshiri is a big deal if he delivers a big stadium, big enough for Everton to be a top 1 club.
Eric Paul
85 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:06:12
Andrew, Who would you preferred him to sell to?

John, Would you sell your house at a loss or even at the same price you paid for it?

Kieran Kinsella
86 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:20:05
I think Eric Paul may be the reincarnated Richard Dodd – big Scooby Doo reveal... aka Bill Kenwright.
Martin Berry
87 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:21:51
Kieran (#83, and the rest of the responses that perpetuate debate.

I believe the future is going to be exciting beyond belief for Everton fans. Given that Farhad Moshiri is just really getting his seat warm, just think of how things are already moving in his short tenure, such as:

USM Finch Farm funding;
Previously unheard of money for transfers;
Move to a new stadium that will have the fans drooling;
Purchasing of the Liver Building; and
The a new backroom team on the day to day running of the club.
Also, expanding Everton's role in the community that makes us the real "People's Club" and I am not just talking about Merseyside.

It's a Grand Old Team and we should take a few deep breathes and remember it's a great time to be an Evertonian!

Joe McMahon
88 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:43:27
Martin Berry,

Or the man who said No to Sheikh Mansour, and let Kings Dock fall through...

And, while we are at it, kept David Moyes for 11 years.

Eric Paul
89 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:49:46
Why's that, Kieran?

I don't know who Richard Dodd is, before my time on TW.

Steve Smith
90 Posted 13/09/2018 at 19:56:24
I have no doubt that the funding is already in place in principal, and would be even if the council choose not to get involved in the safest loan they will ever make. Moshiri becoming the major shareholder is, I believe, the final hurdle; it's his credit rating (which is far and away better than the club's) that all funding will rely on as a fallback guarantor.

I'd be interested to know who's paying the architects for all their work? — certainly not Everton Stadium Development Ltd, whose currently sparse trading history gives them a recommended credit limit of just £500.

John Keating
91 Posted 13/09/2018 at 20:25:18
Kieran (#86),

I can't agree, mate.

It has to be Martin Mason. Forever asking for proof — even though it hit him between the eyes!!

Rob B Williams
92 Posted 13/09/2018 at 20:39:40
Eric (#89),

"I don't know who Richard Dodd is, before my time on TW."

You probably wouldn't remember Eugene Ruane then, or Ken Buckley, the late great Harold Matthews, Christine Foster, Paul Ferry, Brian Denton, John Daley, and many many more that we have not heard from for yonks now. I wonder why?

Those were interesting times Eric, nowadays we are bombarded by a certain few who hog these pages, what a fucking boring lot.

What is interesting tho' is the Live Forum – one-liners, should be made mandatory!

Brent Stephens
93 Posted 13/09/2018 at 20:47:18
Rob #92 just broken your own rule!
Peter Laing
94 Posted 13/09/2018 at 20:47:28
Eugene is alive and well on Twitter, taking the good fight to the Tories.
Eric Paul
95 Posted 13/09/2018 at 20:53:15
John Keating,

What fucking proof, hearsay and rumours????

Mike Doyle
96 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:03:05
Rob #92. You remind me that I was hoping that Ken Buckley's match reports may resume this season (for those of us who don't get to Goodison often they where a great summary of the match day experience).

Not sure if he's on loan to another fan site? But Ken – if you see this – the occasional report (any update from the Room of Nonesense) would be much appreciated. I'm sure I speak for many.

Dermot Byrne
97 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:08:34
Agree with everyone re the great reviewer Ken Buckley. Must take a lot of effort to write them and maybe he wants/needs a break. Whatever, we all wish him well.
Kieran Kinsella
98 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:20:50
John Keating 91

See post 95. Maybe Kenwright has two accounts now.

Dave Evans
99 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:22:12
Nice try, Martin @87. No point in flogging dead horses or casting pearls. This is a Kenwright thread. You are being mugged off if you don't agree he is Satan incarnate.
Kieran Kinsella
100 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:29:18
Martin Berry (#87),

I absolutely hope you are right and maybe you are but I want to see the results and not celebrate the potential. After all, on these hallowed pages, I have seen people triumphantly proclaiming: JP Kissock, Jose Baxter, George Green and Liam Walsh as "the next great thing". Not to mention the stadium debacles, or agent Johnson.

John Keating
101 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:32:52
Kieran (#98).

Might be wrong about Martin Mason. Although he refused to believe what was in front him, I can't seem to remember him swearing.

Kieran Kinsella
102 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:45:13
John Keating,

Eric Paul swearing and dismissing everything as lies and hearsay, totally reminded me of Kenwright at that Blue Kipper meeting. Every tough question got a swear word, every piece of evidence was "lies".

Dave Abrahams
103 Posted 13/09/2018 at 21:50:42
John (101), I agree with you about Martin Mason, doubt very much that he ever swore or even got angry when he posted.

In fact, when Martin wasn't debating some off the field stories and concentrated on football and players, he had some very good points of view and was always worth listening to.

John Keating
104 Posted 13/09/2018 at 22:23:23
Agree Dave
Don't know where Martin went and haven't heard from him for ages.

It was quite funny when he continually asked for "proof" yet never accepted what was in the public domain or came up with any himself!! He could certainly keep a thread going

We may have found a stand-in until he makes a return, probably when his hero finally departs for good, and he makes a spirited defence of The Golden Age of The World's Greatest Evertonian.

Dave Lynch
105 Posted 13/09/2018 at 22:48:05
If it wasn't for that darn Kinsella, I'd have gotten away with it.
David Israel
106 Posted 13/09/2018 at 22:49:06
"(...) but I don't think he did it with any massive ulterior motives."

Not a very nice way to put it, is it, dear Bill?

Si Cooper
107 Posted 13/09/2018 at 23:24:13
Rob (B Williams) - real name or tribute act? ;) - I think Christine, John Daley and Paul Ferry have posted relatively recently. I’m pretty sure John Daley has done so within the last couple of weeks; if not someone else must have produced a fine example of word-smithing to hoist someone by their own petard, or I am losing it.
David Israel
108 Posted 13/09/2018 at 00:16:50
Ian #65, perhaps 'the Luvvy stand' would be sufficiently ambiguous not to be controversial?
Eric Paul
109 Posted 14/09/2018 at 05:17:23
Kieran,

“Hearsay and rumours” is what I posted, not lies and hearsay.

So now who's telling lies?

Rob B Williams
110 Posted 14/09/2018 at 08:20:48
Si, 107, Thanks for that info – nice to know that some are still around... maybe I am just visiting the 'wrong' threads' – the boring ones.

I hope you are not 'losing it' – I sometimes think I am, when I read some of the stuff on TW these days.

'Petard' is a word I particularly like – I shall have to flag that one up! The word also derived from 'peter' (accent on 1st 'e') meaning 'tao brek wind' – now I know the reason for all this fartin' around!

Jamie Crowley
111 Posted 14/09/2018 at 14:55:35
Rob B W back @ 92 -

I couldn't agree more. Those were interesting times indeed.

Christy Ring
112 Posted 14/09/2018 at 16:14:39
Bill could have had a new stadium for £30m years back at King's Dock, but did the dirt on Paul Gregg, and brough in Earl and Co, which ended that.

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