COLUMNIST JIM HOURIGAN
Objective Views
Comments (13) : The first is the following quote: "He has revived a club who have a proud history and a vast local support but tend to be overshadowed by an illustrious neighbour with boardroom civil wars, colossal squad and nationwide army of rant line hogging fans." I just thought that it summed up the situation well and made a key point about the supporters ? 'vast local support' vs the ranting RS nationwide support. Methinks a good description.
The second point is more serious; again I quote: "There are three options open to Everton to provide the manager with the funds to sustain Champions League challenges and to stay ahead of the emerging, wealthier packs of Spurs, Man City, Villa and Pompey: a new stadium, new investment and a place in European football's premier competition."
Without knowing the writer's alliegeance, he seems to presenting an objective view without the passion that we all feel. However, for me his points are valid and very pertinent ? a new stadium and new investment plus success on the field ?- no talk of renovation of an old ground but of the need to move to a "new cost-effective stadium" (later in the article) to attract investment.
The inference is clear: no new ground = no new investment = no success on the field + the other clubs move further away. The article did not attempt to support Kirkby or any other option it made the point that without a new stadium the other two points would fail and the club would move backwards and DM would leave for pastures new.
Our views are passionate because we live them; Goodison Park is part of all of us but what this article seems to do is step back and view our progress against the others in an objective way. It questions the club's desire to compete with the best and retain what they describe as a potentially great manager.
Perhaps it's this cold blooded, pragmatic view that needs to be heard, not the passionate heart felt views that I read everyday. I'm as passionate as everyone else, I share a different view from some but have one great thing in common ? I love Everton. Perhaps that love and the love that all of us feel blinds us to what we need to do. As they say when bringing up children, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind!!!
Reader Comments
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Randy Lerner allegedly enquired before Villa.
Quite simply would you sell up now or when you have sold the clubs soul and have a new flat-pack stadium to get you a few more million off would-be buyers?
We could get fifty or sixty thousand in our ground
before the seating only law came in to force.
When he covers us I would say he maintains a professional detachment. Today’s article was written from the angle that Moyes has yet to extend his contract. The main focus was the commitment to future money for development on the field, hence the revenue situation. He wasn’t recommending anything.
The capacity in 1985 was 50k
The AVERAGE was about 39k.
Only the usual suspects and special games filled the ground on 5 or 6 occasions.
As Tom Hughes states the only revenue stream worth anything is the one generated ON THE PITCH, which, coupled with the media hype that will follow ( we are seeing the start of this hype even now at this early start in our rise and rise ) will bring in the big business hangers on and their money.
Where to get the money to prime this pump is the real question...
The journalist seems to be implying that unless the board can back Moyes with sufficient funds (i.e. those from the CL and a new ground) then Moyes is off somewhere else. Half of the article is about what Moyes?s other options are if he leaves Everton, almost touting him around. I am very appreciative of Moyes?s work at Everton but his stock surely isn?t that high until he actually wins us something? I honestly don?t think he?s going anywhere and if he does he?ll only be cutting off his nose to spite his face.
The problem is, how does spending £150m on a plastic stadium generate us any further income? Look at the RS and the fantastic interest payments they have to pay off each year now thanks to the quite wonderful Gilette and Hicks. Long may they continue their sterling efforts over there.
I?d have thought the answer was simple. Free admission (or something stupid like two quid for children) will help massively to fill the stadium, provide a greater vocal support and encourage the next generation of merseyside youngsters to be Blue.
Alternatively, half price for adults if they bring along a child. You get the idea. The most important part is to fill the stadium, it inspires the players whereas a half empty stadium does exactly the opposite. Also the more people inside the stadium the more revenue the club gets in merchandise, etc.
It all has a snowball effect, the better the players do on the pitch, the more paying people will eventually come through the turnstiles, merchandising will go up and the more attractive we will look to investors. In turn, the more money generated by the club gets put back into the club to attract a better player and the circle goes round again.
The club is all about the fans. They are the one constant at the club. I have only been an Evertonian for 22 years but have seen 3 chairman, 6 managers, countless players, 2 training grounds and soon to be 2 stadiums, but I am still an Evertonian and will be for many, many years to come yet.
The fans are what make the club, that is why Everton is one of the best clubs in the country.
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1 Posted 29/03/2008 at 14:55:46
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