Bill Kenwright: Having to do the hard things the hard way!
Kenwright comes in for lots of stick from us Blues; even I occasionally want to drag him out of Goodison and send him into exile. But when you look at what he is doing with the club, the resources he has and the improvements he has made rationally, you realise he is doing not such a bad job.Firstly he took over a club in turmoil & terminal decline. Poor squad, poor training facilities, youth academy miles away from the training ground, a stadium about to collapse and little business acumen. Since then, he has appointed Moyes and importantly backed him in the transfer market as best he can and kept the faith when many would have sacked him (see Martin Jol at Tottenham). The squad is looking stronger, no doubt about it, and Moyes did take a relegation-quality squad into fourth place.
The training facilities have now moved to a new site which by all accounts is first class. Bellefield will be redeveloped and the money will return to the clubs coffers. This new facility will also encompass the youth set up. Seriously do other Premier League clubs have their youth set-up miles away from their training ground?
Next there is our home, our spiritual home. (My heart says ?no? but my head says ?yes?.) Liverpool City Council are to blame for this. They have known for ten years Everton were looking for a new site to build on. Yet they did nothing! Stanley Park? we were told was a no, until LFC turned up (by the way they still have not got permission to build on a Grade Two listed park yet, but they have fenced the area off.) Kings Dock! the council wanted an arena there for decades! They dawdled about until we could no longer get NWDA funding and then slyly built a concert arena (too many sly Kopites in LCC).
Finally the ?business savvy? of the club: for years the board tried to half-heartedly copy what other clubs did; now we are clearly moving forward, with new ground, new academy and training facilities. New perspective! Kenwright is dragging this club kicking and screaming into the future.
He is after all probably the least wealthy Premier League club owner and has significantly altered the club's structure with limited funds. He is making some difficult decisions and acting on them.
Reader Comments
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2 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:02:04
3 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:02:59
We are about to vote to move to a cheap stadium in another towns retail park.
Great job Bill.
There is postive thinking and there is naivety...this piece is the latter.
4 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:12:48
His head. quite often, isn’t.
Moving to Kirby is just a mistake; a really big dumb mistake.
We throw away the advantage of being in Liverpool for a cow-shed in Kirby (have you seen the designs? christ they are crap - really cheap tacky shit).
Bill’s done his best, and I love him for that; but he’s taking us away from Liverpool based on a vote where the board have managed to completely dominate the agenda using fear tactics to force a ’Yes’ vote, and I hate him for that.
5 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:15:51
If I was in the same position I wouldn’t want to be seen to be vociferously pushing for a Yes when my heart tells me No.
6 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:19:45
7 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:34:43
8 Posted 22/08/2007 at 14:47:21
9 Posted 22/08/2007 at 15:10:16
10 Posted 22/08/2007 at 15:14:39
This afternoon’s news on Yacubu seems to bear out that yet again,Davey has brought home the bacon!
11 Posted 22/08/2007 at 15:43:56
What a complete load of utter bollocks af an article.Kenwright is a serial liar and a con man to boot.How naive can a person get??I suppose you thought Al Capone was a charity worker!No wonder wer’e moving to Kirkby with all these gullible people still believing Billy Liar!!
12 Posted 22/08/2007 at 15:32:16
13 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:00:46
14 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:10:12
here’s looking forward to moyes, wyness and kenwright bringing european football to kirkby.
15 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:32:05
16 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:42:42
17 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:44:04
In any case, all the Premiership got Sky TV money, and few (any outside the top four?) have got the players we now have. And I forgot the fact that this year we found the money to substantially up the pay of Cahill and Arteta, thus keeping two highly sought after stars at the club. But you’re not going to give Bill any credit for that either are you?
18 Posted 22/08/2007 at 16:12:47
shows a respect that few other premiership chairmen show their respective clubs supporters.Far from shirking responsibility,he has been bold enough to bring us all in on a major decision in our great club,s future.I don,t care how any of you voted.If I,m on the losing side,tough,I,ll go with the majority.What I won,t do is castigate a good man who,s only desire is to see a successful Everton,who takes no reward for his efforts and works tirelessly on our behalf.
Just think what would have been said if the board had come up with the Kirkby site with no finanial plan or stadium graphics.
"Oh by the way we,ve got this field in Kirkby and we,re going to move there in 2010.We don,t know where the money,s coming from and we haven,t thought about a design or capacity yet"
Now that would have been put down as irresponsible madness,yet the fact that they came up with the financial plan and a stadium design is put down by some as propaganda.It seems that for some,no matter what the board does it does no right.The KEIOC layout in St Georges Hall was propaganda.It works both ways,but,if it doesn,t work your way don,t spit your dummy out and gripe.I hope that whichever way the vote goes next week we can all accept the result and move on to a brighter tomorrow with the club we all hold dear to our hearts.
19 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:42:59
20 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:36:02
Quite frankly fella your a bit twisted, Kenwright dug this club out of the shit by buying it and taking on something that nobody else,at the time ,would touch with a bargepole...we were fighting relegation every season..and considered safety by april an achievement..
Now under kenwright and Moyes(another love of your life)..we are a regular top 10 side on the up..the only club to break the "big fours" monopoly on champions league qualification and now a european place becomes our minimum expectation...not good enough?
Well the average age of the squad has dropped from 30+ to 25 every one a salable asset..nearly all internationals..with more on the way..and an investment in a new training facility(state of the art).
But with you its all doom and gloom,
I look forward to us winning on Saturday and then not having to read your tripe..until of course we lose or draw..as all teams do..
you sad sad man
21 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:51:13
22 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:46:17
The way Bill Kenwright has destroyed this club and scared all of these people off is unforgivable in my opinion, and the man should be birched.
Short memories or what?
Bill Kenwright is far from perfect, but he’s far from Peter ’DJ Spuddles’ Johnson, too.
23 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:59:23
I quote." as for massive salary hikes again hearsay with the club having a wage cap they were more likely brought in line with top earners at the time such as the now departed Beattie".
Thats a salary hike you imbecile..
I reckon your names really Gavin Rogers , but you cant spell it properly.!!
24 Posted 22/08/2007 at 17:31:39
Although happy with the improved personnel, I suspect that the Club are doing no more than an incumbent Government does during an election year. What often follows a boom is a bust. I hope that the Club are not relying on the Tescodrome to produce sufficient additional income to service the ever-increasing debt. If the Kirkby stadium proves less of a cash cow than Kenwright thinks then we will be seeing a fire sale similar to that at Leeds when they overstretched themselves. Look what Division that Club are in now.
25 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:06:14
"I suspect that the Club are doing no more than holding on to our money just in case the Kirkby development. is a bust. I hope that the Club are not relying on the Tescodrome to produce sufficient additional income to service the ever-increasing debt. If the Kirkby stadium proves less of a cash cow than Kenwright thinks he canuse our transfer funds to bale himself out. Look what state this Club are in now. European regulars..its diabolical , I cant afford extra money for tickets and flights??? The thoughtless bastards.
26 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:05:19
Hopefully Bill and Davey don’t read this website or they would make many of you happy by committing suicide in despair.
27 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:11:45
Kenwright bought himself a clapped out vintage car with loads of service history..but rust to go with it..
What he has since been doing is carefully and lovingly restoring it to its former glory,
He understands he cant do this overnight and he may have to look high and low for the parts but he is definately getting there..and soon enough.he will have iit purring like a kitten..with admiring glances everywhere it goes..He may even get it a brand new garage, to make sure thta all that hard work dont go to waste.
28 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:03:26
Firstly Joe Beardwood’s article which showed that in the last 7 years we have gone from a position of having net assests of £18 million to net liabilities of £10.3million.
Secondly the article written by Greg Murphy called Too Late To Cry clearly shows that you cannot blame LCC for everything particularly when there has been gross mismanagement from the Everton Board.
Finally if that is not enough you just have to look at the Kings Dock fiasco and the lack of leadership. To this day this fiasco has never been properly explained. Throw in the total lack of trying to get additional finance into the club via the fans and in my opinion Bill Kenwright has very little to be proud of concerning his running of Everton Footbal Club.
Neil Pearse - you’ve changed your tune from an earlier post and I quote: "Whatever way you look at it, as a majority owner Bill has to go".
29 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:15:53
I have tended to concentrate on matters such as what the Manager does with the players at his disposal...team selection, hoofball, fleeting possession, etc. and latterly the debate about Kirkby, propaganda, democracy or lack thereof. I do not use a nome de plume but if I did, no doubt I too would be blessed/cursed with the gift of clairvoyance. If Bill does do something drastic, I bet it will be stage-managed and probably involve drowning in bullshit on prime time T.V.
30 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:40:58
31 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:50:42
32 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:53:49
33 Posted 22/08/2007 at 18:53:46
34 Posted 22/08/2007 at 19:13:01
Why oh why, should i give out my name to somebody as obviously in need of a padded cell as yourself...what does the name I use have anything to do with my views?
How can you call me bitter..?? what am I bitter about..get somebody to read out the definition of the word from the DICTIONARY..thats a big book..unfortunately ,no pictures
If there were pictures..you would be in it under..mmmm.BITTER
35 Posted 22/08/2007 at 19:14:59
However, I wrote that BK has to go when it looked like he could not find the funds to buy the likes of Fernandes and Yakubu. And hence potentially take us to the next level. But, fairs fair, I don’t know how he’s done it, but he has.
I still think that in the long run, we may still need a richer owner. But who knows? As long as we can buy the likes of Manny and the Yak, I for one am happy. And I give BK the credit, just the same as I was unhappy with him when it seemed we couldn’t afford them.
36 Posted 22/08/2007 at 19:24:53
Too many people on here made their minds up years ago and nothing that happens willalter it..mainly because some..not all, have spouted such vile shite that they are afraid to acknowledge they may have made a mistake.
I even believe that "if" we move to kirkby and it all turns out to be a huge success, they will still turn their backs on the club..simply because they have said they will..
37 Posted 22/08/2007 at 19:57:06
But if the vote is NO, and we find that there is another option in the city which somehow we can afford, I will have been wrong, and I will change my mind, and I will be DELIGHTED.
I hope that those who are NOs will be similarly be prepared to be open to what happens, and to change their minds about Kirkby if that’s the way it goes. Hey Tony, maybe corporate fat cats will buy corporate boxes there after all, new young Blues will flock there in their thousands to see our European conquering team, and Genesis (or whoever) will play a sell-out concert in Knowsley? You never know!
38 Posted 22/08/2007 at 20:11:41
yes voters tune in, tune in you gullible fools
39 Posted 22/08/2007 at 21:13:07
And Terry; I have requested that you use your real name. Please do so. Thanks.
40 Posted 22/08/2007 at 22:03:00
Sorry mate but I reserve my right to use a moniker same as anybody else,
and you have never requested I use my "real" name..!
I realise you tend to come down on opposite side of much of what I have to say..and if you want to stop abuse ..dont allow any posts from Tony or Gavin..unless they can write something that does not contain, Fuck , Twat, Cunt,Wanker,Prick , Gobshite..etc,etc.
Censorship..for disagreeing with the nocamp/moyes out brigade...yes a well run open debate..
41 Posted 22/08/2007 at 22:09:43
I have went by the name of "marsbar" for years..its even on the back of my shirts, all my mates call me it..and hundreds of people only know me as that..occasionally "Mars" for short... Im sure others on here do really answer to "El Greco,,or Bluefrank" without the unmasking ceremony being put forward..
42 Posted 22/08/2007 at 22:34:28
43 Posted 22/08/2007 at 23:09:36
Mr Kenwright is the principal shareholder and as Chairman is responsible for seeing that the club is adequately financed to achieve its-and our- aims.So far he has not been found wanting in this task so I am amazed that so many people who don’t a single share suddenly are concerned ’where the money is coming from’.Were I he,I would tell you to mind your own business -or buy a share and read the annual accounts.It short,brothers (and sisters) it ain’t your concern-or worry!Let’s all enjoy the Club’s bright future.
PS Remember, if you haven’t the guts to give your name ,your opinion is of no worth or relevance!
44 Posted 23/08/2007 at 02:16:35
By the way this is my real name and I would encourage those who are extremely uptight about the vote and the board try smiling after all it’s about the game of football.
45 Posted 23/08/2007 at 05:37:02
We’re talking about having the "courage" to put our names to an opinion about a football club.
If it comes to this they should close the bloody club down.
"It’s because I care" So do we all but to stoop to this is childish at best, threatening at worst. If you’ve the intelligence to actually connect to the internet, you must surely be bright enough to take one step back and realise you are creating a climate where many fans wouldn’t want to share a stand with you.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.........jesus, the person who made that our motto must be turning in his grave.
46 Posted 23/08/2007 at 08:35:39
47 Posted 23/08/2007 at 12:26:22
48 Posted 23/08/2007 at 12:38:24
This is where Moyes will prove if he can bring on blood new talent himself.
Secondly there are times when I wish Kenwright would disapear. I am not a true fan of his. I just accept that there are limitations to what one person can do.
Regarding the issue of investors in the club we do have an image problem, which I believe many investors would be put off by.
Furthermore other off putting issues such as investing in new training facilities to make the club competitive are being removed by the board
Finally I am not Naive. I have a Masters degree, I have expereince indealing with Business to Business marketing and relationships. I have a wide network of business contacts and when I discuss the facts of investing Everton they site many such problems of why investors wont invest.
Such as a new ground is required.
The need to radically overhaul the previous business model amongst other things.
So ’Naive’, I am not, ’Kenwright lover’, I am not. 100% for Kirkby I am not, its more 60/40 in favour.
One final thought, perhaps at Kirkby we can stop looking across the Park.
49 Posted 23/08/2007 at 14:19:51
50 Posted 23/08/2007 at 15:22:43
51 Posted 23/08/2007 at 15:54:49
You can call yourself anything you want in my opinion..it matters not.
Of course to some people when you put reasoned facts before them all they have left is to complain that you are "hiding" behind your user name.
I on many occasions am just re-iterating that i believe..with the resources at his disposal that Mr Moyes has worked wonders and that since Bill Kenwright took over the club has been on a steady upward spiral..
THESE ARE FACTS..
Yes Moyes makes mistakes,Yes Kenwright makes mistakes..but the positives (in my opinion) far outweigh the negatives.
1 squads average age lowered bt 7 yrs
2 majority of squad internationals
3European qualification EXPECTED instead of just premiership survival.
4 Brand new state of the art training facilities..
5 Huge increase in clubs turnover
6 And of course ..Brand new stadium to come..
Now if I deserve to be called what I have been for stating these facts..I apologise.
These are not what ifs or conspiracy theories or my believing anything the board says..theseare indisputable facts of the change in Everton under BK and DM...The future is bright
52 Posted 23/08/2007 at 16:33:49
on a matchday/shopping day out.Wont that be nice
53 Posted 23/08/2007 at 16:26:11
Does it matter what it is posted under, as long as you can identify who you are responding to. They know, and you know, so what’s the difference. I don’t know who Gavin is anymore than I know who Marsbar is so turn it in. Do you want a full postal address as well.
If you don’t agree then fine. Let’s not get too aggressive about it, it’s only a debate FFS!
I must agree that despite the Kings Dock, it has generally been an improvement since BK got in. May have been better with someone else, may not! Hind-sight is a beautiful thing and fore-sight would be even nicer. Then we’d really know what to do next.
I would put my full name but the majority would still not know who I am so what’s the point. Get back to the issues at hand as all sites like this are littered with nick-names.
COYB
54 Posted 23/08/2007 at 19:50:53
But you know what it might just be nice...A decent well aired family boozer or maybe a pizza hut where I can take my lads before the game or after.. mine are aged 10 and 16(tomorrow)..just got his GCse’s he got nine...proud as punch..
The old way aint always the best way...
We went to the preseason game at Bury and I had to walk out of the pub we were in cos a group of our loyal supporters with a KEIOC banner were having loads of fun singing such dittys as "Everton are white" and that old favourite "trigger trigger trigger , shoot that N***er"
Wonderful stuff..not the type of stuff for carpet world I know..
and Im not saying that you or even anybody else on here is responsible for this type of thing..but there areso many ways this club has to change, moving is just one of them..If it were in Liverpool I would be happier..but it looks like it wont be..but I dont see it as the end..more like a fresh start..there are lots of reason people dont go to goodison..poor facilities,racism,restricted views just being a few of them..and yes places like the Reebok and the Riverside dont have much atmosphere..but thats down to the fact that its Bolton and Middlesboro...We are EVERTON..ffs
We cant be compared to them..
After all this conjecture you may be right..or I may be right..it may fall somwhere in the middle..
But Everton FC will always be there and it will always be huge..some people have all the money, the stadium, the city centre.. NUFC..but they dont have the privelige we have had..Alan Ball.1970, Graeme Sharp..Andy Gray.Trevor Steven..winnin trophies, Wembley..Rotterdam..moving house wont change that..Im sure
1 Posted 22/08/2007 at 13:48:34