ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Bobby Earl

"Everton fans might be surprised that their major American shareholder, entertainment mogul Robert Earl, finalised his deal with boxing promoter Frank Warren for the April 19 Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe fight in the box he has at White Hart Lane ? after seeing Spurs trounce Arsenal in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

"Despite having a 20 per cent stake in Everton, Earl has been a Tottenham fan for 46 years since running a successful tourist entertainment business in London with friend Joe Lewis, the billionaire behind Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's ENIC investment business. Yesterday, Planet Hollywood owner Earl showed his promotional savvy at the Calzaghe press conference by bringing along a piece of iconic boxing film memorabilia ? the giant slab of meat prop that Sylvester Stallone was forced to use as his slaughterhouse punching bag in the first Rocky film."

Didn't know he had a box at WHL! Also didn't know he was our 'major' shareholder — obviously an error. Does anyone know if 20% is the correct figure?
David O'Brien, Leigh on Sea Posted 24/01/2008 at 19:47:08

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Comments

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Interesting... Doesn't surprise me, TBH. At least Everton have never hidden the fact taht he was/is a Spurs fan. On one level, it shows his investment in Everton is purely as a business deal, which bodes well in terms of perceived RoI... I can't confirm the 20% figure as I don't have my EFC Shares spreadsheet to hand, but it's in that range.

PS: Prefer it if you could send us a link to where this is on the Web. Cheers, David.

John Charles
1 Posted 24/01/2008 at 20:44:34

He?s a Spurs fan.. I see no problem. As the above posting says, hopefully he makes a lot of money out of investing in Everton.

Martin Edwards made a lot of money out of investing in Man Utd now didnt he.

Arr how I can dream.

Gerard Madden
2 Posted 24/01/2008 at 21:12:52

I see no problem when you compare us with the type of ’investment’ (huuge debt actually LOL) the RS have recieved from ’fans’ of Montreal Canadiens, Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars! Good ol’ Hicks ’n Gillett AKA Laurel & Hardy. :)

robert carney
3 Posted 24/01/2008 at 22:35:59

GM, of the modified crop variety. I take it you had something in your mouth when you penned this response.

I am sure when breifed, the next diatribe regarding our incompetent board will be back to your nauseating best.

David OBrien
4 Posted 25/01/2008 at 01:54:17

Sorry, the link is http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=510049&in_page_id=1951&in_author_id=345

Arthur jones
5 Posted 25/01/2008 at 06:31:36

Bill Kenwright and Earl himself have often refered to the fact that he was a Spurs Fan . The deal for the fight was with Frank warren so I can hardly see it as unusual that it was conducted in London . In his interview on Everton TV Earl actually says that when he goes to WHL certain people he’s known for years snub him .. I wouldn’t be too wary of this article , especially one written in a manner intending to stir a bit of trouble

Erik Dols
6 Posted 25/01/2008 at 07:30:06

Old news is so exciting!

Jay Campbell
7 Posted 25/01/2008 at 08:37:03

Earl was only brought in by Kenwright to get Gregg out and to further enhance his stranglehold on the club.

Kenwright is a true blue in his own mind not in mine!!

"I’m an Everton Junkie" Your the biggest dope connected with the club Kenwright.

Arthur jones
8 Posted 25/01/2008 at 09:59:32

Jay , i can assure you that Rober Earl is far too astute to allow himself to be Bill kenwright’s puppet . He is a very rich successful businessman and the only reason he would have bought into Everton is because he recognises that it is a potentially very profitable package .

Jay Campbell
9 Posted 25/01/2008 at 10:09:58

Arthur, wasn’t Earl declared bankrupt a while back in some capacity?? He may well be a successful business man but Kenwright needed him to wrestle Gregg’s shareholding away from him just the same way Kenwright needed Gregg to get Johnson out.

Kenwright has carefully minipulated his way to the top and has masked many lies and broken promises behind this "I’m a true blue" image.

The potential at Everton is massive always has been, but this potential is not being utilised properly because quite frankly the hierachy are not up to the job. Simple as.

I feel now the club is heading in the right direction(all thank’s to Moyes nobody else) but we need a real man in charge with vision and good business plan and good connections to make that step. Bill Kenwright is not that man.

He runs the club like a corner shop and the mentality is to run a tight ship. With that sort of outlook the best we can hope for is doing what we are doing now "punching above our weight".

We will not win anything while this man is at the helm. FACT.

Arthur jones
10 Posted 25/01/2008 at 10:32:02

Jay , I believe that the company owned by Earl was bankrupted a while back ’ planet hollywood ’ but he completely revamped the business to the highly profitable business it is today . One of his projects as a 21 year old trainee for joe lewis was to establish a business with a £500k grant . He was successful , he founded the Beefeater chain of restaurants . His experience and backing as an entrepreneur is outstanding and his contacts include Billionaire Joe Lewis , the Magniers and Tabor families . At risk of repeating myself , Robert Earl is not Kenwrights puppet and he would not invest millions into Everton if he never thought it worthwhile and he certainly would not personally guarantee a £25m overdraft if he thought it was not recoverable

Jay Campbell
11 Posted 25/01/2008 at 11:25:35

Arthur only time will tell mate

Arthur jones
12 Posted 25/01/2008 at 12:37:44

I totally agree Jay , here’s hoping