Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
The First Step Back
By Christine Foster :: 20/08/2011
13 Comments (ğLast)
What so many of us have pointed to, interpreted or read between the lines for the past few years is now confirmed as fact by our chairman.
Many on here may so ?So What? We all knew? and the other comment, ?its done immeasurable harm to the club.?
Well, the harm has been done by the incumbent for the past decade, it has highlighted the un-sustainability of the Premier League in these bad economic times; it highlights the fact that there are plenty of other clubs in similar predicaments but the bank has not yet pulled the plug as they have on EFC.
But sadly it confirms to all of us how badly the club has been run and allowed to drift into this position. The Hail Mary pass that was Kirkby really was the best the board could come up with after missing opportunity after opportunity, boardroom positioning and wrangling, we are left with an inadequate commercial model, an inept board and a rudderless ship.
Damm them to hell for taking us there.
So where to now, St Peter? (apologies to Elton John)
It's clear that we have to segregate the team issues from the commercial realities, despite the problems each cause each other; the chicken or egg syndrome. It is incumbent on each and every one of us to fully support the team, to the max. Walking away is not an option. We are in this together.
The club needs to accept support, help and advice from a skilled fanbase that is desperate to help. Irrespective of the reasons we are in the position we are in, they MUST take action to stabilise the club, we MUST understand that we are in a reality check and the difficult decisions have to be made on players, prices, cost cutting. We have to support them in a short-term action plan to get us out of this mess they have gotten into.
That?s does not mean forgiveness for where we find ourselves, we just need to fix it.
In the US they have legislation called Chapter 11 that protects companies should they fall into liquidation, the principle being that it gives the management team time to recover... Problem is of course it?s the usually the same management team that got the company into trouble in the first place. Hardly inspiring. The point it, there has to be realistic changes in management at the club. Some have to walk now or be pushed. (Start with the Communications Director!)
The board need professional help to get out of the mess we are in. We should not have to propose this but if we don?t who will? When will they (the club managment) realise we can help, we have a part to play? We want to help. We can blamestorm later once we are out of the mess they have presided over.
The club needs to be sold, the board needs to change, the attitude to the fans need to change, as ours does to them. The division of fans the club has engineered was disgraceful, the silence a slap in the face to our intelligence, the intransigence and arrogance appalling. But we have to move on. So does the club. With us ? not in spite of us.
In short we can:
? Support the team fully
? Offer the club real support through professional assistance or in any way we can.
? Listen to us.
? Work with us.
? TALK TO US.
? Let us know where we can help.
It may be like asking the turkeys to vote for Christmas, but what other choices do we have? If the club go into bunker mode, it will take many years to recover. At least the Truth (in part) is out there. Now we can move on without conjecture or interpretation of comment. It?s the first painful step back.
Reader Comments (13)
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2 Posted 20/08/2011 at 08:07:34
The short term will be as absolute war scene with I believe the top players also declaring their intentions to leave, and I suspect we will spend many a season dicing with death - but we as fans should realise that its the future we need protect.
There is no future under Kenwright, Elstone, Ross & co, they haven't got the acumen to run this club, and a complete shake up is required which unfortunately will include the playing side, if only to kick-start the process.
The club will be sold for a reasonable price allowing proper future investment.
WE have reached the stage after this week's outbursts that we are the laughing stock of the PL with nowwhere to go, unless Moyes & players deliver, but being realistic as Moyes said yesterday that's going to be virtually impossible with the small squad we've got.
Moyes leaving will be Kenwright's demise it is the only way !!
3 Posted 20/08/2011 at 08:35:36
Shaneful days indeed but ones which have only one possible route of salvation and thats change, change doesn't bring any guarantees but we all know that staying as we are is a death sentence despite some bizarre last minute supporters I'd question validity is explaining how an admitted failre with no idea what to do could possibly do anything positive.
We are already the laughing stock of the EPL amongst other teams and chairman, now the match going fans know it too.
4 Posted 20/08/2011 at 09:17:01
I have more respect for Moyes now than ever, and its clear why he's been silent the last few months. Moyes should stay, as much as I dislike the fact that he's covering for an inept board. I just hope for change later....hope rather than expectation, and I fear the worst over the next two years.
Everton without Moyes at the moment is unthinkable.
5 Posted 20/08/2011 at 09:21:22
6 Posted 20/08/2011 at 09:21:22
7 Posted 20/08/2011 at 10:05:46
One point which you cover but which I disagree with. The current Board needs to step aside. They have demonstrated an utter incompetence to get us to this point. And fresh impetus must be without them. They have the ownership so they have the right to agree or veto any proposed sale, but they should play no further part. They should do the decent thing. Impossible legally I know, but morally correct.
I reject any suggestion that Moyes should go as a catalyst for revolution. I understand entirely, I want BK out as much as anyone, but I don't want Everton to lose, ever.
Finally, Kenwright has demonstrated he has no acument at business strategy but he is clearly also without leadership ability. Every standard at the club is set from the top and he has allowed things to reach this nadir. So I do not blame, Elstone, Ross etc. They are employees of the club and are serving Kenwright's agenda. All roads lead back to him.
8 Posted 20/08/2011 at 10:13:33
9 Posted 20/08/2011 at 10:58:36
10 Posted 20/08/2011 at 13:33:59
Re the main article, agree with the most part but would call not just for BK to go (he can be honorary life president or some other token but non meaningful role) but we also need a new and strong CEO. The CEO is supposed to be the one running the ship and setting the strategy etc.
Main problem is that non of us really know who pulls the strings. Yes the bank said not more debt but is Phillip Green in the background somewhere?
The club is not going to go bust in the near term (we will have valuable players that could pay off the debt) but I fear for the longer term if there is no drastic change in management.
Really hope this exposure will lead to something...
Oh, also looking for 3 points in a couple of hours....
13 Posted 20/08/2011 at 21:22:57
14 Posted 20/08/2011 at 23:27:32
Dont attack BU davey, purely the messengers to the gaff prone bafoon that is BK.
BK OUT..... NOW!
15 Posted 21/08/2011 at 00:13:31
To fix the problem you first have to admit there is one.
As to the Chapter 11 thing. The Board could stay, but again I've seen it in a number of businesses. They get or bring in experts or expert. He or she tells them, but deepdown they don't buy into ' the solution '.
It's the old thing about if you are not part of the solution you must be part of the problem....add a dash of ' crisis? what crisis? and the downward spiral continues.
Maybe BK will do a Baptista and just walk out on New Years Eve.
Moyes can resign, resign from his employers, but not from the job. As a Coach many have doubts. But to the World at large ( banks ) he may have a certain Cred.
If it all goes tits up and it may have to just to change things. I feel the Club is too big an entity to just 'disappear' ala Accrington Stanley.
But a leader with sufficient standing needs to front up or be appointed to take over.
It isn't about what has been done or not.
It's about what NEEDS TO BE DONE
Cometh the Hour, ( where) cometh the Man?
Insert your ' man of sufficient standing ' here.
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1 Posted 20/08/2011 at 07:20:57