A Sad Day to Be an Evertonian

But get a grip, fans are always going to be divided. I don't think Tony Hibbert should be anywhere near the first XI, of course there will be a minority of fans who think he is probably our best right back. We have differing opinions, someone might call me a Knobhead at the game for calling Hibbert shite. I wouldn't take it to heart.

Personally I don't agree with the tactics used by Blue Union. I do see it as a bit of a waste of time, but that's my opinion. I trust that Bill is trying his best to sell the club, I might be wrong but I'll back him. Call me a knobhead, I won't lose any sleep or decide to write an article on it. As long as we get behind the team and give it all we have like we did Saturday, neither side should be getting their knickers in a twist.

I won't try to go into when the decline started, or why, but the situation we're in now is one we're not likely to get out of anytime soon.

Bill Kenwright bought the club at a time when a true Evertonian was needed at the helm and, love him or loathe him, Bill Kenwright loves our club as much as the next lifelong Evertonian. I know this as a fact.

I also know that Bill bought the club with promises of financial support from "friends" and business associates. He also bought the club letting his head rule his heart and not really thinking five, ten, or more years ahead.

If you knew the man, you really couldn't question his credentials as a real Evertonian, but if you knew him you'd also know that Bill looks on things in a slightly different way to you and me. He's naive beyond belief when it comes to high finance and the cut and thrust of football as the business it is today. On the business side of the club he's almost clueless.

He is however, as are we, in the predicament of wanting to sell a business which is deep in debt, in need of a new "head office" (err that's a ground by the way) and a business which happens to be in competition with other companys in the exact same business, which are more profitable, better run, and in a lot less debt.

He DOES want to sell the club, but he wants to get it exactly right as it would kill him to sell it to the wrong people and see the club be in an even worse situation than it is now, which is quite bad, to say the least.

He's looking at it from a point of view of "Well, I'm an Evertonian and I'm not going to sell to someone who isn't, unless they've got an fortune and who will promise to take the club forward in a way that for me (Bill, that is) is the way an Evertonian wants."

He knows he's out of his depth, financially and with regard to business acumen. He wanted to take over for a couple of years, stabilise the club, and then sell it to some really rich types who'd take the club onwards and upwards.

Unfortunately he din't realise what went with buying a club, and he didn't foresee (like many didn't) the world financial crisis that would hit us.

I don't dislike Bill Kenwright. He loves the club as much as you or I, but I do know that he's out of his depth. He knows it too.

Ironically, Blue Union backed away from calling for Kenwright to step down, and I believe that was a mistake, because it has seriously weakened their message. But it was obviously done in the hope of getting more fence-sitters onside, which it may have done. I think the march attendance was good, far better than it could have been if there was little support for their cause...

But clearly Kenwright needs to step down first.
He needs to relinquish control of the club. That's what Johnson did, almost a year before Kenwright's True Blue Holdings bought him out.

Big time club; small time Board.

It`s all a bit like politics: you can never pursuade the other guy to your view but that never stops you trying. But you can still respect each other`s right to hold those opinions and go easy on the abuse.

We have very few assets left to strip, the ONLY real potential buyers we could be in the market for are vanity owners and minted fans.

There is very little upside for the likes of a Peter Lim, or a Carson Yeung ? we are already punchng considerably above our weight. There isn't much to gain in taking 1 step up (Europa Lge) and the investment required and competition for two steps up (CL) means that it is far too risky proposition. Not the quick returns you'd get from an under achieving large club outside the top Division.

So, that leaves us with a vanity owner, or a minted fan... how long we have to wait for that, and if Bill is truly ready to hand over the reigns (as perhaps he should have done to Gregg) remains to be seen.

I'm not so sure that Steve Guy is an idiot for saying what he did. The players are in an extremely influential position, so I think they should take some care before commenting. As employees of the club, it might be that they have insights into what is going on, more than we do. I rather think, though, that they are as divided as we are. I ageree with Steve that the players will be gone in a couple of years and may be the manager also. We'll still be Evertonians wanting what is best for the club we support.

Mind you, I can't say that I support them now as I gave up my season ticket as a protest against what I believe is a board who have no long term plan and I can only see us going down hill even faster if this board stays in power.

Have to say I`d prefer the players and manager to stick to what they are paid for and let Flossie & Co make a fool of the Chairman. They are doing a good job up to now!