Seasons2021-22Everton News
Bill Kenwright is the soul of Everton and there aren't many football men left like him
That's the bold headline to a puff-piece by Oliver Holt in The Mail that absolves Kenwright of any of his past missteps that have led Everton to its current abject state after 20 years of his leadership ... “it is not his fault Farhad Moshiri has not spent money well or made bad managerial appointments and he could yet be Frank Lampard's most valuable ally.”
The subheadings make the following claims that are elaborated in the article:
● Everton is a club riven by dissent and shackled to an unpredictable owner
● If Frank Lampard is to rebuild Everton, he will need to salve some wounds
● The sight of an angry, shouting mob haranguing Bill Kenwright was unedifying
● All he has ever done has been with the best interests of the club at heart
● At other clubs, he would be a man who is respected and valued and cherished
"Things have got to a stage where Everton supporters think they see enemies everywhere and they have decided Kenwright is one of them, too. The antipathy towards their former principal shareholder is a symbol of a fan-base — or a section of it — that has lost sight of what matters. They wanted a rich owner and Kenwright gave them Moshiri. But Moshiri has spent plenty of money and things have got worse."
» Read the full article at The Mail
Reader Comments (63)
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2 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:00:37
Holt is an incurable drip. There is no damp cause to which he will not put his name.
3 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:04:33
I see that this article was written by Oliver Holt. Now I may be putting 2 + 2 together and getting 5, but he is bound to be in favour of everything Kenwright does, simply because his mother, Eileen Derbyshire, played Emily Bishop in Coronation Street, probably around the same time that Kenwright was in it.
Maybe Holt met Kenwright and instantly took a shining to him. Coincidence, probably, but you never know??
4 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:08:42
5 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:08:58
6 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:11:19
7 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:13:25
8 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:14:50
9 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:20:27
That's a very unsettling thought about the improbable and extreme possiblity of Oliver Holt being the product of a passionate liaison between Eilleen Derbyshire and Bill Kenwright. Ughhhhh!
10 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:23:04
How can they write such unadulterated rubbish? If he's the soul of Everton, well, I'd just been reading Peter's wonderful post that involve him talking about how he bumped into some great lad who'd done a painting of our place. Peter told about his nephew writing the book "Faith of our Families" – That's what Everton is about and knocks that bloody, so-called journalist's twaddle into a cocked hat.
11 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:24:21
12 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:29:12
Never heard of "Faith of our Families" 'til now but will look out for it.
13 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:38:25
Do you think he will suddenly say, "Look, ToffeeWeb posters want me out, I'd better go."
it's pointless and pathetic. Move on – and if you want to get on someone's back, try the players.
14 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:39:30
15 Posted 29/01/2022 at 23:56:47
The constant criticism of Bill Kenwright achieves nothing in the short term.
In the long term, this site creates a valuable archive.
Therefore, I would like it to be archived, that, in my opinion, Bill Kenwright is a liar, a thief, a charlatan and a man whose malign influence puts him up there with the worst who have ever claimed to be a Blue.
16 Posted 29/01/2022 at 00:00:26
Can I write an endorsement for your archived post?
17 Posted 30/01/2022 at 00:22:08
I think what the posts concerning Kenwright's running of this club do achieve is just what Andy has written. I don't see it as pointless or pathetic.
Kenwright lost us the King's Dock, then said "Well, I'll know better next time." He then tried to take us to a shopping centre in Kirkby and we would be housed in a "world class, almost free, Stadium."
You see how Manchester City have done since being taken over... guess who sent him on his way to Manchester?
Then there's the little episode of him trying to foil his mate in taking over the club, seeing what a mess Kenwright was making, and (unfortunately) succeeding, then getting a feller called Samuelson (a True Blue Evertonian!!!) to evidently be interested in buying into the club. "The money's in the post" was the response when Samuelson, that "True Blue Evertonian" was asked where the money was. It's still floating round the universe.
I think he also stated that we'd have to go to Kirkby because Goodison Park wouldn't pass the ground safety certificate.
There's probably other things as well, but it's fair to say that what Oliver Twist wrote was slightly lacking in any of these facts.
I think that justifies Evertonians to ensure these things are not forgotten.
18 Posted 30/01/2022 at 00:23:45
If this doesn't work out, he won't know what way to turn because this is the Last Chance Saloon; otherwise we are doomed.
19 Posted 30/01/2022 at 01:00:16
That's the problem Jim, every Evertonian knows about all Bill's little tricks and scheming like you have mentioned, yet outsiders like Oliver Holt and Carra are blowing up his backside, and having a pop at matchgoing Blues.
We can have as many protests outside the ground, sit-ins, but Bill is going nowhere until he has cut that ribbon for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, then cashed his remaining shares in when the valuation sky-rockets.
That will be Bill's final bow, hard-hat on, hankerchief and teary eye, as he cuts the ribbon..., you will have to drag him screaming before then, because he will not pass up the opportunity of a lifetime, of opening the new stadium. So, until then, sadly we have another few years yet of the guy.
20 Posted 30/01/2022 at 01:29:11
Did Bill dictate that column in a London-based rag?
21 Posted 30/01/2022 at 07:09:50
22 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:20:20
Continual lies and on a massive ego trip is our Bill. In any other business that's been overseen by incompetence for so many years, the Chairman and Board would have long gone.
23 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:21:47
When surrounded by an exasperated mob, I would have preferred to hear our owner say "Yes, we failed to meet our targets but we have a plan to solve it" rather than "We've had good times". We need a pilot, not cabin crew.
24 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:40:00
25 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:41:20
It's rather time he stopped making decisions most of which have been disastrous for us and kept us as a middling club whereas we should be Top 5.
Sadly Duncan hasn't been effective either. What's he been doing whilst we've through all these managers? He doesn't want to upset Bill either.
26 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:52:10
27 Posted 30/01/2022 at 11:53:13
But what got my rag, is reading Holt's article in the Mail. His either misrepresentation of what Kenwright is to our club, or he knows bugger all about his shenanigans since he took over. either way, it's a load of tosh.
I agree with you though, the man who was going top leave when he was 70, will be writing his speeches as he cuts the Blue thread to open the ground.
Another thing, isn't Dave Prentice rorm the Red Echo coming on board the good ship Everton, as communications officer, or something. He's the man who wrote a back page special on how we won the League in 62/63 because all our players were on drugs!! Now anyone l;ucky enough to see the great football played, know we had a special team and he maligned them all, when it was Albert Dunlop, the goalie, who was evidently involved in flogging Purple Hearts.
Never bought an Echo since...so I wouldn't be surprised if he's another apologist for the Great Chairman.
Derek,there's a difference between getting behind the team, and all the pos ters on here, do so, and putting their views on the record of the dealings of the current Chairman
Neil...brilliant!
28 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:01:01
29 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:05:56
Unfortunately Paul is not in a minority of fans like this, not by a long shot, Id say more think he has done a good job as the guardian of Everton FC than those of us who are absolutely sure he has looked after his own interests much,much more than he has protected Everton FCs well being.
Great post Andy (15) you were born in Belfast but are so much more “ One of Us “ than Kenwright could ever hope to be, best wishes Andy, see you soon I hope.
30 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:11:13
31 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:12:29
32 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:17:56
33 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:21:12
34 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:25:37
35 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:34:20
36 Posted 30/01/2022 at 12:40:59
37 Posted 30/01/2022 at 13:06:12
I readily admit he lost me over Destination Kirkby – a move that was terrifying in the potential to kill the club. Kings Dock was another "what might have been" moment; it might have crippled us financially or we might have won the title 3 times in a row because of it. Again, we just don't know. Mansoor, do we know for certain he chased him?
And this is the problem with Bill – you either blame him on circumstantial evidence or absolve him because he's a fan, conscious of the fact that a version of Moshiri 15 years ago might have had us doing a Leeds.
I really dunno. His pact with Moyes looked like confirmation of an idea that Premier league Everton was an investment dripping with unlimited riches for himself whenever he sold and, as a businessman, he was right. But for maybe the second half of the Moyes era, I think that consideration, combined with the unambitious safety blanket of Moyes, did hold us back.
The truth is beyond places like this fans don't analyse, think, dissect the avenues the club picks and certainly don't enjoy criticising their club. Hence Bill's visage on the Jumbatron is greeted with applause.
In summary, he's a businessman who happens to be a fan – which whitewashes a helluva lot of dirty linen with the faithful.
I'd still shake his hand if I met him.
38 Posted 30/01/2022 at 13:32:16
Alas Kirkby was not circumstantial, nor the inquiry, nor the lies – you see, that's just the problem: despite all the evidence, not circumstantial, there are fans who refuse to see the man he is.
Evertonian or not – makes no difference. Time takes the edges off truth and allows a more palatable version to be acceptable. But to many of us, there was more than enough truth to be found in his reprehensible actions.
39 Posted 30/01/2022 at 13:45:15
"Bill Kenwright is the scourge of Everton and there aren't many football men left like him - thankfully"
40 Posted 30/01/2022 at 14:02:08
Leicester City - Premier League Champions, FA Cup and League Cup winners. Other FA / League Cup Winners - Wigan, Swansea, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Portsmouth.
It's not Bill's fault, after all, we've had some good times!!!
41 Posted 30/01/2022 at 14:12:52
42 Posted 30/01/2022 at 14:21:59
Shakes his head in disbelief.
43 Posted 30/01/2022 at 14:27:05
44 Posted 30/01/2022 at 14:38:27
I am not blind to what has gone on, but right now is (yet another) new start, and one that it seems more of us are comfortable with than other recent appointments.
Time to start being positive and giving newcomers our full support. Not time to get our knickers in a twist about some horseshit printed in a vile Tory rag.
45 Posted 30/01/2022 at 16:12:32
I only hope Don Alexander doesnt get the Mail; this hagiography could finish the man off!
46 Posted 30/01/2022 at 16:33:06
I am one who does not know that story. Can you post a link?
Thanks!
47 Posted 30/01/2022 at 16:40:25
Great suggestion that, Nick @31.
48 Posted 30/01/2022 at 17:42:55
The last few weeks have had the good name of one of the greatest clubs in English football dragged through the mud & the fucking media are blaming the fans?
You couldnt make it up ffs,
He should have been run out after Kings dock & the fleecing of the Greggs but for me it was the selling of Rooney.
Keep up the pressure & lets get this twat out of the club, the truth will prevail, it has to sooner or later.( hopefully)
49 Posted 30/01/2022 at 18:45:23
I never new he was the bastard offspring of Emily and Gordon. What a shithead.
50 Posted 30/01/2022 at 18:45:24
I said he lost me over Kirkby and believe it would have killed us but we don't know for sure because it is opinion not fact.
As such the conclusion it was definitely a bad move has to come from the cupboard marked "circumstantial" close to the used mars bar wrappers left by the guy on a diet (allegedly)
51 Posted 30/01/2022 at 22:03:02
In the same sentence he says fans were 'relatively respectful' and 'an angry shouting mob' - not worth reading.
53 Posted 30/01/2022 at 22:03:34
54 Posted 31/01/2022 at 07:45:16
However don't turn to politics. Otherwise I guess the criteria for supporting Everton would be that we need to be left side of Labour voting? Or their international equivalents, which would make it difficult for our US comrades as their Democrat party is akin to the Conservatives here in my opinion.
Come on. This is Everton and football. I'm sure on this site alone, there are blues who are Conservatives, Labour, Liberal, Green and down right militants. That's their political choice. Their football choice is that they are Evertonians. And very loyal ones.
55 Posted 31/01/2022 at 09:54:25
Circumstantial evidence??
Sorry mate the lies have all been laid bare
Mortgaged his house?
No safety certificate?
Fortress fund?
Its endless
I dont know what some Evertonians need to show this charlatan up for what he is
Unbelievable
56 Posted 31/01/2022 at 10:34:18
After reading the article via the link I am convinced it really is a spoof.
57 Posted 31/01/2022 at 13:11:00
If there's an "ar" (by sound) inserted in the appropriate place the headline makes perfect sense,
58 Posted 31/01/2022 at 14:11:17
59 Posted 31/01/2022 at 14:42:55
60 Posted 01/02/2022 at 08:32:14
61 Posted 04/02/2022 at 07:44:53
Bill Kenwright over-stretched himself trying to deliver what was hoped of him. Yes, he has made plenty of mistakes but my opinion is that he has always tried his best for the club. Fallen short many times and has probably had to backtrack on his dealings.
Ultimately, he has kept the Club going when it may have been in the lower depths a long time ago.
62 Posted 04/02/2022 at 09:01:06
63 Posted 09/02/2022 at 17:54:34
64 Posted 10/02/2022 at 09:32:01
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1 Posted 29/01/2022 at 22:54:28