FAB Zoom call Recap

Hey, keyboard hard-man, I'm on the Zoom meeting right now. Excellent input from everyone, either out loud or in the chat room.

There's another Zoom call due.

Join it and ask that question yourself, tough guy.

I was just on the call though my zoom name was “Dan” my writing name. I asked about Kenwright resigning.

Kenwright doing a Jack Benny imitation, he stopped counting his age at 65!

Great meeting, by the way. Only recognized Amit on there from when he used to comment in here on business matters.

Gonna hand it to Jazz. When that fellow "Tarscouseki" was giving it to him for a "Yes-Man", Jazz sat and took it.

Interesting that after Jazz stood neutral on declaring his personal feeling about the Board, Dave Kelly and Julie Makin made no bones about their wanting the Board out. And another FAB member, I think Richie Gillham from EHS (Or maybe it was Kelly) stated that all the FAB members were dissatisfied with the Board. I liked that.

Overall, a great meeting and experience. I definitely recommend ToffeeWebbers join the other Zoom meeting. Passionate and informative.

I thought Jazz Bal did a remarkable job keeping order and summarizing the scattergun stuff that I suppose you'd expect from a meeting like this. Most speakers were pretty much on point (give or take) and stayed within the bounds of common decency until well after you'd bailed.

Pity you did though because, if you had concerns with Amit (who actually spoke very well), I'd've loved to hear you try to summarize the lad at the end who went off pretty much half-cock with all the gripes you could think of. Went under the great name of Tarscouseki.

There were some really good questions and information posted in the Chat, which I saved. I'll pick out a few and put them up tomorrow.

Maybe I was harsh on Amit but 20 minutes in a 2-hour call is a long time.

Also, selfishly not being from Kenya I didn't see that angle as a priority in terms of why they felt pushed to have this call right before the protest. Also the whole share thing…

His comments about the stadium cost and raising the possibility of creative funding that would also give fans ownership of the stadium, I thought was quite innovative (although apparently Arsenal did something along those lines with The Emirates).

It raises a question which I should know the answer to: Who owns Bramley-Moore Dock and the new stadium? Is it the main company, EFC Co Ltd? Or did they create a subsidiary or separate company, à la Goodison Park Stadium Ltd? Or does Moshiri own it (probably via a holding company) as he is paying for it?

Buying Everton Shares at £3,500 each is out of the question for most fans, even if they were available, but if it was a different company, perhaps individual fans buying a stadium share for £350 and getting their name on a seat could bring in some of the additional funding needed while providing the fans with "ownership"?

I suspect Danny O'Neill could speak more informatively on ownership and decision-making structures in Germany (greater fan involvement).

I think Jazz did OK too. There was a loud chorus on ToffeeWeb of people saying don’t participate it’s a white wash. One poster even saying he’d close his curtains if it was in his back yard But if no one participates there’s not a lot for Jazz and co to report back to the board. I’d have liked to have seen more from ToffeeWeb participate. I felt like a few on there were beating around the bush a bit being overly broad perhaps afraid to get into specifics. But Christine, Brian, Simon et have all made very good, non offensive posts on here in the last few days that address the issues clearly. Hopefully a few like that attended the other meetings

I found Amit as articulate speaking and he's been in here in print. To Kieran's observation, Amit was up 2nd, me 3rd. By the time I was called, between Amit and this fellow Kurt who went 1st, we were up to 50 minutes of a 2-hour call.

So I only asked about the "120 points" our CEO trumpeted about after the management review. Kieran summarized Jazz' response.

Kieran (9) - Agree with all that. Especially for more TWers to participate in the next call.

Just send a request to: Chair@efc-fanadvisoryboard.com. That's Jazz and he WILL respond. Or Secretary@efc-fanadvisoryboard.com. That's Julie the FAB secretary.

And "Tarscouseki"!?! There was a guy with a bee in his bonnet.

The deputy chair released a statement calling on Kenwright to resign.

Michael - I never actually posted it it, but I started a comment, slightly off topic, on one of the threads yesterday about the Bramley Moore ownership being mindful that if the worst was to happen and we drop (and God forbid possibly drop again) the spectre of administration would be raising it's head.

I was asking if the site, development contracts and building were owned by Moshiri himself, EFC Ltd or possibly a third party vehicle of some description in respect of the implications of that. Was Usamov maybe a party initially? etc etc.

So your points @7 are striking in reference to my ghost post. Thank you.

"Unfortunately we've had to cancel Sunday's meeting for security and safety reasons."

Lots of people giving them dog's abuse on Twitter. Tarscouseki Tweeting threats to assassinate the EFC board. Has the world gone mad?

The FAB are fans like the rest of us. How does the fan base go quickly from apathy to some absolute lunatics hijacking the whole thing?

If Bill Kenwright is a genuine Evertonian, then he will know more than anyone how mad some of our fans can be.

I had a book on Everton years ago, and in it, it said that Evertonians, were responsible for football clubs, issuing tickets for rearranged games. The game got abandoned and the fans wanted their money back but the club officials were not having it.

The fans got on the pitch and ran across to the Main Stand side of the stadium. Then the shout went up, “Torch the stands!” – leaving the club secretary to tell everyone he couldn't give the money back, but he would issue tickets for everyone to get in the rearranged game for free.

I personally think Moshiri has lit the blue touch paper the other day, and maybe the club see no point in having any more FAB meetings, simply because they now know that a lot of these members are actually against this current board?

I have been in Nairobi 4 years ago and I am not surprised that Amit will come from a different perspective, finding this in conversations I had with people there. They were all chuffed about having two Presidents at once.

And after yesterday, nothing Tarscouseki says would surprise me.

Has the one armed mechanical man, got a one eyed mechanical brain John?

Interesting and reassuring that a few of the FAB members have the same feelings about the board as the majority of the fan base.

Does anyone know when we will see a response from the board to the questions/feedback from the FAB?

Always a danger that some individuals will use a platform like this to rant and can't be succinct in getting their questions or point of view across.

My gut instinct is that this FAB is being kept in the dark as much as we are.

It feels like a thankless task for them. Of course they ultimately won't tell the board what decisions to make based on supporters' opinions. But gathering views and presenting it in the right manner could influence.

Genuine question; have any terms of reference, roles and responsibilities of this FAB been published publicly?

Found them.

1. An Evertonian only being considered "live" if they are registered and hold a supporter number? That rules out thousands who can't afford it or aren't members for geographical reasons. I do have one and I am a member, but to suggest anyone who doesn't have one is not an Evertonian is, well, offensive and derogatory.

2. The terms talk about being consulted rather than consulting. I may be overthinking but that suggests a one-way conversation with little power to influence.

3. Interested in these sub-committees. I know it's early days but that would be good to know about. Also that there are vice-representatives that holders of the reserved positions can choose to appoint.

4. Fans' Forum rep. I take it this is a collect of fans' forums and not just one or a select few?

5. They may have already filled them, but 2 x vacant Evertonian non-reserved positions with no eligibility requirements. I might throw my hat in the ring. If I can find their website. I've read this off the club's.

6. Meet with a member of the board at least quarterly? At least? That should be a given. Anything less dilutes the engagement.

Look, I think it's a good initiative and I appreciate it's early doors. But it needs to be influential, not just a messenger, otherwise why have it?

I'll have a go at responding to your points:

1. I understand the revulsion but, in practical terms, for the club itself, it makes complete sense to restrict the definition of an "Evertonian" in this way within the context of the Terms of Reference for the FAB. Geographical reasons are no excuse, and it really doesn't cost that much. I was a member for many years from 8,000 miles away.

2. Agreed. This is very clumsy (or intentional?). Instead of "the FAB will operate independently to be consulted about", they could just as easily have written "the FAB will operate independently for consultations about:". But the scope should not be restricted as it is by the list of bullet points that follows.

3. Just hang tight regarding sub-committees. They probably haven't set any up yet. Vice-representatives just help toward better attendance at meetings for each of the reserved group positions, in case of absence.

4. The Fans' Forum Rep is from the Everton Fans' Forum, a separate body that was reformed in 2018. If you really want to bore yourself stupid, pull up any of the so-called Meeting Reports from 5 years worth that are freely available on the club website to see just what enthralling stuff they get up to!

5. I think you're a bit late to the party... but then again, they've just had a slew of resignations that I haven't followed... Danny — this could be your big chance to make a difference!!!

6. One recurrent theme of the Fans' Forum Meeting Reports is the number of times apologies are proffered for the non-attendance of senior executives and even a Board Member (Sharp, Barrett-Baxendale?), as a I recall. So actually getting them to a meeting is a whole other ball of wax, methinks.

Jazz Bal did mention that their website has taken ages to set up, but that it is nearly there.

What I'm curious about is what happened to the other FAB public meetings they had planned? I think the one at the Hot Wok on Sunday was cancelled... what about the virtual meeting online last night? Did anyone attend or was that cancelled too?

Seems the highly regrettable civil war between club and fans that has erupted over "Headlockgate" may have completely derailed this effort.

I know I ramble and I try not to be too critical most of the time, but I appreciate yours and everyone else's feedback.

I was suspicious of this initiative from the onset even though I had hopes for the concept. I agree, the recent events may have unfortunately put this one in the shredder.

I too have followed the Blues from thousands of miles away Michael, even when I never had access. It's why I am quite passionate about inclusion to all even when they can't always be included by a rule. And I understand rules; I've lived most of my life by them!!!

You were obviously not alone, Danny.

Attending this effort with an open mind, and just wanting to monitor proceedings, I was disheartened by how so many on here were so quick to condemn the whole exercise as a Kenwright-controlled flannel job.

These were genuine fans who genuinely believed that their free-gratis voluntary participation in community-led consultation with the club over many issues could lead to greater understanding and less mistrust.

Only to be rapidly overtaken by events that seemed to fully justify the cynicism and suspicion of those who so knowingly slammed it beforehand. Indeed it is a sad sad day for Everton Football Club if the naysayers are given this victory as the whole process now seems holed below the waterline.

But I guess it's just so much pissing in the wind now until the latest furore dies down (if it ever does!) and what dialogue there was can perhaps resume between Fans' Representatives and the Club.

Not sure if the other meeting happened by I saw on Twitter last night FAB posted they've concluded the meetings now and will publish their findings and questions for the board shortly.

You had some good times though, you told us this yourself,
even though the club stopped genuinely competing to win,
and incredibly became plucky little Everton instead.

I don’t know how this was ever allowed to happen,
but it does look clear, that your nepotistic nature,
has played a massive part in the demise of Everton Football Club,
and the club has been cursed by a manipulative liar.

This ain’t goodbye - it’s Au-revoir, and if you will pardon my French,
then fuck off Bill Kenwright, and finally rid us of your rotten curse!

They tolerate it to distract from what emerges from their lying mouths.

End of.

Link

I agree Christine. I was always a bit suspicious.

I wanted the FAB to be a meaningful platform to convey supporters' opinions and maybe, just maybe, influence the mindset of the club's leadership.

I'll try to be a bit more conciliatory.

As I keep saying, I never for one minute was naive enough to think they would be in a position to make decisions. I just didn't want it to be a gimmick; a token gesture to quell the native rebellion.

Unfortunately, many of those natives are now raging with frustration, torches lit and marching on the fort.

I don't doubt or question the FAB members' Evertonianism (is that a word?). It takes a lot of personal time and effort to work on secondary commitments outside of our day jobs. In their defence, they are in an impossible place right now. But it doesn't mean we should dismiss it. The concept remains valid.

It's early days and like anything, it was going to take time to establish it and turn it into a meaningful platform. As you say Michael, maybe sadly for now, it's been overtaken by events. But thinking ahead, it can still be something that we supporters can use to good effect if we shape it.

Anyway I'll have a look and contact them.

Vote Danny!!

"The page can't be found"

I tested it when I posted it and it worked. Let me look.

Here's the page again: Link

If not, here's the Home page: Link

Click "News" at the top, then scroll done to the article.

Ok, I just tested both and they work.

"While large accounting losses have been the focus, it is important to note they don’t translate into large cash losses." Any fiance gurus want to explain that one?

And this one regarding if Usmanov wins his court case to get his assets unfrozen, would Moshiri do business with him. The response refers to the relationship with USM as, "indefinitely suspended". I assumed the relationship was cut permanent-like, but apparently not.