Everton provide update on Chairman's health

I hope he makes a full recovery but he needs to do himself and the club a favour by letting go.

I will never understand the Moshiri - Kenwright relationship but the sooner the pair of them are out of the club, the better.

Jay, I was thinking the same as to why he was allowed to remain in place given the circumstances. However, given his theatrical background, assume it's a case of the show must go on.

"yet the Club Statement says he's still responsible for transfer negotiations"

Where are you getting that from?

I expect that Stephen read the passage below, and assumes when Bill is fit and able, he will continue to help Mr Thelwell?

On another note, how long ago was it when 777 came to the forefront as potential purchasers of the club.

Right up until the day of the procedure the Chairman had continued to carry out all his club duties, working hard alongside Mr Moshiri to facilitate the proposed takeover by 777 Partners and supporting Kevin Thelwell with the Club's summer transfer activity.

That he still yields such influence at the club however is telling of the situation the club is in. Both are in intensive care.
For the good health of both, that bond needs to end.

Put your health first and walk away.

I remember reading a tribute from the YNWA Facebook page extolling all he'd done for the community etc saying how sorry they were to hear of his illness and wished him the best etc…

Funny how neither ToffeeWeb nor the official website put anything out nor replied to that statement. 🤷

Coincidence? Engineered?

As I said, I've had personal dealings with Mr Kenwright.

Of course they won't, will they?

It's very unfortunate because it is explaining that an old man, is suffering from a horrible nasty disease, and it's also unfortunate because of the cynic in me, built up over many years, regarding our Chairman, meaning that I'm ashamed to think, but not admit, that I feel this whole story might not even be fully true. (Very sad on my part!)

I obviously and genuinely wish him the best of health, but can't understand why he hasn't stepped down to concentrate on his health, especially because this is what most fans have been calling for, for a very long time now.

We don't know what goes on behind the scenes but how hard-faced is Farhad Moshiri? He had to continuously beg Mr Kenwright to stay on not so long ago, so surely he should now thank Bill, and remove him from the club, so the man can concentrate on his health?

Maybe it's coming, maybe 777 Partners will offer Bill Kenwright something like a honorary life presidency title? But something needs to be done immediately because Everton cannot continue being so rudderless and Bill Kenwright has definitely got bigger things on his plate right now with a long and lengthy recovery period.

Nobody is a bigger critic of Bill Kenwright than me, but how anyone could stoop so low as to almost gloat at the man's predicament is beyond me. I wouldnt wish cancer on my worst enemy. Call yourselves men? Crawl back under your rocks you disgusting low life's.

As someone who was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer ten years ago, enduring disease and treatment which almost killed me, I can assure you that football in such circumstances, is of no consequence whatsoever. In addition to the obvious physical suffering, the mental torture of not knowing the outcome endured on a daily basis is at times unbearable.

I take none of my criticism of you back Mr Kenwright, but may I offer you a speedy recovery. You are not a paedophile or a mass murderer, just someone who's policies I disagree with and which I believe have been detrimental to EFC.

My prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. I would offer as much to 99% of the population in your current situation.

Yes I wish Bill Kenwright good health.

But no it doesn't change history and the fact he's systemically ruined the club. The recent statement on his health does not gloss over the stained history of true blue Bill Kenwright.

But the sudden mass hysteria love-in for teary-eyed Bill on here because someone mentioned the C word is simply laughable.

That strange claim at the end for his privacy having been respected… until they decided – after 6 weeks of absolute privacy-respecting silence – to tell us all about it in gruesome detail.

What price that privacy now?

Why were we not told anything at all in the last 6 weeks? If he wants privacy, why are we being told anything now?

As David Vaughan suggests with the benefit of personal knowledge of the man and the way he works…

Some of the comments on here tonight are ridiculous, but sadly, I wasn't surprised. It's the usual posters.

Egomaniac
Liar
Bullshitter
Fantasist
Manipulator
Narcissist
A massive cunt

Hate me all you want but, even now, William Kenwright – the greatest ever Evertonian– is still trying to manipulate the fanbase.

But hey, I'm not surprised.

And some TW posters can still spin that negatively…

That Moshiri, as a perpetually absentee owner, considers it perfectly fine and fitting for a now absentee chairman to carry on not taking point in his stead, only confirms the lack of common sense and general shits given by the clowns responsible for the governance of a once great club.

As Michael @ 29 says, How can you respect someone's privacy when no one knows what's going on?

I'm sure most Evertoians now knowing the seriousness of his illness have no intention of infringing on his or his families privacy. Why now tell us in this way?

Some may use it to demand his resignation immediately. In my opinion, it shows that he's a peripheral figure now.

Doesn't it just exasperate the fact that someone else in better health, younger, hungrier, with fresh ideas, could be doing a better job for the club?

I wish him a speedy, healthy recovery.

A sad indictment of society today.

"cynical, ignorant, cowardly, unsubstantiated views"?

Looks like the master manipulator has worked his magic on the fanbase already. The puppet master strikes again.

It's not the posters' fault to call him what he truly is, it is his charlatan nature that truly exposes him.

Michael #29

Are you surprised?

Timing of this is bizarre. Nobody was prying into his privacy in the first place as all eyes have been on 777 Partners. Why announce this now, 6 weeks post-op, same day the podcasts come out on the BBC, imminent announcement of the Premier League investigation, etc. With the imminent sale, no-one's actually been talking about Kenwright anyway.

Sorry, something doesn't feel right.

You can't keep a good narcissistic manipulator down. I think we all know what this statement was about – especially its timing.

Well, judging from the comments on here, only a few of us do.

There is much I would like to say in reply, but fear I would be banned from ToffeeWeb forever.

Suffice to say, I will treat your comments with the contempt which they deserve.

"I think we all know what this statement was about especially it's timing."

Please share.

But him being ill doesn't and won't ever change my opinion of him as a man.

I honestly don't care if people on here are offended by that.

Like Phil #27, I've been where Mr Kenwright is now, and having returned from my Everton trip to immediately experience the loss of a loved one -- her funeral is tomorrow -- I know what his family are going through right now. My thoughts are with him, and them.

I don't know the ins and outs so will separate my feelings towards Kenwright the Everton Chairman and his apparent illness.

He should have stepped down years ago and if he is now this seriously ill, just go for your own health.

If and when we get new owners, do what Moshiri should have done. Get your own people in place to run the club.

You need to calm down, man.

So I don't like Bill Kenwright and I don't trust Bill Kenwright. I'm entitled to that opinion after 20 years of him destroying the club.

Haven't listened to the podcasts yet but when I do... I don't think my opinion will be influenced in the slightest by the state of Blue Bill's health.

And judging by this thread, I don't think many people's opinion on Blue Bill's stewardship, including those who have expressed a not unnatural sympathy, will be influenced by the state of his health either.

But I have no problem either, in continuing to regard him as a manipulative, scheming man of limited talent who has been disastrous for our club. I have no idea why he had been retained as Chairman. That just doesn't make sense on any level. We basically now don't have a functioning board.

I do not want to see any 'honorary' titles for this man. Just get rid and he can recover, well away from our club.

I also wish him well but I also agree it doesn't change what he is.

The fact this so-called "private matter" has been suddenly released today in all its gory detail to deflect all the bad EFC press today doesn't feel genuine, it feels manipulative in the extreme. Such details wouldn't be released without Kenwrights permission. I'll just leave it with that.

Seriously... "his apparent illness"?

All fake news then?

He should, for his health and that of the club, step down, immediately.

Swerving the Godwin's Law stuff.

I don't see anyone saying they're glad at his plight; neither do I see anyone saying all is forgiven because of his illness.

Every comment in this thread has some validity based on real or perceived club propaganda and timed PR, or based on humanity and personal experience and suffering. But none of us are close acquaintances of this guy.

We all wish him and every sufferer well but the only reason we are talking about him versus any other sick individual is because of his professional role at the club we support.

Therefore, while we all send love and good wishes, our primary concern is the club and if it's being run properly. If it wasn't, we'd be discussing millions of other sufferers along with him right now.

I do not believe for a second that the people who run the club are so cynical as to use this type of very personal tragedy as a distraction or shield.

I wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

The Evertonian in me does wonder at the timing of the announcement because, as we have oft seen before over the years, in the face of a bad or critical press, a deflecting story appears... so yes, purely coincidental? Does it matter? Not a jot... Let it be.

Irrespective of any health issue, Bill Kenwright is fast becoming irrelevant to the ongoing future of our club. Our focus needs to be on the landing of a suitable new owner, looking forwards not back.

Condolences on your bereavement. Also glad had you a good trip, alas a typical Everton one. I only came across a thread where it was mentioned, late yesterday.

Read the earlier comment I made about my own family's suffering. My Grandfather went with it too. My Grandmother who I never met as she was gone before I was born.

I used a word. It doesn't mean I doubt it whatsoever.

Wrong choice of word. I'll take that. We all do it, but it wasn't meant in the sense that I don't believe the statement.

I don't doubt it but now more than ever he needs to step away for his own health.

That aside, and from an Everton perspective, he should have stepped away years ago.

But right now, he needs to look after himself.

So no, not fake news.

As Brent points out: There have been and will be again, numerous opportunities to criticise or even vilify Kenwright and, while most of us have taken those opportunities, I can't help thinking that most right-thinking people will believe this really isn't the thread.

I believe there is a tendency among some to think, the more they can show their hatred for this man (even when he is sick and old), the bluer they will look in the eyes of other Evertonians.

Cancer has deprived most of us of loved ones. The claim that the people who recognise the gravity of this illness and empathise are falling for some kind of stunt couldn't be further from the truth.

We need to increase investment (worldwide) on our research in how to prevent and overcome these awful sicknesses!

That's a horrifying statistic in this modern age and no-one should have to face that whilst rich men get richer manufacturing weapons for barbarians, fanatics and greedy despots.

On a serious note, I wish him well.

Mark 79, look on the bright side... the barbarians, fanatics and greedy despots also have a 50% chance of getting cancer.

Personally, I wish him a speedy recovery and best wishes for his retirement.

And I can say that knowing I'm no hypocrite. I haven't said the worst before backtracking when the inevitable happens.

Good luck to him. We all get touched by (what is appropriately called) the C- word. I hope he can either get healthy, or at least find comfort.

Secondly, it is no wonder that many folks look cynically at the timing of this news.

Communication hasn't been the club's strongpoint of late.

Our organisation is rudderless, and hearing that Bill Kenwright was very ill during the transfer window shows that the whole scenario was surely even more difficult for Thelwell and Dyche to operate in.

It could be that Kenwright considered himself central to our dealings and sacrificed his own health to help out, or that he simply couldn't let go.

Perhaps Bill was the only constant at a difficult time, with our nut-job owner a lame duck and the new investors watching expectantly.

Or perhaps Bill was determined to have control depite his illness.

I imagine Bill Kenwright will step aside once the new owners get the green light.

Then I hope he is well enough to get to Goodison as a fan and not as our Chairman.

The lack of trophies during his tenure doesn't figure at such times and I feel it important to reiterate present calamities are not down to him but the ineptitude of Moshiri & Co.

In truth, not being Abramovich has always been his Achilles Heel but I don't doubt he tried his best for the club with the notable mistakes of Kirkby, Kings Dock, and the rumoured knock-back of Mansoor.

But life ain't straight lines; we all mess up from time to time.

Best wishes, Chairman.

It's an unusual statement given his family's stance on privacy.

Your God be with you, Bill.

Prayers and best wishes Mike.

Best of luck and wishes to him and his loved ones at a very difficult time.

Like most posters, I am able to separate his health from
other issues, and wish him a full recovery and a happy
retirement.

I wish no ill to Bill Kenwright and I too hope he makes a full recovery.

I can, though, understand some of the cynicism towards the announcement (just the announcement).

I find myself somewhat confused, not with the timing of the announcement but with the announcement, full stop.

The announcement states : Mr Kenwright has always been fiercely protective of his private life and is grateful that his privacy has been respected during this difficult time.

He hopes this will continue following this update.

I, probably like 99% of others on here, didn't have a clue about the procedure or the fact that Bill Kenwright had a tumour on his liver.

In that respect Bill Kenwright's private life WAS protected and WAS respected (due in the main to nobody knowing about the situation).

So what I really don't understand is, why when someone fiercely protects their private life and is grateful that his privacy has been respected thus far, allows an announcement to be made which literally blows that privacy apart when saying nothing at all would have continued to allow the privacy to continue unabated?

The announcement therefore seems somewhat counter intuitive and totally illogical.

I think all right-minded Blues would wish Bill Kenwright a full and speedy recovery.

Perhaps, the public announcement has been forced by circumstances, by which I mean the upcoming hearing later this month. If as Chairman, Bill would need to be present or even called to the hearing, then this sad news would have to be made public regardless of his personal right or need to privacy.

Perhaps, the news of Bill's health issues will force the hearing to be delayed?

It might of course have nothing to do with what I refer to, but there's always a reason for such statements to be made, sometimes it's not always clear to us in the public domain to see those reasons, whatever they may be.

Could be any number of reasons as you say but speculation does nothing for me mate.

Without challenging or evaluating any response above, just carry your concern for the club to how we the fanbase respond to a situation such as this. As much as we may be left without answers, we have to play through honorably for the club here.

Sorry I couldn't provide a full explanation and could only speculate, which makes me wonder why you posted your original post in the first place.

Do it after a defeat – well that's been timed.
Do it after a win – obviously been timed.
Do it in the international break – clearly that's been timed.

I'll hope it's a precursor to announcing that he won't be remaining as Chairman. Not because I want him gone (though I do) but because I can only think of one other thing this could be a precursor to.

To be honest, you'd be shocked if a 78-year-old coming out of ICU was returning to football. It's practically certain not to happen.

Wonder no more. I posted my original post for the reason I imagine most others do, to comment on the subject at hand, no more, no less.

However, I am also very sure that the statement was made to dampen the potential reaction to the BBC podcasts — especially headlockgate.

The damage this caused between club and fans relationship can only start to be amended, in my view, by the removal of the current chairman.

Posters who have also stated their concerns are not walking about as manipulated mugs.

They are people who don't see any equivalences between what a sufferer and families go through when cancer calls and the actions of the Chair of an outfit, that has the core business of kicking a bit of plastic about.

It's called a human perspective.

I can see a scenario beyond conspiracy theory of why details of his failing health would be announced now.

Given the last 2 years have seen a massive ramping up of odium dumped on his head, the latest prognosis might be so grim that those around him are thinking that enough is enough, get him out of the front line pronto.

There comes a time when a bit of peace is all we have.

There comes a time when a bit of peace is all we have.

I'll second that mate, for sure.

I'll be honest, I don't want to believe the announcement was made to garner sympathy or had any other ulterior motive.

The point I was making (or trying to) was that strictly using only the information available to us at this time, which is what was said in the announcement, then the announcement itself didn't make logical sense. Now some may have speculated that, by saying what I said, I was suggesting there are some ulterior motives for the announcement.

They're wrong, and I myself won't speculate (either way) simply because I have no information whatsoever, other than that contained in the announcement, that would enable me to form an opinion.

This man has sold all that we have and rented it back. He has lied repeatedly about the running of the club and instilled a level of accepting defeat.

He has dragged our club down to a level not seen since the '50s.

In the past year, I have lost two family members to the big C. For them I have shed tears, Boys Pen Bill… fuck him.

I may be harsh but then so is life and death. Carry on with the praise if it makes you happy. I really do not have anything but disdain for him these days.

I lost my Mum to cancer two years ago. It's a bastard and would never wish it on anyone, ever.

Hopefully we can transition to a new ownership and he can concentrate on his health.

Once a Blue, always a Blue.

A lot of us will have close friends who have been affected by numerous illnesses or daily life issues for this to be a passing concern.

In fact, most of us have our own problems in this modern-day madness — so why should we even care about some millionaire who's made a mockery of us?

My thoughts are with real people who are suffering in one way or another and I don't need to watch or read the news to know there are plenty of them out there.