There are no two ways about it – the sports media absolutely love Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. He provides superb soundbites time after time, is misty-eyed about days and players of yore, upbeat about the present and the future and promises much. The reality however, is that more and more Evertonians are starting to question why the promises don’t seem to amount to anything tangible.
Trying to take for a moment an outsider’s perspective, I can absolutely see why Bill has the footballing world eating out of his hand. He loves Everton, I don’t doubt that, and when we keep ‘overacheiveing’ every season and bringing in a couple of new faces every summer – it looks like he’s just doing the best he can with limited resources and all is dandy. Kenwright is apparently searching 24/7 for investment which will take the club onto the next level, but many fans no longer believe that Bill is telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Is he prepared to put what is right for the club above his own ambitions? Are Everton even for sale (and how much for) or is he just looking for impossible ‘no-strings’ money from a happily silent benefactor while he stays the Chairman forever?
I do wonder what gives supposedly ‘impartial’ journalists the right to criticise fans who spend hundreds and thousands of pounds every season following the club they have loved for a lifetime for looking into the best interests of that club? Surely we have a right to ask questions of the stewards of this incredible club and institution when we see danger signs?
David Maddock’s article in The Mirror earlier this week wondered how Everton fans could even dare to question their Chairman’s intentions or actions, but thousands of us are growing ever more unhappy with the way our club is being run. Assets sold, more and more loans/mortgages taken out and players having to be sold before we can buy. I don’t really even want to open the can of worms that is Destination Kirkby – however I don’t believe that needing a new stadium is any more detrimental to investment possibilities than being tied into an ugly budget stadium with very limited revenue potential and terrible transport links.
The current situation isn’t sustainable – loans must be repaid, players and coaching staff will leave when there is no chance of progression as the net spend of £3-4 million per summer fails to build a squad big and strong enough to fulfil their potential – the current Everton is essentially living on borrowed time. So what is the solution? Is there a solution at all?
In the real world – it doesn’t seem like we’re going to get a multi-billionaire riding in on a blue and white charger to save the day, so is there really anything better than Bill Kenwright? At least he’s an Evertonian, right?
Let us know what you think. Do you think Bill is doing a good job? Do you have any answers or alternatives? Is there even a problem at all?
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I heard one story that in our negotiations to build a stadium on the Kings dock. It was proposed that Everton had to invest £30 million of its own money. Bill was furious and refused to put Everton in debt.
This was even after he was informed that all the building, land, and materials would be underwritten by English Heritage, Liverpool City council, The European community etc. Therefore the risk for Everton football would be minimal. I think Bill’s stance was he knew better in regards to how our club should be run?
Sorry, Baz. You got that wrong. The only reason that Gregg was involved in “True Blue Holdings” was that (1) he leant BK the money to buy out Johnson and (2) he claimed he could bankroll the EFC element of the Kings Dock by means of a Directors Loan. When it came to the crunch, Gregg renagued on his agreement with Kenwright and imposed conditions on the loan regarding reduced share of income for EFC from the Kings Dock non football venture until the loan was progressively paid off – thus completely thwarting the business plan to enable funds to be generated for EFC from the non football activity. That, as RAFA would say, is a FACT. Although the anti Kenwright Brigade always seem to overlook that little detail.
There are several concerns that I have with Kenwright and his running of the club. Firstly, when he eventually ‘bought out” Johnson he promised a much more honest and accountable board, that the fans would get the answers they wanted. If anything the opposite is true. Financially, despite season on season we are making more money we seem to have less to spend. Two seasons running we have had to sell to buy. He states he is actively searching for further investment, but complains there is nobody out there, yet City, who had bigger debts than us and a stadium that the council owned had no problem and more recently Birmingham and QPR of all teams had no problem. Even a consortium led by McMahon wanted a relegated newcastle with all there reported financial mess. We dont even get a rumour! What does Kenwright exactly want? Furthermore after the huge mess he has made of the last ten years, NTL and Fortress deals that didnt materialise, the Kings Dock fiasco, keeping hold of Smith for two years to long and a failure to back Moyes ever since the man took over, does he actually believe he should be the judge of who is and who isnt good enough to take over at Everton?
Some great points Gareth! The lack of communication from the Board is one of things that has many people worried I think. The rule changes about EGMs etc.
I’m not sure about the exact amount of debt we have, but surely some of the other clubs who have been taken over in the last couple of years were in a worse state?
How do Evertonians know when Kenwright is bull-shItting?
We can see his lips moving..
Keioc!