Having read the KEIOC statement , it would appear that Mr Knights has been treated in a somewhat draconion manner, a season ticket holder and regular attendee at Goodison Park for over 50 years – you would think that he would receive a little more respect from the club.

Whilst we have only heard one side ot the story via the KEIOC website, it is difficult to assess whether EFC's punishment is justified or not, however, to deny that anyone has been banned – while Mr Knights obviously has – is little short of incredulous.

KEIOC ask some really good questions on the kit deal that should be answered. This needs to be championed through all the independent Everton outlets until they are shamed into a response. I would like to have a silence card (printed from weblink in a particular colour) that fans could hold up prior to the game demanding some of these questions are answered.

"Our solicitors will be contacted with a view to protecting our staff"

From a peaceful, primary school teacher? Thin end of the wedge here if we're not careful.

Love these obscure discussions. Who the hell is Richard Knights when he's at home? I would read the KEIOC website but they're probably fucked after Levison!

Ged in order to help you KEOIC State :'Richard Knights is a middle aged, quietly spoken, primary school teacher. Passionate about his family, Everton FC and education, Richard has been vociferously opposed to Everton’s free school and, as any campaigner has the inalienable right, he’s organised public meetings, he’s written letters to the press, lobbied politicians; in fact he's contacted everybody involved in the project at Everton and EiTC including Everton’s chairman, Bill Kenwright, who applauded Richard’s passion, advising him, in writing, to meet with the projects key people.'

If you want to know more just click on the link in the main body of the article.

Whilst he may not be well known, he is however an Evertonian, it may not seem as important as what happens on the football pitch it does reflect an aspect of the clubs administrators, sadly not a very good one. Remember any Season Ticket holder who breaks(?) the contract between the Club and the ST holder can be treated in a similar fashion.

Blues - read the article. Peoples Club, my arse.

Remember the Red Shite's communications guy Jen Chang persecuting one of theirs over a joke twitter account? Oh how we enjoyed that. Now we have this twát Tyrell seemingly doing the same – Ask Jen Chang how that panned out for him. Mr Tyrell.

Do not stand for this tyrannical shít, my fellow blues. Twitter it, email the Club, whatever, but don't just sit back and watch one of ours being bullied and threatened by these corporate shitbags and their police state henchmen.

Not that I'm angry or anything. It pushes my big red fucking Justice button – that's all.

Typical of this regime, I'm afraid. We've already had the 'free schools' debate on here, and a lively one it was too..

Disgraceful that the club feel the need to respond to a freely expressed opinion in this manner...

Shameful.

If you racially abuse a player or another supporter, if you use violence in or around the ground, or throw something at / attack a player or official, then banning is appropriate.

Protesting against a free school? Come off it.

What next? Getting banned for calling for an EGM because Kenwright & Co stopped having AGMs? Protesting at the lack of a finance strategy?

I had the same thought as Peter above at 022: The RS Comms Director got involved in something sticky like this and he is now out. There is still time for Paul Tyrell to backtrack before this case gets out of hand for him, too.

Also looking at the club rules & regulations I am unclear on what basis this bloke was banned in for first place.......

I don't know much about the case and due to the ongoing investigation, KEIOC have been advised not to comment on it... so basically any comments are based solely on a one-eyed view... nothing to see here until we have an actual story!

What do you require Chez? A smoking gun?

There's most definitely a story here, and one worthy of comment

Agree, Ciaran.It sounds really dodgy. Can TW organise a petition?

Love these obscure discussions. Who the hell is Richard Knights when he's at home?
Thank you Ged, I was wondering whether I was alone as it was written as though we should all know....some contaxt from the writer woulda been useful.

Ciarán, I don't want much.......just a clue about what is going on......seems we have the smoking gun, just no details of the crime or motive!

Sounds reasonable to me Chez.

What is the problem with the Free School? (from a position of relative ignorance)

Chez, the details have been published twice here on Toffeeweb and I'd suggest you look up those articles before commenting further. It looks to me that keioc have only been advised not to discuss the specific allegations not the case as a whole which as far as I can see is this - one of our own has had solicitors and the police set on him, his season ticket removed and banned from the ground. Whatever it is he’s alleged to have done KEIOC are saying he’s not the perpetrator but the victim.

You want to wait while Everton get their story straight whilst others more familiar with their work – the stadium is falling down, we’re getting £52m off Tesco, the money is ring fenced, we’re delaying the park end development due to problems relocating offices and computer systems during the season, we’re not entering into any further borrowing, Ian Ross is moving to a new position under a long standing agreement nothing to do with the recent leaks of emails, Ian’s not getting the sack, this was just before he disappeared off the face of the earth – know exactly what they’ll be doing. According to keioc Paul Tyrrell has clearly attempted to mislead the shareholders chairman and everybody reading twitter which I guess will be tens of thousands of people. Here’s what he said –

Paul Tyrrell ‏@TyrrellPaul

@John_B58 @razor_efc1 manner. The ultimate sanction is a banning order, revoking a season ticket and refunding the cost is another, as is

Paul Tyrrell ‏@TyrrellPaul

@John_B58 @razor_efc1 revoking a season ticket with no refund. As I say, nobody has received a banning order this season. Any action we

Paul Tyrrell ‏@TyrrellPaul

@John_B58 @razor_efc1 take is thought through and made with the priority I mentioned earlier.    

Keioc have released the letter sent by Tyrrell to Knights and it clearly says that he isn’t going to be allowed to have access to Goodison Park. Any truth telling competition between keioc and the club would be deemed a no contest, with most of the stuff I’ve just mentioned over Kirkby and the park end it was keioc who broke the truth to the fans whilst the club lied, some fans still can’t believe what keioc say, some fans clap Bill and believe he’s the club’s saviour, some people believe in leprechauns.

Beforehand with the lies that they told nobody was actually being hurt, moving to Kirkby was a pain and would have probably left the club like Coventry or Southampton, telling you the stand was going to fall down, that everyone involved in the park end development was deliriously happy over the slight postponement didn't hurt a soul, but setting solicitors and the police on you does hurt you, particularly if it means your livelihood is potentially threatened, it puts pressure on your health and on your relationships, I’ve seen it all before many times.

Sometimes Chez you need to stand up and be counted. If this was Liverpool their fans would be going mad at the treatment of one of their own, ours do what they always do, they leave it to others, they wait until they can have two sides of the story, but sometimes you just have to go with those with the track record of telling the truth and not listen to the ones who have told lies time and time and time again.

Paul you posted the article but haven't told us what its about, then spout Kirby and not to comment until I read other articles etc when asked what its about?

What are we supposed to be standing up for?

With some people you can hand them the toilet roll, explain how to use it and leave them to it, with others it’s simply beyond them and they expect you to do it for them……

Excellent post, Colin, really added some clarity.

THE FACTS

Attending two public consultations over the Everton Free School.

One visit to the stadium (30 seconds).

One phone call (30 seconds).

One visit to the Free School, spoke to the secretary (30 seconds.)

Visit by the police for 'harassing' the Principal of the Everton Free School – I met him once for 10 seconds.

Solicitors' letter threatening a court injunction with massive court costs.

Season ticket taken away the day before the derby game.

Thanks Richard. What was the context/content/reasons for your various contacts listed above?

Don't understand why this info isn't allowed to be published by KEIOC?

Chez, if you had read the KEIOC articles then you really wouldn't need to be asking the most basic of questions on this matter. To help you our, here's the link to their website;

www.KEIOC.net

Paul. you posted on ToffeeWeb... It shouldn't need to be a treasure hunt. You tell the story, we discuss, that's how it works...

Still trying to find out which of the ground regulations I've broken.

One allegation was getting thrown out of the Everton megastore on June 27th 2012, threatening staff, abusive...

Er, haven't been in there for twelve years or more...

Still waiting to get the CCTV footage from the club.

Chez, all due respect, I reckon you would have to have it tatooed on yourself before you fathomed it out.

Chez, your inability (read blatant refusal) to follow a link to a website to read an article makes me wonder whether you even take this matter seriously. My conversation with you is done.

Chez are you, by any chance, related to a certain Mr Mason?

Richard, I noticed that Trinity Mirror also found a way for you to be relinquished from your duties commenting on Everton in the jury column in the Liverpool Echo. The paranoia that pervades within the corridors of Goodison Road were perfectly illustrated by the Prince Rupert's Towers e-mails last summer. The way you have been treated reminds me of a regime akin to what the likes of Putin has presided over in Russia.

And if anyone from Everton is reading my comments they can also relieve me of my 3 season tickets if they feel like.

Chez.

I have to say, you are being a grade A nugget.

I don't agree with what I know of Richard's position re the Everton Free School, but believe he should be free to express his views & protest/campaign on the issue if he feels strongly enough to do so. Nothing he is likely to say or do would be as embarrassing to Everton Football Club as the behaviour of the Board & its appointed employees, again.

Not sure I totally understand all of this but sounds like pretty reprehensible action by the club. Would be interested to hear more from No 061 who I presume is the eponymous man.

Couldn't agree with you more Dennis, this isn't about Richard's views on Everton's Free School or the Free School programme in general; it's simply about the upholding of basic rights, which anybody with even a modicum of intelligence can see the bigger picture here.

I'd stake money on the fact that a few people at Everton are shaking their heads at the course of action that's been taken, as are no doubt Everton's usual lawyers who have taken no part in this disgraceful charade whatsoever; you wonder why!!!!

I never cease to be amazed at the stupidity of the people running our Club. Another PR gaffe.

I have noticed that Richard Knights as been commenting on the project, there was a letter to When Skies Are Grey for instance, but it's not a subject I know a lot about and I expect most other fans are the same.

So what I don't understand is why the club don't explain their position rather than attempting to muzzle an individual (which as this thread shows is nigh on impossible anyway in the digital age) and let us reach an opinion.

It all suggests another cover up, hidden motives, something to hide. Yet again.

Wankers.

I particularly like the phrase from Tyrell:

...."As you are no longer the holder of a season ticket and do not have a customer number, Everton will not communicate with you"......

For those of a certain age the retort from the TV show "The Prisoner" comes screaming off the page.

"I am not a number – I am a free man".

Whatever the rights and wrongs of Mr Knights's case, the enthusiasm of small-minded buffoons to roll out the jackbooted response is disgusting.

I long for the day when these pygmies are shown the door.

Paul 73, I read the links, they provide some information but not all.

It's not unreasonable to ask for more is it?

That seems to be one of Richard's 'crimes', Chez - asking for more information ...... mind how you go!

Chez, if you can't figure out for yourself what the issue is after reading the links I'll send my 8-year-old round to explain it to you.

Chez

This lady has more of a handle on what's going on than you:

http://twitter.com/chezibabe

Unless it is you in which case, errr... here's a piece of bog paper – see Colin Fitz for instructions.

It must be something to do with the name Everton: I just read this on a legal thread (It's not Everton FC, I hasten to add) but the legal speak is similar.

For further information on Everton Resources Inc. please visit www.evertonresources.com

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Everton's plans, objectives, strategies, expectations and intentions. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Everton, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Everton's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Everton's views as of the date of the release. While Everton anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, it specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward- looking information. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Everton or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.

Maybe our people could speak to their people and arrange a mutual sponsorship deal. (LOL)

Just to give a little context, Everton Resources is a mining company, traded in the USA and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Very specific rules exist in relation to so-called "forward-looking statements":

Seeking to reduce frivolous securities litigation, Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which created, among other things, a statutory safe harbor for certain forward-looking statements made by issuers subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the PSLRA, if a forward-looking statement is immaterial or accompanied by meaningful cautionary language identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement, or if a plaintiff cannot prove that the forward-looking statement was made with actual knowledge that the forward-looking statement was false or misleading, there is no liability for the forward-looking statement in a private action for securities fraud.

The judicially created “bespeaks caution” doctrine provides that cautionary language meeting certain standards can render forward-looking statements inactionable under federal securities antifraud laws if the forward-looking statements are later found to be incorrect. The bespeaks caution doctrine is a widely accepted defense to claims under the federal securities antifraud laws and provides issuers with parallel protection for forward-looking statements.

It's a bit like you predicting the results for Saturday, and adding a disclaimer to make sure no-one comes back and sues you for losing money when they place bets on your predictions and you get it wrong. I think, to get the requisite protection, every US company adds such language when talking about future performance.

But we're getting way off topic here. This business of revoking Richard's season ticket and making trumped-up charges sounds really poor... but no different fundamentally to the numerous documented cases where departing players have been demonized by the club, with the collusion of the local press. It's the shamelessly brazen conceit that they can not only do this but that they will get away with it that is so galling.

Chez Hutton, are you blind mate? Are you for real?

You have been told the story, you have been given the links to read what the club have sent, in letters, and you blatantly wont read them.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

'I may disagree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'

The question I kept asking, but never received a reply to - 'What is the salary of the Principal of the Everton Free School?'

This is taxpayers' money.

The motives of Evertons board and company are relatively clear to me - to make money by building the club from the ruins of the 1990's. For everything they do there will be detractors and people who disagree. The AGM should be there to provide a forum to discuss those issues but all concerned need to treat that meeting with respect.

The motives of KEIOC and/or its senior members seem to be to foster public opnion against this board and increasingly the company, though they claim to have the best interests of the club at heart - or at least their ideas of what is best for the club. Of course these opinions are free from any need to actually do anything really realistic as we are regularly told 'that is the job of the board'. It is easy to destroy!

This latest story comes after a period of time of quiet from KEIOC as the stadium is full every home game, the team is playing relatively well - there is no discontent to feed off so things are looking bleak. Lo! and Behold! we are given a sad story about a mild mannered fan unjustly treated by the board or the company - but it now emerges that he is a 'part time' journalist for the Mirror as well as a protestor so not just a school teacher then? As with many stories from KEIOC this has an element of 'anti-board spin' and consequently I agree with one or two comments wanting to know more about both sides of the story before condemning the club yet again.

Mr Knights - if you feel unjustly done to and the facts are so clear there is a legal redress process which is likely to get faster results than trying to get change of heart out of a private company via 'fan pressure' using a group of people who have managed to get themselves positioned as people the club will not communicate with for fear of being ridiculed in columns such as this.

Thomas, when the new accounts are published (overdue) I'm sure we will all be able to see how the board

'Has made money by building the club from the ruins of the 90's'

I'm sure the debt will have been reduced significantly, There will be a little set aside for Moyes to reinvest and we wont need to sell our best players.

Can't wait.

If Richard Knights, what ever and who ever he is; Is ' sticking it to the Man ' and that ' Man ' is the EFC Board, then he has my vote and their over reaction confrms he is doing a good job

Thomas, I think it's because KEIOC have exposed so many lies of the Board that the Club will not communicate with them, iIt's through no fault of KEIOC that the Board have lied and opened themselves up to ridicule.

Or would you prefer to continue to think that the Emperor has a magnificent suit of clothes?

And Thomas, how does sticking it to a fan asking questions fit in with your assumption of the motives of the Board?

After all if they had not shafted Richard Knights in this way we would have been forever ignorant of who the guy is and he'd not be a 'cause celebre' but just a forgotten little voice in the wilderness.

Richard thanks for the further insight, if that's all you have asked and you have done so in a decent manner you have my support.

For all the others on here who would rather bitch, moan, or talk down just because I wanted further info before jumping on the bandwagon, apologies for not being a Stepford Fan!

Three complaints against Merseyside Police now upheld by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

1) The use of the Football Intelligence Unit

2) Failure to investigate the Recordable Verbal Warning

3) Failures by the Professional Standards Department

How often have I met Mr Packer (Everton Free School Principal)? Once, for about ten seconds.This is the man I am meant to have 'harassed', even Kafka couldn't write this.

Thomas Lennon [126] being clearly unable to defend the people you admire so much over this outrage your response, to the events surrounding what is little more than the harassment of a fellow blue, is sadly all too predictable as you ignore his plight and attempt to move the focus to an organisation which you quite obviously hold in contempt; an organisation that most clearly understand have attempted to make a difference, whilst your contribution is nothing more than ignorant sniping from the relative safety of the keyboard.

First of all Richard Knights isn't a part time journalist, he was nothing more than an invited member of the Echo’s jury for which anybody can apply and most Echo readers will have enjoyed his pieces as they were well written, accurate and insightful.

Richard’s plight has already been the subject of a series of IPCC complaints which have been upheld and, as explained, his treatment is already in the hands of lawyers; your parting advice, like most of your observations, is therefore redundant.

You are clearly blind to the efforts of KEIOC, a fact that matters little to me as those efforts of have been embraced by the City Council, the Mayor and many organisations such as Liverpool Vision and the city’s Local Enterprise Partnership; the fact that Thomas Lennon does not support them means nothing whatsoever. Indeed, many of the concepts and principles of regeneration and redevelopment, as replacements for undeliverable, ill-conceived, commercial led developments, have been championed by KEIOC and others and can be seen in LFC’s plan to redevelop Anfield. Hardly the actions of an organisation wanting to destroy but clearly, if it suits your agenda, a statement you feel it necessary to make. Everton, or to be precise the current owners of Everton, cannot and will not entertain any such ideas of redevelopment and regeneration; they prefer to examine undeliverable, fantasy developments, or more recently nothing at all, as these require something that every member of this board can own up to, they require not a single penny of investment into the club. They require them to do nothing which is exactly what they've done over the past thirteen years. Of course they’ll tell you that it is impossible to redevelop Goodison but they also told you that they were getting £52m from Tesco when they weren't getting a single penny; what are the odds eh?

Whether KEIOC choose to reveal what they do or not is a matter for them and under the present circumstances their discretion would appear to be extremely advisable. Unlike yourself I'm obviously fully aware of matters KEIOC have been involved in and your ignorance is noted with a nothing more than a wry smile that will be shared by many others.

Thomas, your first paragraph tells me everything I need to know about you, I did not need to read the rest, although I did as I felt in need of a good laugh and you’ll be pleased to know you succeeded admirably.

In cases such as this Evertonians fall into two categories, those that believe the myth and those that understand the reality. Some believe the stories, the excuses and the lies, others are offended by being subjected to them and, to the great embarrassment of the gullible, aren't afraid to point it out.

Take the Bill Kenwright fantasy world for example; good old Bill, the lad many believe watched his beloved Everton after his mum collected a few jam jars to pay for him to get into the boys pen where the piss soaked into his socks because he had holes in his shoes; that would be Bill Kenwright from the ghettos of Wavertree and Mossley Hill, whose father owned a builders, who went to [the then] relatively prestigious Liverpool Institute would it? It’s laughable that all these pseudo working class heroes feel it necessary to bullshit about their past. Some swallow it; it tells me that, as they’re bullshitting about their past, they’ll do so about the present.

I, along with many others, are offended by being told lies as what the perpetrator of those lies is actually saying is, “you’re stupid, you’ll believe this” and of course some people are and do. Some people actually believe, confirmed by my recent reading of an article on GOT, that Bill put everything he had into saving the club when the truth is he hasn't put a penny into saving anything whatsoever.

Here’s what you say Thomas,

“The motives of Everton’s board and company are relatively clear to me - to make money by building the club from the ruins of the 1990's”

That would be the club they bought for £22m which had £20m of assets on the balance sheet and today has only £35m of liabilities would it? They’re doing some great building there aren’t they? A £55m negative shift in the value of the balance sheet, some building that is. Couple that fact to the other facts surrounding their inability to address the stadium issue and the relative appalling commercial performance which has seen us signing a three year deal with one of the world’s leading kit suppliers who are paying all and sundry millions a season to wear their brand whilst we get what? Nothing, that’s right, nothing. The current board aren’t building, they’ve taken a poorly performing one and made it truly appalling. It’s laughable that these happy clappers attempt to talk about performances on the pitch; I’m a fan of Moyes, under the circumstances I believe he’s performed miracles, but in the time he’s been here he’s won nothing and in that time the other lot have won eleven trophies, yes that’s right ELEVEN. Talk about anything on the pitch is nothing short of clutching at straws, sheer desperation from the “at least we haven’t been relegated” and “at least we haven’t gone bust like Portsmouth” people who can’t bring themselves to support a fellow matchgoing Evertonian who has been treated in a disgraceful manner by those that they hold in such high esteem; it must be so painful.

This isn't about your misconceptions of the board or any fan groups Thomas, try to keep your well exhibited hatred for the latter under control for once; this isn't about the free school or Richard’s views on the free school; this is about the treatment a fellow Evertonian has received which every fair minded blue should be appalled about.

Over at Liverpool the other month, after their director of communications threatened a fan it was all over the internet as outraged fans spoke from the heart and then it was in the press. That was over nothing more than a joke account on Twitter, it was nothing; this is ten times worse, that’s why it’s being investigated, that’s why the FSF, Liberty and the press are all concerned and that's why fans need to understand the facts so that when they’re asked they don’t come across as complete balloons and go on about Richard being a part time journalist and talk about the club doing a wonderful job.

Well said, Colin Fitzpatrick.

Richard Knights @141 Have they refused to answer under the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

Everton Free School are refusing to say how much their Principal earns, and will have to appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office.

This is taxpayers' money.

That's what I wondered Richard. Don't know much about your original argument bu,t from what I've read on here and KEIOC website, you've been harshly treated. I hope you can get both the answer you are looking for, and your season ticket back.

Mr Tyrrell repeats the allegation about 'harassing' staff.

One visit to the stadium (30 seconds).

One phone call (30 seconds).

So much for an 'open door policy', question the club and you are 'harassing' staff.

One of my other crimes was to try and contact the Supporters' Liaison Officer. This was classed as 'harassment'.

Does anyone even know we have an SLO?

The sad truth is that the management of Everton are no different from any other corporation, and will treat the little man no differently. Although we may think of them as custodians of all we hold dear, they ain't......

Shocking, but not surprising, behaviour from the charlatans running the club. I was totally against this idea from the start (it's stinks of one Mr P Green btw), a shithouse plot to undermine state education. Politics aside, you have been wronged Richard. Good luck with your fight pal. I'll be contacting the club myself, for what it's worth.

Richard, I’m sorry you have been put in this situation and on a personal level, I wish you good luck.

On the topic in hand, I think your argument is more political than football so I ask the question: Why do you choose to protest against EFC as opposed to central Government, who actually introduced free schools — not EitC?

In one thread, you comment about the salary of the principal... why? We live in a society at present that is obsessed with what people earn yet we turn a blind eye when a dentist or GP can earn £200k plus per year on taxpayers money. MPs earn £65k and get slated yet MEPs earns £86k and get away with very little grief at all?

What I’m trying to say is, if the principal does a good job with the free school and underachieving children are improved, then why is his/her salary up for public debate?

What the hell have Everton got involved with running a Free School for? What's in it for Bill and his cohorts?

Reading through the responses, I’m amazed that people still want to sit on the fence over this with the old "Let’s hear the club's side" being trotted out. There’s always two sides to a story and, with Everton, we all know what those two sides to the story are... Hang on, Bill, while I put my safety hat on, will you. Are you providing them for free or will they cost fifty million quid?

WAKE UP will you! We’ve been lied to time after time, the lies keep being printed and exposed on sites like ToffeeWeb and still you have people repeating the stories about how good the board have been and the people with the facts expose them as tall stories or downright lies which disappear only to surface again at a later date. This story has all the hallmarks: KEIOC say one thing, the club official denies it then KEIOC expose the lie and the liar, after which the official shuts up.

I’m realising why Everton are in the position we’re in after all these years of winning nothing: it's because the majority of our fans just do nothing. They’re embarrassing – they just don’t care about what goes on. They’re happy with making up the numbers and can’t even stand by one of our own.

Look, enough is enough – don’t just put up with this. At the next game don’t buy a programme, don’t buy a thing inside the ground; support the team, the players and the manager but let the board, Elstone and most of all that gobshite who has persecuted and harassed an Evertonian know that we won’t be buying anything whilst he’s at the club.

To hell with Tyrrell and Elstone too,
We'll throw you both in the Mersey
And we’ll fight, fight, fight
With all our might
Cos kopites really are gobshites.

Seriously, joking apart, we can't let one of our own get treated like this; don't buy a thing.

Alan, [419] I couldn’t agree with you more; if Everton, or to be exact EiTC, has demonstrated, to the authorities, that they can provide a better education to children who have been or are in danger of being excluded, most likely, as I understand it, due to behavioural problems, does it really matter who provides that education and who is in receipt of the governments funding if it means that the children in question manage to exceed the expectations of the feral, North Face clad, one hand down the front of their keks population who can barely utter their trademark, “is right laaaad”

Most Evertonians won’t be interested; in fact I know they’re not. I bet I’m one of the few who have taken the time to speak with Dr Barrett-Baxendale, on more than one occasion and at some length, to School principle Adrian Packer and to Richard Knights and, as I’ve explained to Richard, although I appreciate his concerns over a possible lowering of standards as a result of reduced remuneration attracting lesser qualified teachers providing less efficient teaching, I understand that these children require highly qualified teachers and that claims that there are no provision for these children are perhaps slightly erroneous, as can be seen here only last week in the Echo — Richard’s argument being that money for this establishment will be reduced; my own position remains that Everton, through sport, could offer an alternative route and who am I to deny that which other Premier and Football League clubs are pursuing.

Not that I do not have reservations of course; I cannot understand the possible synergies between what the club has to offer and naughty kids; I would much prefer Everton provided education in sports science and business courses to people who will excel and make a career in these fields as I don’t want these kids to damage the image of Everton because I know these kids as they went to my school, they went to your school, they go to every school today and they’ll go to every school tomorrow and my own opinion is they need a good kick up the arse to be honest, but I know nothing about education and it’s only my opinion against acknowledged experts in a difficult field, so I hope they’ve got it right.

What’s happened to Richard, and I’ve seen what’s been alleged in full, believe me, it’s horrendous, has nothing to do with EitC’s involvement in the free school programme, this is about having the right to protest removed and it’s about acting like amateurs when we need professionals that don’t just pay lip service to subjects such as inclusion and don’t employ underhand tactics that mislead the police and other employees of Everton.

These serious allegations, which have seen Richard accused of harassing the free school principle along with other employees of the club that includes the bizarre allegation that he did so in the club shop which led to him being escorted off the premises by a security guard who provided a written statement; allegations that have caused Richard to be issued with a police warning, have his season ticket revoked, be banned from entering Goodison Park and warned not to speak to any employee of Everton, EitC, or the free school; if these allegations which led to these measures fail to be backed-up with irrefutable evidence, CCTV footage for example, then those responsible, those condoning through action or through silence, have no place at Goodison Park; on the other hand, if he’s guilty, let the bans stay in force indefinitely.

In the meantime, cracker suggestion Barry, I’m sure all those sponsors and suppliers who are signatories to ethical programmes will be delirious when they discover what people at Everton have done to Richard.

Hi Colin, hope you’re well? Your first paragraph did make me smile as we see them every game; at away matches they all seem to come off the Happy Al’s coaches!

If I’m honest, I was a terrible teenager myself but the difference was I loved school, I had some really brilliant teachers especially in sixth form who got me to grow up very quickly and realise life does exists outside L4. I owe them a lot and teachers play a massive part in our lives but we don’t realise it until we get older! I have become my Dad!!

I’m surprised at this story as it doesn’t make any sense from EFC, it is a total over reaction, and I’m surprised because if somebody wanted to have a chat with Denise she is more than capable of standing her own as she has bags of experience in this area.

I’m good Alan thanks, marvellous in fact!

Yeah, good old Happy Al's, but they're not all like that tbf.

Like you also I’m surprised at how poorly Richard’s protest has been handled; I have to say most of the people I’ve met at Everton are more than capable of handling a little dissent.

The sledgehammer for a walnut subterfuge has been handled in a very amateur fashion. A very old trick, which hasn’t been well executed, now has the potential of becoming a real David and Goliath saga which will blow up in the faces of those who devised it as they attempt to cover their tracks. You’d have thought, at the very least, that the main players would be singing from the same hymn sheet but alas they can’t even get that right.

These charades work when you have decent material like the owner of the Epstein Hotel, who Liverpool FC successfully obtained an injunction against the other year; but a middle-aged quietly spoken primary school teacher who’s been accused of harassing somebody whose job will be tackling some of the worst behaved kids in the city? You’re having a giraffe.

I thought after the departure of Ian Ross we’d have seen a little more professionalism tbh, but there you go.

What a pity the club couldn’t act in a mature and reasonable way like Alan and Colin. I seem to remember them having some almighty arguments and debates down the years but still manage to treat each other civilly and with respect.

I also remember something about Liverpool getting a restraining order against Paddy Duggan of Epstein House, must have got that when Tyrrell was there thinking about it, think some of the spirit of shankley were harassed and Paddy got done for butting a bird or something, obviously a bit of a lunatic and maybe where the plan to make a quiet school teacher look equally off his head came from????  

Whatever the case Everton aren’t covering themselves with glory here at all.

Here's yet another example of the People's Club mistreating its fans !!

John I've just read that article and it does seem the club is once again using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Now obviously - especially with the youth players being the real future of the club - Everton will be sensitive to any reporting by any person no matter how innocent or partisan that reporting may be.

I can fuly understand this viewpoint as Everton is after all a business like any other and they want to protect their financial interests. What I don't and can't understand is the methodology they have employed to eradicate the problem. What possible gain can there be in alienating a life-long supporter, he deserves a reward not a metophorical kick in the teeth.

Perhaps there is insufficient funds to send the staff on public relation management courses....sometimes Everton FC you are you're own worst enemy.

Perhaps the club administration have a cunning plan to alienate enough life-long Evertonians that no restricted view seats need to be sold & the lower attendances will clearly indicate the lack of any need for stadium redevelopment or relocation — it may look like a plan to lose money, but really it's a plan to save money!

Dennis, coming up with an explanation like that, you're wasted on ToffeeWeb! David Cameron would offer you a job as a spin doctor and pay you millions in a heartbeat!

Patrick makes an excellent point about the methodology, the approach taken appears to lack a certain degree of professionalism. I'm not familiar with the details of the guy being banned from Finch Farm so I'm not going to comment, but I am familiar with Richard's plight having spent several hours with him and Merseyside Police as a result of his three complaints to the IPCC being upheld.

I have to tell you these allegations, the season ticket removal and being banned from Goodison, particularly the nature of the allegations are deeply effecting Richard and his family. These allegations, which it now turns out are completely unsupported by any evidence, are disgraceful and whilst the treatment which Richard has received should both disgust and worry not just all Evertonians but all football fans in general, it's refreshing that he's receiving professional support along with the support of so many Evertonians even before the issue becomes widely known as inevitably it now will.

In my opinion, and hopefully that of many others, the making of malicious and vexatious allegations is nothing more than a form of bullying and no decent person should stand by and allow such an activity to be inflicted on anyone; along with racism and cruelty to any living being they should be excluded along with the shithouses that practice these nauseating practices.

Thanks Colin, but I don't think I went to the right Public School!

With these two examples becoming public knowledge, it gives the impression of an organisation at odds with it's own supporters & makes you wonder what other instances of supporter maltreatment are yet to come to light. Is our club run by people who only have contempt for the very supporters that the club is dependent upon?

Whatever the truth maybe, it seems the club may soon find it's turned the phrase "The People's Club" into a stick for the media to beat it with.