![[Season Diary]](/images/news/season_diary.gif)
Full Season 2002-03
Full Season 2002-03
If it happened and it was Everton-related, it's right here in the
comprehensive Season Diary.
Items are in reverse chronological order (more recent first).
Navigate to previous months and seasons using the links directly below:
| Season 2002-03 — All the news and snippets |
| June 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| May 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| April 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| March 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| February 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| January 2003 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| December 2002 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| November 2002 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| October 2002 |
Due to an unfortunate but catastrophic database
error, the news data for October was lost. We will be working to restore most of
the stories over the coming weeks. Thanks for you patience.
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| September 2002 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| August 2002 |
|
News Headlines & Features
|
Snippets & Rumours
|
| July 2002 |
|
News Headlines & Features Premium Testimonial Tickets 31 Jul - Here is your opportunity to support David Unsworth's Testimonial in style — and do your bit for BlueBlood, The Everton Former Players' Foundation. Premium tickets are now on sale for the Alex Young and Vice Presidents Lounges at Goodison Park on 10th August. Or get a group together and take an Executive Box! Naysmith out to impress 29 Jul - Gary Naysmith — one of the few Everton players David Moyes inherited who actually comes close to fitting the Moyes mould — talks to Andy Hunter of the Daily Post about his prospects following a long injury layoff. In Moyes's words: "Gary has got great determination. He wants to play and he wants to train. He is desperate to be involved and, when you have got that, anything is possible." Naysmith sets the pace 27 Jul - Gary Naysmith scored the opening goal at East End Park as David Moyes gives some of Everton's defenders an opportunity to show their mettle against Scottish Premier League side, Dunfermline. A slew of second-half subs finally upped the tempo, with Gravesen and Campbell getting on the scoresheet. The Golden Child appeared on 70 mins but failed to score the expected hat-trick. Soundbite Bill and the Sunshine Kid 26 Jul - The infectious passion that Bill Kenwright has for the game and Everton FC in particular often makes him Everton's best spokesman and one of its best advertisements. However, at a time when Evertonians — mindful of a succession of false dawns — are approaching the imminent birth of the star that is Wayne Rooney with nervous anticipation, Bill goes and proclaims the 16 year-old wunderkind as "the greatest thing around in football". One step at a time, eh, Bill! Another gem from David Moyes 26 Jul - "I want to get that Saturday feeling into the club. That is, when you can take your family out for a meal on a Saturday night on a high because you've had a great victory, or you are absolutely shattered because you've done everything you can but you' ve failed." Well, maybe that's actually more Kenwright than Moyes, as the Vice-Chairman tells Andy Hunter about the machinations involved in securing Richard Wright's signature. Casting the Roons 25 Jul - It is natural to for us to want to read everything that is written about Wayne Rooney, who now carries Evertonians' desperate hopes for the season and the future. In truth, very little of it is really worth reading. One exception is this piece by Mickey Blue Eyes at the BlueKipper website, who gets in his usual philosopher quotes, digs at the whingers, and merciless swipes at the journo-hacks, but gives an exceptionally balanced assessment of Rooney the football player, and what that really means to Everton FC. Wright agrees Goodison move 24 Jul - Richard Wright has resolved his personal issues and rebuffed a final overture from Arsene Wenger, deciding that a furture at Goodison Park and almost guaranteed first-team football will be better for his England career, despite a reported £5k/week pay cut. However, he will not actually sign until Thursday morning. An audience with Rhino 23 Jul - In a special gathering set up by Everton as part of his testimonial preparations, David Unsworth met with invited fanzines and websites last Friday to share his views on the Club, David Moyes, the promise of Everton Youth, and the definitive answer to the intriguing Lion/Tiger conundrum — a question that is now challenging some of the greatest minds in football. This report is from Neal Clague of The People's Forum. Moyes to sign Brazilian ace 22 Jul - Everton's galaxy of international stars will be augmented today with talented attacking midfielder, Juliano Rodrigo after a successful trial spell with the Blues. In what is fast becoming the most positive close season in recent memory, "Juli" will be signed initially on a 12-month contract for £1.25M with the option to make a complete transfer for £3M from struggling Brazilian outfit, Botafogo. It represents another canny loan-cum-move by the breath of fresh air that is David Moyes. Wright deal may just happen 21 Jul - After his agent and the media laughed off the suggestion that Everton could land Richard Wright so soon after Arsenal purchased him for £6m last summer as the long-term replacement for David Seaman, the Official Site reports that negotiations to bring the England U-21 shot-stopper to Goodison Park are at an "advanced stage". A fee of £5m is mooted, although possible outstanding money owed from the Francis Jeffers transfer may smooth the way for the closure of the deal. Friendly Banter 20 Jul - Everton's first pre-season game on British soil was a fairly casual affair that allowed David Moyes to take a further look at his three trialists, including Juliano Rodrigo. After a slow start in rather wet conditions, the goals came from a Radzinski header and two nice chips from Kevin Campbell — both set up by Mark Pembridge. An off-field highlight proved to be the excellent interactive dialog between the local audio commentators and scores of Evertonians via e.mail, The People's Forum and other Everton fan webboards. Culture Vultures 19 Jul - New pictures of Kings Dock are featured prominently in tonight's Liverpool Echo but not on their website, where all we could find is this story. Stunning images of Arena and Concert layouts (and Bill Kenwright!) are now up at the Official Website. Yes, folks: it's Kejian 17 Jul - Everton finally made the official announcement of their £2M sponsorship deal with Chinese electronics company, Kejian, who are a major manufacturer of mobile phones in Asia. The contract provides shirt sponsorship for two years, with the arrival of Chinese World Cup defender, Li Wei Feng, as part of the package, initially on a 12-month loan. Poom finally speaks out 16 Jul - As the deadlock continues in the negotiations between Everton and Derby County over the valuation of Mart Poom, the Estonian has finally spoken out against the newly-relegated side's intransigence. Derby are insisting on £7M for the 30 year-old, and he appears mildly upset that those excessive demands are preventing him from returning to the Premiership, although he says he'll stay if no fee is agreed. Meanwhile, according to the Official Site, David Moyes could move for Turkey's star 'keeper, Rushtu Reçber, for £5m — which is either the manager's next move or another decoy to tempt Derby into compromise. Everton move for Koumas? 16 Jul - Despite reports in the media that Everton are on the verge of signing Jason Koumas from Tranmere Rovers for £2.7M, Everton have apparently denied having made an official bid — although it is no secret that David Moyes is interested in the Welshman Strong rumours at the end of last season suggested that the midfielder was certain to arrive at Goodison Park at the beginning of the summer but when David Moyes' interest appeared to wane, Koumas looked bound for newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion. Reports yesterday suggested that Tranmere and Everton were poles apart on the player's value, which may point to the Blues having made a preliminary enquiry. Players on sale and leaseback 14 Jul - An article in the Sunday Telegraph explains another way in which cash-strapped clubs such as Everton are using creative financing methods to spread or defer transfer costs. In this scheme, certain players are effectively mortgaged to the bank, which owns their registration, charging a leaseback fee as well as interest on the loan, and an insurance policy against default! Of course, it's all a bit sensitive (why?), and Everton (in keeping with the new policy of openness) refused to comment... A case of "If it ain't broke..." ? 13 Jul - A band of the Premiership's currently successful sides, led by Arsenal chairman David Dein, are campaigning for a thee-week winter break in the Premiership schedule citing player fatigue as proof that the elite clubs play too many games. Other clubs from the lower echelons of the league — who aren't entrenched in the distraction of Euopean football — argue otherwise saying it will short-change the fans. What do you think? Have your say... Everton close to temporary Tie deal 12 Jul - Speculation has been building all week that Everton are on the verge of signing Chinese international, Li Tie as part of the club's new sponsorship deal with Kejian. Originally rumoured to be making a £2.5M, it now looks as though Everton could "borrow" the midfielder for a season for £200k according to the general manager of Liaoning Bodao, Cheng Penghui. "From negotiations conducted so far," SkySports quote, "Everton have expressed enough sincerity to show that they are keen to take Li to England." It's the same old story… 12 Jul - New manager, new season, new mood of optimism… and the same old recurring injury to Duncan Ferguson, who was forced to sit out the first training session in Kapfenburg, Austria. Does this perhaps have something to do with Dunc having an MRI scan at Leighton Hospital, Crewe, last week (so we are told)??? Moyes makes Wright enquiry 9 Jul - As Derby County continue to play hard ball over their valuation of Mart Poom — it is believed that the board at Pride Park want £4m for the Estonian —, David Moyes has turned his attention to rising English goalkeeper, Richard Wright. Moyes has confirmed that he has contacted Arsenal about the former Ipswich Town player who has failed so far to break into the first team at Highbury. Yobo transfer goes ahead 9 Jul - Everton manager David Moyes has finally achieved his first success in the transfer market, landing Nigerian World Cup star, Joseph Yobo from Marseille for an initial fee of £1M for 12 months, with first option for a further four years and £4M. But the saga is not over yet, as Everton must wait on the results of an application for a work permit... Los Ruleteros 6 Jul - It’s the weekend and there is no footie. What better than a yarn of massive proportions from the wandering mind of Ian MacDonald, who recently attended John Shearon's inaugurial meeting of the Ruleteros Society — an attempt to forge greater links with CD Everton in Viña del Mar, Chile. John Shearon, the driving force behind the Society, also recounts the main points from the evening. New Kit revealed 5 Jul - The official Everton website carries the first pictures of the new Everton kit, designed by Puma — and rather nice it is, too! Unfortunately, it will not be released officially until 30 August, when it will no doubt be emblazoned with the name of some undeserving sponsor... What a pity these shirts couldn't remain blank for this unique season. Everton would surely gain more profit from the massively increased sales that would result! The Blue Yonder 4 Jul - As we ramp up for the new season — a very special one — our regular match previewer, Lee Doyle, runs the rule over Bill Kenwright and examines some key achievements in the financial arena as well acknowledging the important progress being made on other fronts to advance the good name of Everton Football Club. Everton reject Breen wage demands 3 Jul - David Moyes has still yet to make his first signing as Everton manager after Republic of Ireland defender Gary Breen decided against signing for Everton on a free transfer from Coventry City. Everton appeared confident of landing Breen, who had a successful World Cup campaign with Ireland in Korea, after talks last week but the deal died when Everton declined to meet Breen's wage demand in excess of £20k/week. Vive La Revolution 3 Jul - While the post-Korea Japan transfer merry-go-round swings into action, cash-strapped David Moyes is quietly turning the wheels of change at Everton and revolutionising the club's whole approach to the game. His latest piece of innovative thinking — sending the players to Lyon for individual fitness assessment — is yet more evidence of fresh ideas and a commitment to fitness as a means of progress in the absence of a big transfer kitty. Moyes wants positive football 2 Jul - The League Managers website features a new interview with David Moyes, where he talks about the way he wants Everton to play: "I think I'd like the team to be thought of as a positive footballing side, who try to play football in the right way, and that would be something for me that would be very important." Yes, David. Weir ready to commit to Everton 1 Jul - David Weir is reportedly ready to end the speculation surrounding his future by putting pen to paper on a new contract at Goodison Park this week. According to the Official Site, the Scottish international will commit himself to a further two seasons with the Blues, tying him to Everton until the age of 35. If true, it will break the recent trend that has seen a succession of Players of the Season exiting swiftly in the close season. Hands off our Tommy! 1 Jul - Although relatively ineffective for Everton, Thomas Gravesen had a very impressive World Cup campaign with Denmark, and David Moyes rightly reacts with indignation at the thought that he could be snapped up Aston Villa for a paltry £5M. This would send out completely the wrong message about Everton's ambitions, and it would continue a trend we were told was finally over: selling off our best players. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Snippets & Rumours Chester City 0 - 1 Everton XI 31 Jul - Everton fielded a reserve side at Chester with Steve Watson and Gary Naysmith the most significant members of a youthful squad. Kevin McLeod was involved in everything, including the corner that provided the first-half goal for Peter Clarke. Report from Steve Milne Yobo injury may be worse 31 Jul - There are fears that the injury Joseph Yobo suffered on his first outing with Everton may be serious after all. Yobo is still in a lot of pain and the possibility of a hairline fracture of the fibula is now being reassessed by a second medical opinion, jeopardizing the start to his Everton career in the Premiership. Jesper to sign for Boro 30 Jul - Jesper Blomqvist, who was released by Everton in May, is expected to sign for Middlesbrough on a one-year deal. The lack of interest in him must be seen as vindication of Moyes's tough decision to dispense with his services as the Everton Manager continues to rebuild on the Youth theme... Hibs 2 - 2 Everton 29 Jul - Everton finished up their pre-season tour of Scotland with their hardest test against Hibernian. Wayne Rooney opening the scoring after half an hour but was booked for a tackle on Mick McManus, the scorer of Hibs' first goal, in the second half and withdrawn. O' Connor gave the Scots the lead but David Unsworth fired the equaliser on 86 mins from the spot. Another specialist for Ferguson 29 Jul - Duncan Ferguson will see yet another specialist to diagnose the back problems that have blighted his pre-season campaign. Reserves in action 27 Jul - While the seniors were playing in Scotland, Everton Reserves traveled to Chorley where Peter Clarke saved the game with a last-minute penalty to level the scores at 2-2. Omar Daley featured once again. The budget is spent 26 Jul - Bill Kenwright has stated that both the transfers budget and the wages budget are now maxed out at Everton, and that there would need to be some movement of existing players before David Moyes could bring in any more new transfers. Does this mean there is no immediate Everton future for trialists Omar Daley and Ibrahim Said? The Hype turns to Wrighty 25 Jul - Richard Wright is a good young and talented goalkeeper who also makes the odd howler. But the Everton hype-machine already have him down as the next England keeper... Hands up if you remember what was said about (a) Paul Gerrard and (b) Steve Simonsen when they were signed for Everton? Please, can't we tone this stuff down a little? The Moyes Philosophy of Youth 24 Jul - “We’re trying to push the young lads through and we’re going to try to be a club at which, if you do well and you’re a young player, then we’ll try and put you in the team.” Hmmm… just try not to think of Walter Smith! Yobo injury scare downplayed 24 Jul - After concern that Joseph Yobo may have fractured his fibula during the Queens Park game, Everton report that there is no sign of a break — just some damage to soft tissue that caused a lot of swelling. Rangers freeze Ball payments 24 Jul - Rangers are sitting on around £3.5M they owe Everton to complete payment for the transfer of Michael Ball last year, as the player struggles with a knee injury he has since going to Ibrox. Ball will miss the first two months of the new season as he makes yet another trip to US knee doctor. First Stop: Hampden Park 23 Jul - The Everton squad David Moyes took up to Scotland strangely didn't included Jamaican trialist Omar Daley who instead played and scored for the reserves against Burscough. At Hampden, meanwhile, Wayne Rooney started and banged in another hat-trick as the Blues beat Queens Park 6-0. Duncan Ferguson Kevin McLeod and Idan Tal (pen) scored the other three. Report from Steve Milne. Moyes to trial Saeed 23 Jul - Planet Football report that Everton will give Egyptian bad boy Ibrahim Saeed a three-day trial, although the fact that their report suggests he'll play in the pre-season friendly against Celtic tonight (we actually play Queens Park) may raise some doubts over the accuracy of the story. New Dawn may not be false… 22 Jul - This piece by Nick Said (Saeed?) over on the Football365 website accurately sums up the rampant optimism that is taking hold of Everton fans in a new way now that David Moyes is the man calling the shots and pulling the strings as he prepares a much more promising Everton squad for the Premiership onslaught. Pre-Season Stats 22 Jul - Pre-season quiz: (1) Which three players are the only ones to start all games so far? (2) Who has scored more goals: Rooney or Radzinski? Keep track of the appearances and goals tally with our unique stats page, updated after every pre-season game... Wright announcement tomorrow 22 Jul - Everton are confident that they will be able to unveil Richard Wright as the answer to David Moyes' goalkeeper search within 24 hours. Negotiations with the player and his agent are in the final stages according to the Official Site. Poom deal finally dead 21 Jul - It seems that Everton are finally admitting defeat in the battle to try to get Derby County to accept a reasonable price of around £4.5M for Mart Poom. But wouldn't it be sad (for Derby) if the banks now stepped in to the fray??? Amo in the Emarat 20 Jul - Apparently, David Unsworth's testimonial committee can't trace Amo for a reunion of the 1995 Cup-Winners team. News from earlier in the week has Daniel Amokachi signing up for a Second Division club in the United Arab Emirates. Has everybody now heard of him? 19 Jul - The endless hype about Wayne Rooney looks set to continue with Phil McNulty jumping on the bandwagon at the BBC website. Wouldn't it be better if they could just keep shut until he actually produces the goods in the Premiership? Rodrigo still a possibility 18 Jul - David Moyes is still hoping to get a decent look at Brazilian striker Juliano Rodrigo in at least a mildly cempetitive setting — Saturday's friendly at Shrewsbury Town's Gay Meadow. Duncan Ferguson is expected to play as Everton continue to persue Egyptian Ibrahim Said. Reserves at Bamber Bridge 18 Jul - Everton Reserves played their first friendly of the pre-season warm-up against Lancashire team Bamber Bridge. Goals came for Jamaican trialist Omar Daley, and Rooney's mate, Michael Symes in a 2-1 win that featured two other trialists. Read Steve Milne's match report. Valentine to Darlington 18 Jul - Darlington have secured the transfer of Everton Reserves player, Ryan Valentine. Never close to a first-team debut for The Blues despite 15 games last season in the reserves, Valentine will now ply his trade in Division Three. Everton bid for Said 18 Jul - … or so says Adly El Kaiey of Egyptian club Al Ahly, who claims to the BBC that Everton have lodged a bid £2M for the Egyptian defender Ibrahim Said. Contract extension for Chadwick 18 Jul - Nick Chadwick has agreed a one-year extension to his contract with improved terms that will run through to 2005. Keeper search goes on 17 Jul - With the yawn-inducing Mart Poom soap opera reaching an unsatisfactory conclusion and Rustu's price tag approaching that which Derby slapped on Poom, David Moyes has apparently dispatched Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden to size up Slovakia's Kamil Contofalsky. Marketing failure dismissed 17 Jul - Everton have finally responded to grievances from the fanbase and decided that their new Marketing star of last year is a dismal disaster. Andy Oldknow has been sacked, probably for his abject failure in every area of marketing: timing of release of products, range of products available, customer satisfaction, customer service... Balance to the Rooney hype 17 Jul - At the Football365 website, Sarah Winterburn provides a sobering — if a little biased against the club — reminder of the failed promises that have been the general result for overhyped youth talent emanating from Goodison Park over the last 10 years. Recognition from the FA 16 Jul - The FA website contains an article giving some recognition to Everton's achievement of becoming the first club to play in 100 seasons of top-flight football Hang 10 in Austria 16 Jul - SC Weiz 2-10 Everton Wayne Rooney and Kevin McLeod both hit hat-tricks, Tomasz Radzinski bagged a brace and both Leon Osman and Jamaican triallist Omar Daley made the scoresheet as Everton romped through their second friendly in Austria. Anderlecht tickets sorted 16 Jul - Club officials, who are often much maligned by the fans when it comes to ticketing arrangements, deserve praise for stepping in to the Anderlecht mess and sorting out a ticket allocation of 1,000 for visiting Evertonians next month. Magnanimous gesture from Talinn 15 Jul - In a move that should make Derby blush, Mart Poom's old club, Flora Talinn have offered to slash their cut of their former 'keeper's sell-on fee by 60% if it will help keep the Estonian international playing in the Premiership. All go for Joe Yobo 15 Jul - The signing of Nigerian ace, Joseph Yobo is official after the Department of Employment granted the 21 year-old a work permit to play for Everton until 2007. Rooney on the mark in Austria 15 Jul - Everton's pre-season programme is underway and Wayne Rooney is already on the mark, scoring the third of the Blues' three goals against Austrian side SC Bruck am der Mur as they ran out 3-1 winners. Sean O'Hanlon and Tomasz Radzinski notched the first two. Radzinski looking forward 15 Jul - Tomasz Radzinski tells Sky Sports of his hopes for the coming season, a campaign he says can't be worse than the double-whammy of his succession of injuries and the Blues' battle against the drop last term. Li Tie deal set 15 Jul - The one-year loan of Li Tie to Everton as part of the yet-to-be-announced sponsorship by Chinese electronics giant, Kejian, is set to go ahead, according to PlanetFootball.com. Everton have called a press conference for Wednesday when it is expected they will officially announce the new sponsors. Memorabilia Man 14 Jul - Gordon Lock has a rather nice job as Everton’s Memorabilia Officer(!), employed for the last two years on the thankless task of wading through and cataloging over 1,500 diverse items of Everton memorabilia at Goodison Park, in readiness for the move to the Kings Waterfront. Gregory is a cheeky bugger 13 Jul - John Gregory, the Derby manager who engineered their relegation from the Premiership and plunged the club into the financial wasteland, claims that Mart Poom is worth £7M (for a 30-year-old!) and claiming that Everton are trying to steal his players. Stand firm, Mr Moyes! Danny gets his collar felt 12 Jul - The long arm of the law proved too smart for ex-Blue Danny Cadamarteri who is now required to do 180 hours of community service after stupidly lying to the police and being found guilty of trying to pervert the course of justice in his case against lap-dancer Joeline Joel. Hughes calls it quits 11 Jul - Mark Hughes, who spent 10 frustratingly ineffective months at Goodison, has decided to hang up his boots in order to concentrate on the Wales management role full time. Take it or leave it 11 Jul - The Official Site reports that Everton will make one final offer to Derby County for Mart Poom today before ending their interest in the Estonian altogether if the new bid of "just shy" of £4m is rejected. More definitive links 10 Jul - As Everton's involvement in the transfer market starts to heat up, David Moyes may also be persuaded to take Li Tie from China as part of their much-leaked sponsorship deal with Kejian. And Brazilian forward Juliano Rodrigo has arrived from Botafogo on trial. Myhre goes to Sunderland 10 Jul - Everton's old and once much-loved Number One, Thomas Myhre, has joined Sunderland on a free transfer after a very poor showing in Turkey with Beshiktas. Naysmith back in training 10 Jul - Gary Naysmith has been suffering from an ankle injury since the FA Cup tie with Crewe back in February, and thought he would miss the early weeks of the new season as he struggled to recover. But things have gone better than expected and the young Scot is back in full trianing with the rest of the squad. Derby stubborn over Poom 9 Jul - Everton's attempts to sign Mart Poom and Brian McBride continue to be frustrated. Relegated Derby County insist that Poom is worth £4M while David Moyes upped his offer to £3.5M over the weekend. Meanwhile, the MLS are refusing to allow McBride to talk to Everton, despite the 30 year-old's long service to the American league. Cold shoulder from Anderlecht 9 Jul - Officials from Anderlecht, whom Everton play in the build up to the new season, say they have no plans to offer tickets to Everton's traveling fans. Does "friendly" fixture not translate into Flemish? Top-Flight High Fliers 9 Jul - This season, Everton celebrate becoming the first team to achieve a milestone in the English game: 100 seasons of top-flight football. To acknowledge this achievement, our statman has knocked up a version of the All-Time Table made famous by Everton fan, John Burns, featuring just the current Premiership teams. Still no firm transfer news 8 Jul - Joseph Yobo, Martin Poom, and Brian McBride are all still in the frame but completion of their transfers to Everton is by no means certain as the sagas surrounding each one continued through the weekend. But there should be some decisions early this week, we are told... New 'keeper link 7 Jul - With no apparent progress on the haggling over Mart Poom (although the Daily Post suggest Everton will up their bid this weekend), the Sunday People claims that David Moyes will switch his attentions to Slovak goalie Kamil Contofalsky, who seems to have a bit of an off-field reputation... Everton confirm Yobo interest 5 Jul - David Moyes has confirmed on the Official Site that he is keen on signing Nigerian utility man, Jospeh Yobo. The 21 year-old has stalled on a move to Juventus yesterday and Everton "hope that over the next couple of days we can move a little closer towards signing him." Supporters Club shelved 5 Jul - In another bizarre move, Everton have decided to postpone the new 'adult' supporters club (and forego the much-needed income stream), apparently because there are far too many other things going on and they clearly can't cope! New sponsors: Kejian 5 Jul - The name of a massive Chinese electronics company no one has heard of, Kejian, will adorn the Royal Blue Shirts of Everton FC for the next two seasons, with the princely sum of £1M entering the Goodison coffers. The worst-kept secret in football will be officially announced next week. Bakayoko Bung Bluster? 4 Jul - News services are keen to embroil Everton in the misdemeanours of former Marseille coach Rolland Courbis, who has been banned from football and charged with receiving illegal payments in connection with player transfers that may include that of Ibrahima Bakayoko from Everton back in 1999. Weir happy to conclude new deal 4 Jul - Confirmation that Davie Weir has signed a new deal, extending his Everton contract until 2005. Arlene McCarthy talking rubbish 3 Jul - The Everton for Kings Dock campaign has issued a stinging rebuttal of MEP Arlene McCarthy's recent comments on the Kings Waterfront project, and the continuing Labour campaign of misinformation over European Objective One Funding in the Northwest. Breen decision expected by the weekend 3 Jul - Everton expect to find out whether their bid to bring Coventry's Republic of Ireland defender, Gary Breen, to Goodison Park has been successful within the next 48 hours. Newcastle, Charlton and West Ham have also shown interest. Blomqvist disappointed to leave 3 Jul - Jesper Blomqvist has spoken of his bitter disappointment at being released by Everton this summer. The pacey winger was told he was surplus to requirements because of Everton's high quota of left-footed players. Too Many Games? 2 Jul - Our itinerant columnist, Colm Kavanagh has been rather quiet while watching the World Cup. Well, you knew the silence wouldn't last... Reggae Boy Omar Daley 2 Jul - A new face at Bellefield is Omar Daley, a young central midfield prospect who is on trial from Hazard United FC in Jamaica. New Club Secretary 2 Jul - Everton have announced the appointment of David Harrison as the new Club Secretary, a post that was held previously by Michael Dunford. Fixture change to anniversary 1 Jul - Everton's match at Aston Villa has been put back to 22 September for screening on pay-per-view, creating a special anniversary in Everton's 100th top-flight season. 114 years to the day after their first meeting in 1888 — Everton's first away game in the Football League. World Cup A to Z 1 Jul - In The Independent, Brian Viner provides his definitive A to Z of the World Cup, and gets in his usual plug for Everton! |