Colm Kavanagh considers a novel money-raiser
Money's Too Tight To Mention!
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Heading down the final stretch, limping towards that finish line which cannot come soon enough, I wonder exactly what title the marketing department will place on the end of season Everton DVD? It most certainly won't be The Magnificent Fourteenth (or whatever) this season. No Sir!
We've been poor this term — under-achieving about as much as we over-achieved last season. I do not want to jump the gun, as we are not yet mathematically safe, but when the final chapter of this sorry season is written we will all look back at one or two moments where points were earned, to (literally) keep us in the Premiership. It now looks likely that we'll "enjoy" another successful escape and watch three other clubs sliding out of the Premiership and into financial uncertainty that grips relegated clubs.
Be very thankful for the presence and influence of one homegrown kid, now 18 years of age. I shudder to think what might have become of this season if he was plying his trade in another shirt — if the Board had opted to "cash in the chips".
Last season, Blackburn Rovers pipped us at the post for a UEFA Cup spot — who was their most influential player? None other than Damien Duff, the jewel in their particular crown. This season, they cashed in the chips, for a staggering £17 million! Can they honestly say it's proven to be good business — unsure, as they are, of what division they'll be playing their football in next season? Selling the family jewels and replacing with lesser quality is an invite for trouble. Let it be a warning to those who see pound signs with a sale of the finest young talent to emerge at Goodison for decades.
There will always be a percentage of the fan base (not forgetting to mention the inner sanctum of the Boardroom) that will rationalise the selling of a player like Rooney would be "good business". Thinking like that is to remove the passion and the hopes of all. Football will forever be the game of dreams, aspiring for better. Continually selling your better players indicates little or no aspiration.
That leads on nicely to the ever-thorny subject of Everton and financial investment. It has been well documented that we haven't even got a hired pot to piss in at present. Is selling Rooney, at auction, to the highest bidder the solution? Not in my book. You sell Rooney — you rip the heart from both team and terraces together. Should Rooney perform well in Euro 2004 then expect the knock on the door, from his agent, for an improved contract — possibly beyond Everton's means.
As seen oh too clearly with the contracts given to both Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell we can ill afford to live beyond our means — Wayne Rooney or no Wayne Rooney. There's always the possibility of saving those wages from those offloaded (Alexandersson being the first of a good few no doubt!) and giving that to 'Team Rooney' in order to appease upcoming demands. Hardly ideal but a desperate measure in an attempt to keep the wolves from our door.
If, as expected this summer, we see very little finance being made available, then we will continue to struggle to even compete with the likes of Southampton and Charlton. It's incredibly confusing and frustrating for the fan in the street to stand there and look at the likes of Paul Gregg being listed amongst the nation's richest and also knowing that the Grantchesters lie outside the True Blue Holding consortium with their own wealth. Added to that, we're selling out more home games than ever before and sales from merchandise have never been greater. Yet Everton remain skint. How so? How so indeed!
A rights issue was proposed to the Board but that has been placed on "the back burner" (Sir Phil's words, not mine!). This can only mean, surely, that the Board have managed to secure funding, from somewhere, to appease the demands of an increasingly frustrated team manager who'll be shouting from the rooftops if nowt comes his way during the summer break.
We've also got the issue surrounding the safety of the Bullens Road Stand forever close in our thoughts. It's a bullet that cannot be dodged year in year out. How we get a safety certificate is beyond me in this day and age. Bottom line, we need to redevelop that Bullens Stand very soon. With what though? We're skint! Another decision to be placed upon the back burner, Mr Carter? There's a possible deal, ready and waiting, to ensure that stand is redeveloped.
Redevelop the Bullens, including better corporate facilities leads to increased revenue which means we can afford to keep Rooney!
Simplistic mathematics perhaps but rocket science it ain't. We need to maximise what we've got. Standing still only sees our problems continue to mount. It must be getting close to sweaty palms time in that there Boardroom at Everton. The ball's in your court, boys!
Colm Kavanagh 23 April 2004