Fans Comment
David Booth

Don't Kill Bill!
30 July, 2004

Bill Kenwright: Has he really done such a bad job?

The imminent announcement on Bill Kenwright's future may well render my views irrelevant. Nevertheless I felt he deserves better than the recent treatment he has received on this site.

Judging by the sarcastic references you have made to his comments, it seems clear that Gregg is the clear Toffeeweb favourite.  Why?

I'm just an ordinary Everton fan — albeit dating back to 1966 — and like many, my understanding of the current situation is gleaned entirely from the internet and the press (both of whom have an "agenda").  Accordingly, I tend to view these affairs in very simple, maybe even naive, terms.

As I understand it, the £30M debt so despairingly-quoted, comprises a £25M securitisation loan and a £5M overdraft.  Does this really cut us adrift from many of our premiership rivals?  I don't think so...

Likening us to those inadequates at Leeds is quite unfair.  Ridsdale played monopoly with real money.  Everton just haven't got a lot to splash around — but we're not heading for the cliff edge like Thelma and Louise.

So, although it would be wonderful to enjoy the sort of pre-eminence we once shared with a handful of other clubs, right now we've got to eat humble pie for a while.

But we will be back.  This is a big club and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Chelsea aren't a big club in any category you care to compare them with us... they just happen to have an immensely-wealthy benefactor.  In a few years' time, when he loses interest, they will find their true level again.  We're different... and if you know yer 'istory, you already know why.

I live in a village called Ackworth, in West Yorkshire and the number of people in Everton shirts I see never fails to amaze me: there are dozens. Multiply that if you go into Leeds, or Wakefield, Huddersfield, Bradford.  How many Leeds, Newcastle, Villa, Chelsea shirts do you see in Whiston, West Derby, Woolton or Wallasey?  Not many or none, I would wager.

One FA Cup win excepted, we've had a dreadful 20 years — but not for the first time.  I had my first season ticket back in the early 70s and we were every bit as bad then.  So let's stop all this despondency and wake up to the fact that football fortunes are a cyclical thing.  We will be back.

In the meantime, let me get back to Bill.

Has he really done such a bad job?  Twelve months ago, you'd have received a very different answer than today.  Last season's slump has teetered him towards public enemy status, however.

That seems most unfair.  It's the overpaid popstars who moan if they have to work for more than 90 minutes a week who have dropped him in it.  Bill Kenwright doesn't need any badge-kissing photocalls for Evertonians to know he's one of us.  In fact, most of us know he's a bigger and better Evertonian than we are.

Talk to him, listen to him on the radio or TV and you know that — as much as you love this team of ours — he loves it more.
But, because he can't supply endless millions to bankroll the manager, he is in danger of losing the popular vote.

What a pity that money, money, money seems to be replacing pride and passion among so many of you.  This is Everton, let's not forget.  We do things the right way don't we; have a bit more class; are different from the rest?

Is Paul Gregg now such a unanimous choice?  And if so, why?

Do we really want Everton run by a man who isn't even a football fan and, allegedly, didn't attend a single game last year?
What are his motives?

If I put a lot of money into a business I had no interest in, I would only do it because I wanted to get more money back out.  I wouldn't want to wait too long for it either. Someone help me on this one...

I'd love to see us entertaining some prospects next season and competing with the latest ten-bob millionaires in the transfer market, but we're obviously going to have to wait a while yet.

Bill Kenwright's not stupid.  Don't dismiss him as some sort of soundbite simpleton who puts the odd West End play on.  He's astute, honest, influential, successful and, very importantly, most likeable.

Give him more support and although it's very difficult, just a little more time.  If he ultimately can't do it, I hope there'll be another Evertonian who can.

Everton is not a commodity to be treated flippantly as some sort of financial basket-case by contemptuous money men.  And perish the day it ever becomes one.

This is not a businessmen's club remember: it's the people's club!

David Booth

To respond to a few of your points, David, the size of Everton's debt varies depending on whom you believe.  The best guess we can go by is the £48M estimate Bill Kenwright gave at the ESCLA AGM earlier this month — £30M secured against future season ticket sales and £12M more in overdraft and, we presume, other outstanding debt. Then, there is the belief that Trevor Birch's conclusion that the club needed to bring in £5M to prevent action by Barclays Bank that might force us into administration.

The question that we as fans must ask is what would have happened had Paul Gregg not forced the issue this summer?  Given the history of True Blue Holdings' ownership of Everton, we have to assume that we would have carried on in the same manner — i.e. with mounting debts and no apparent plan to bring them down.  While no one is saying that Bill is a "simpleton" (far from it, he is a successful businessman in his own right), he hasn't shown so far that he is able to attract the kind of investment needed.  And that is key.

While we may not be drowning in debt to the extent of Leeds United's experiences last season, the danger of relegation next season means that we could well end up just like them without much-needed investment in the playing staff.  We are bereft of quality as it is, but an injury crisis this coming season would devastate our hopes of staying in the top flight.

With all that in mind, it's easy to see why the fans are clutching at the only other straw out there — namely, Paul Gregg.  It is obvious that the way Everton is run has to change and the only person who seems willing to embrace that change is Gregg.  The supporters appear desperate enough that they will take a leap of faith with Gregg even if it means that Kenwright has to step down as Chairman.  Yes, he embodies Everton passion and no one can argue with the tremendous improvements he has made in his time as vice and full chairman but, in an age when football is ruled by money, passion alone won't keep us afloat.

Frankly, I would prefer a scenario whereby Bill agrees to dissolve TBH but retains his position on the Board, even as Chairman (if Gregg is not insisting that he step down).  It's hard to know, as fans, why the issue has to be as black and white as saying that Kenwright must walk away altogether if Gregg wins the boardroom battle.

Lyndon Lloyd

Reader Responses

With the club at, hopefully, a significant turning point, the battle for the boardroom dominates most fans minds — opinions are split on whose hands the club is best in; here are some of the facts for those of you who can't make your mind up:

1. Gregg put up most of the cash that was needed to buy the Club from Johnson.
   
2. Gregg hasn't been happy with the way the Club has been run for the last four years and, for the last 2 years  (since before Rooney!), he has been trying to make changes so the Club can go forward.
   
3. The Club is no better off than it was four years ago under the control of Kenwright — in fact it is more in debt!
   
4. The Club is a laughing stock of the Premier League due to its recent transfer bungles — Savage, Smith, van Bommel — all Kenwright.
   
5. Kenwright promised at least £5M for transfers this summer; we've had roughly £1M.
   
6. Kenwright says he doesn't want to sell Rooney when he stated 'He (Rooney) has to be a £50M player!' — if that's not an open invitation for bids of £40M up for Rooney, I don't know what is!
   
7. We (even myself) have questioned Gregg's lack of activity at the Club for the last year or so; now, when he is offering us a solution — we don't trust him!!!!
   
8. Kenwright has had the last 4 years to find investment his way — people to basically give us the money and have no say in running of Club. 

Ok, maybe that would work if he was only asking for a few thousand... but Millions? — who would be stupid enough to do that, who you ask... Paul Gregg!  He gave millions of his own money, and for four years did not tell Bill what to do with the club!  After 4 years of nothing from Bill he has decided to speak; what is wrong with that??? 

Before we heard of his plans, this is exactly the kind of thing every Everton fan would be hoping for — a plan of action, £15M initial investment to steady the good ship Everton, and maybe £5M to £7M for new players, then a further £15M from a shares issue.

©2004 ToffeeWeb