Fans Comment
Dave Norman

Right for Everton?
10 January 2005

Bill Kenwright: Hopeful of securing the FSF investment, but is it right for Everton?

So the money's coming is it?  Well it was coming a month ago.  And a month before that.  And the month before that.  And the....  I'm sure you see where I going!  But is the investment right for Everton?

Of course, £13 million rising to a possible £30 million would be welcome, very welcome, and would go some way to putting the Club on a better footing, but for me there are too many unanswered questions attached to the Fortress Sports Fund:

• Who are the investors in the fund? 
• What conditions are attached to the investment? 
• What do the investors expect from the fund? 
• What does the fund expect from Everton?

Everton Football Club needs investment.  No one can argue against that.  But we've got to look long term and ensure that any investment into the Club is the right investment.  Grabbing the first piece of investment offered is not necessarily the way forward.  Being placed 3rd in the Premiership suddenly makes the club a lot more of an attractive proposition. 

• Has the Board o Directors looked for investment from other sources? 
• Have they bothered to ask Lord Grantchester if he would like to make a better offer?
• How about the same percentage stake for £15 million say?

Two things concern me most.  Firstly, what's in it for the Fortress Sports Fund Investors?  Investors generally expect a return on their money.  How are they planning it to realise their investment?  Football clubs are notoriously bad investments.  With the exception of our Irish horse-breeding friends at Manchester United, not many people have walked away better off after investing in a football club.  What magical formula does the FSF have?  Have they just spotted that potentially Everton Football Club is hugely undervalued and they're hoping to make a quick profit by selling up in a year or two's time?

And secondly (and what concerns me most of all), why did Christopher Samuelson, the head of the FSF, feel he needed to lie about his allegiance to Everton?  I'm 24 years old.  I live and have always lived over 200 miles away from Goodison Park.  I was born 14 years after Everton won the FA Cup Final in 1966 yet I could tell you in an instant that Mike Trebilcock scored 2 goals in that final.  [Oh dear... right answer, but wrong question!]  At the AGM Mr Samuelson couldn't.  His excuse. "He was at University in Munich at the time".  The wonderful story of Mike Trebilcock hasn't been replayed since so why would he have known!  The immortal line of "If you know your history" comes to mind.  Mr Samuelson clearly doesn't. 

I don't believe that Mr Samuelson is an Evertonian.  Blue blood doesn't run in his veins.  So why is he masquerading as one?  What does this suggest about the character of the man?  If he can seemingly lie so easily before his investment takes effect, that doesn't bode well for the openness and honesty we all crave from our Football Club.

The package of investment we are getting is led by a man whose allegiance to Everton is at best fragile and at worst non-existent, and who has consistently failed to meet promises.  We know nothing of the investors and the investors' aims.  We know very little about anything surrounding the FSF.

Is this the right investment for Everton Football Club?  We all have our opinions but, rightly or wrongly, I believe it not to be.

Dave  Norman

Please Note: These are the views of the author, an Everton fan, who has submitted this article for publication at ToffeeWeb.  The article does not necessarily reflect the views of others, especially the owners, editor or webmaster of ToffeeWeb.com.  If you disagree with the article or feel it reflects negatively on Everton FC, its players, manager, administration or directors, please write a response for us to publish, presenting your alternative views on this subject. Please submit your article here.

©2004 ToffeeWeb