Season 2004-05
News Headlines & Features
Gregg: Grantchester is on board 30 Jul - In an interview with Sky Sports News, Paul Gregg has confirmed that Lord Grantchester is one of the backers in his consortium vying for the dissolution of True Blue Holdings. Grantchester, the former Goodison director whose family is reputed to be worth 1.5bn, has long been romanticised by Blues fans as the white knight who could save Everton. Gregg also threw his support behind David Moyes and pledged money for three new signings before the start of the season. Pachuca 2 - 5 Everton 29 Jul - Everton have given themselves a great chance of adding a small piece of silverware to the Goodison trophy cabinet with a handsome victory over Mexican champions, Pachuca. McFadden started wonderfully with a goal on 3 mins and Everton went further ahead with a penalty from Gravesen after good work by Osman. But the Mexicans came back to equalize by half-time. Despite more pressure, Everton went ahead just before the hour on a neat glancing header from Campbell, followed quickly by a close-range header from Kilbane. Sub Nick Chadwick gave the scoreline a nice ring with the last goal of the game that puts the Blues a draw away from winning the second annual Copa de Tejas. Steve Milne | Fran Coop | Rob van Dijk Linderoth makes Copenhagen switch 29 Jul - Tobias Linderoth will deplete Everton's threadbare squad further by completing his anticipated move to FC Copenhagen. The Swedish international told David Moyes that he wanted to leave Goodison, paving the way for a 1M switch to Denmark after he persistently failed to make any real impact at Goodison Park. The best of intentions 28 Jul - In his View from the Blue column yesterday, Lyndon Lloyd gave an assessment of the supporters' current perception of Bill Kenwright. Today, as a follow-up that may satisfy some readers' desire for balance, he offers his personal thoughts on the Everton Chairman based on the history since his successful takeover in 2000 and hopes a third way exists whereby Blue Bill can remain on the Board even if he relinquishes primary control of the club. Money talks... 27 Jul - ... and bullshit walks. That might be a very harsh assessment of Bill Kenwright's chairmanship of Everton but it is clearly the growing perception among the fans. While Paul Gregg has put forth a blueprint for the future that will deliver 15M of investment (but hopefully not mean the sale of young Wayne), his True Blue partner has been found wanting where concrete plans are concerned. With disaster on the horizon without change, Evertonians are putting their faith in hard cash having seemingly been failed by Bill's Blue blood and passion alone. The Editor responds to comments from our readers who think we are being too hard on Bill Kenwright. Kenwright stalling 27 Jul - After 4 years of increasing incompetence in charge of Everton FC, Bill Kenwright has wangled another four days to come up with the goods as an alternative to the plan being put forward by Paul Gregg. The Independent puts forth some suggested sources of future investment. But Bill is still at it with the soundbytes: "If I step down big money will come into this club. And if that is what it takes I will step down. I am totally, totally irrelevant. All that matters is Everton." If only that were true... Los Desaparecidos 26 Jul - How many times have you read newspaper stories or heard this remarkable, nay frightening number bandied about in the media? Makes things sound pretty bad for Everton, doesn't it? And we can all name those 16 players, can't we? Players who were the very key to Everton's future; players who have now been carelessly lost as Everton descend into chaos... Well, it's all media rubbish, as you might have guessed. In truth, we have lost just two decent players... and we have gained two possibly better players, as this analysis demonstrates. No bad news is good news 25 Jul - With no new bad news today, it's time for the Sunday papers to regroup, although this piece in the Sunday Mirror looks ahead to tomorrow's boardroom showdown. The Sunday Times has Kenwright on the brink, again quoting BK that he would step aside and dissolve TBH... The Scotsman provides little more than a retrospective of the last hectic week's happenings. Similarly in The Independent. Well, there was some bad news, actually: it was inevitable that the gutter press would dig up some dirt on Wayne Rooney, and now we have the sordid claims of some whore in the Sunday Mirror. Thank you, ProActive Sports Management. Gregg talks directly to the fans 24 Jul - "My passion is success and you are hungry for success." That's one line among many that has distinct resonance in a well-written statement from Paul Gregg, directly to the fans of Everton, via certain fans' websites. The statement hits all the right buttons, saying the kind of things fans have wanted to hear for a long time about running EFC professionally as a business. All sensible stuff... interestingly, no mention of new investors beyond the fans. The "October AGM" is puzzling: it might have to be an EGM before October. Bill: It's time to go 23 Jul - In a letter to Bill Kenwright and the rest of the Everton Board, Paul Gregg asks them to stand down in the interests of Everton, and allow new directors to come in who will immediately invest 15M in the Club. Just the scenario where Bill has previously said he wood stand down, but he continues to bluster along, pretending everything at Everton will somehow be fine... Yes, Bill: it really is time to go. Blues agree fee for Cahill 22 Jul - Everton are on the verge of signing Millwall midfielder Tim Cahill after the two clubs agreed a fee for the Australian international. Cahill's proposed 2M move to Crystal Palace fell through earlier this month but it looks as though he will be Goodison-bound despite interest from Aston Villa. The fee is likely to be funded from the sale of Tomasz Radzinski to Fulham which is expected to raise 1.75M. FC Copenhagen have also agreed a 1M fee for Tobias Linderoth according to some of the national papers today. Director's wife the instigator? 22 Jul - Just when you think things might be starting to calm down, another wacky Everton story pops up, as the broadsheets get more involved. Mihir Bose in The Telegraph has Anita Gregg, Paul Gregg's wife, as the one pushing for things to happen at Everton. In this story, Alan Nixon in The Independent claims that Rooney is stalling on Everton's 5-year 50k/wk offer until Everton answer 50 probing questions from ProActive (now rebranded as the Formation Group plc). Meanwhile, Louise Taylor in The Guardian provides little new news in this regurgitation of the sad story so far. Moyes: Four or five players needed 21 Jul - With the new season less than 4 weeks away and the boardroom seemingly in damaging turmoil, David Moyes, the one steadying influence at the club, has issued a stark warning that Everton face a difficult campaign unless he is able to bring in four or five players just to make up the squad numbers. However, he also points out the more pertinent fact that his squad lacks genuine quality, a situation that if not addressed will make the Blues prime candidates for relegation based on last season's debacle. So far the paltry 400,000 spent on Marcus bent remains the club's only outlay this summer while the midfield crisis is still as deep as ever. Crewe Alexandra 2 - 1 Everton 20 Jul - Everton fielded a team of 10 players (surely not... but that's what the Official Website indicates) in their second pre-season runabout; this one is in Crewe. No sign of one Tomasz Radzinski, who has presumably played his last game for Everton Football Club. Linderoth and Gravesen were also missing, primarily because they returned late from Euro2004. Steve Jones gave the home team a first-half lead after 30 mins, and Billy Jones increased the lead on 67 mins. Kevin Campbell pulled one back for Everton before the end. Match Report from Steve Milne . Gregg plans to dissolve TBH 20 Jul - Paul Gregg's next stage in revitalizing Everton's fortunes is a proposal for the dissolution of True Blue Holdings, the company he and Kenwright put together to take control of Everton from Peter Johnson on Christmas Eve, 1999. The company owns the main block (72%) of the 35k shares in Everton FC Co Ltd, with Kenwright, the Gregg family, and John Woods as its own major shareholders who are being asked to agree to Gregg's plan so that he can bring in new investors and offer them seats on the Board. In this overlapping article, he talks of money coming in from the Far East and reliance on the Everton fanbase buying into the Club and its merchandising... Gregg taking the lead 19 Jul - Paul Gregg has taken a hands-on approach to filling the void left by Trevor Birch, as he stepped in to reassure staff at Goodison Park today. He also opened up the shroud of secrecy that usually cloaks Everton affairs, stating that: "I recognise Bill's passion. I do understand Everton is an outstanding brand, its fan base is incredible but our management has not been good enough for us to do what we want and that must change." Kenwright next to go? 18 Jul - In the Sunday Telegraph, Colin Malam looks ahead to the likelihood that Bill Kenwright, faced with an impossible situation as his beloved Everton heads for meltdown under his perennially unsuccessful tutelage, does the honourable thing and resigns his post as Chairman. That would allow Paul Gregg to take full control and call the shots, hopefully without any of the 'history' that has prevented investment from Evertonians like Lord Grantchester and Sir Terry Leahy, the Tesco magnate. Birch Fallout 17 Jul - The shockwaves continue to reverberate as various analysts, pundits, and fans weigh in with their view of the latest Everton debacle. Toffee Crumble says The Mirror, highlighting a fight between Kenwright and Gregg, which also has a very hard-hitting column by Brian Reade. Dominic Field follows a similar theme in The Guardian. Kenny Fogarty has some pertinent comments on his ToffeeBlog. Fan Seb Gordon says Something's Gotta Give... while Paul Gregory has penned this highly apposite Open Letter to Bill Kenwright. No-one else to blame 17 Jul - Everton fans are reeling from the latest Birch body-blow that seems to confirm the Club is in freefall, coming as it does thick and fast on the heels of the Rooney saga and then the Radzinski revolt. So, who's to blame? For Everton fan Ismael Mia, there is only one answer, although he takes a circuitous route to get there, and makes a lot of strange statements along the way. We take him to task just a little bit... BIRCH RESIGNS! 16 Jul - So, after just six weeks in the post, with a mandate to rescue Everton from the financial abyss, Trevor Birch has resigned. His three-pronged approach to recovery (1) Dilute the shareholding; (2) Share a Stadium; (3) Sell Rooney!! proved ultimately unacceptable, so he's on his bike. The ex-Liverpool player was ironically viewed as a breath of fresh air for the moribund Everton hierarchy, which must now regroup, possibly under much stronger leadership from TBH underwriter Paul Gregg. What's Our Name? Everton! 15 Jul - Mark O'Brien, outspoken editor of the Everton fanzine & website, When Skies Are Grey, has compiled a new Everton book that has just been published. It chronicles the story of Everton's 2003-04 campaign but don't hold that against it Mark is a great writer. Click the link above to order your copy of the book directly for only 7.50 plus P&P. Savage signs Brummie deal 14 Jul - The hits just keep on coming... with Robbie Savage signing a four-year deal that has been on the table for weeks at Birmingham City after Everton's 2.75M transfer bid prompted by Steve Bruce's cajoling was laughed off by the ex-Manc as being derisory. All that is left after this ridiculous affair is another kick in the teeth for Everton, with the Club being unfairly ridiculed in the press after another of Moyes's transfer targets falls through, although perhaps many Evertonians will breath a sigh of relief that Lillie Savage is not on his way to Goodison. Everton confirm Savage Bid 13 Jul - Everton have confirmed that bid of 2.5M has been lodged with Birmingham City for the services of Robbie Savage. This has now been, er, savagely rejected by Steve Bruce, as might have been expected. Savage is clearly a player on Moyes's wish-list for a long time, and he could have the kind of objectionable persona and undying commitment so desperately needed by Everton in the middle of the park and going forward. The fact that he's an Everton supporter should help the firey Welshman to be accepted by the Goodison crowd comments from his mother notwithstanding but stating that Benitez could win The Premiership title for Liverpool is going to do him no favours whatsoever. Comment from Nick Armitage. Wayne wants to see the books 11 Jul - The latest nonsense in the Wayne Rooney saga is a letter the youngster is supposed to have written to Everton, asking to see the books and check if EFC can really afford the offer that is on the table. Who makes up this stuff? Over at the Sunday Mirror, they claim that, because Wayne's agent has not yet accepted Everton's 5-year offer, it has therefore been rejected! Then there's his personal motivator and visualizer, old folk singer Watt Nicoll... And some muppet in the Sunday Herald who has written this about why Everton have had no bids for Rooney. Radzinski rats on Everton 9 Jul - To bolster his refusal of Everton's belated 3-year contract offer, Tomasz Radzinski has dropped a massive bombshell on the Club with a swingeing condemnation of David Moyes as a manager "who can't make a decision". The inconsistent striker goes further in this Daily Mirror story, urging Wayne Rooney to leave Everton if he wants his career to progress. Player unrest had been strongly rumoured but this is truly shocking! The official response seems to be a mixture of denial and disbelief with Moyes due to sit down with the striker to see if the quotes attributed to him are true. Let's face it: we're broke 9 Jul - Through what has been so far a largely painful and depressing summer, we were hoping that Trevor Birch might herald enough change to carry us into the new season. Well, it may be best to keep dreaming, and avert your eyes from this latest Viewpoint piece. It represents an assemblage of current thinking, mostly vented by a small group of concerned fans, who understand that we are not out the woods yet and probably won't be for some time... Radzinski rejection rocks Everton 8 Jul - Tomasz Radzinski has thrown Everton for a loop by rejecting a new three-year deal with the club. With the Canadian having originally rejected a two-year contract because he wanted three years, David Moyes clearly wanted the 30 year-old to stay because yesterday afternoon the Blues offered him the terms he wanted. However, despite initially seeming pleased with the new negotiations, Radzinski has thrown the offer back in Moyes's face. Now, has that Sean Davis lad left Fulham yet...? Comment from Nick Armitage We DON'T blame Wayne 7 Jul - As much as it would be nice not to dignify The Sun's repulsive attempts to occupy the moral high-ground with a response, we would be remiss if we didn't offer some counter comment (if you want it put better, try this from Kenny Fogarty) or point out the glaring irony in their assertion that 15 years is a long time and we should move on. This from the newspaper for whom half a century wasn't too long ago for the "Let's Blitz Fritz" headline during Euro '96. Meanwhile, the Echo gets to the heart of the matter and asks, rhetorically, what the lad himself makes of it. The gutter press 7 Jul - Today's editorial (if you can call it that) in The Sun plumbs new depths of crassness in it's cackhanded attempt at an admission of guilt for continuing to be who they are and continuing to do what they have always done. An unqualified apology would be too much to expect as they end up once again insulting the people of Liverpool, who will always put the memory of 96 football fans and their families above way, way above the sensibilities of puerile hacks in Wapping. For those like Wayne who were too young to recall what caused all this, here is a reminder from WSAG. The resulting boycott on Merseyside has lost the newspaper an estimated 250m in revenue. More on this topic from Anthony Evans. Rooney deal on the table 6 Jul - Everton have announced that the new 5-year deal they have been working on for Wayne Rooney has now been formally passed to Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford. No other details were provided, but Everton are obviously keen to counter the incessant transfer talk with a firm statement of determination to persuade the wonder kid that his place is at Goodison Park. Once a Blue... 5 Jul - Yet another opinion piece on Wayne Rooney, this one taking the tack that the sensitivities of thousands of distraught Evertonians need to be soothed by words not yet forthcoming from The Boy, committing himself to many future years at the Club he purports to love. Can you tell there has been a perceptible shift away from the Euro-adulation, with the atmosphere among Everton fans now soured by Rooney's media sellout to the soaraway Sun? Meanwhile, at the BBC, the ProZone computers confirm: he is the Best. Reader responses Triumph and Despair 4 Jul - Tony Kay, once the most expensive wing-half in Britain when he was transferred to Everton (The Mersey Millionaires) in 1962 for the princely sum of 60,000, talks to The Observer about the way he ended up in prison after being successfully accused of match-fixing when, as a Sheffield Wednesday player, he agreed to place a 50 bet on losing a game at Ipswich Town. For 150, he lost everything. Keeping Rooney 'a priority' 3 Jul - David Moyes has hit back at media suggestions that Everton aren't big enough to hold on to Wayne Rooney. Citing the fact that by carefully nurturing him, it is Everton FC who are responsible for the player he is today, Moyes reiterated that the Blues have no intention of selling the 18 year-old. "This is a big club, with a big tradition, and he has plenty to achieve here," the boss told The Mirror. Look on the Bright Side 3 Jul - Nick Armitage is being just a little sarcastic when he surveys the motley crew of professional footballers left on the Everton roster. Take a look at what constitutes the paper-thin squad David Moyes is expected to perform miracles with ... he has ten games in which to do it so goes one of the latest Chinese whispers. Telly times announced 2 Jul - Six Everton games from the fiirst half of the new season have been selected for live television coverage in England, starting with the opener against Arsenal, which will now kick off on Sunday 15 August at 2pm. Matches away to Portsmouth, Norwich, Birmingham and Newcastle will be televised, along with the Goodison derby in December.
Snippets & Rumours
No box for the Rooneys 31 Jul - In a very worrying sign for Evertonians, Wayne Rooney is not renewing the corporate box at Goodison Park that enabled his family to watch him play last season from a luxurious spot near the half-way line. Blues buy Spanish feeder club 31 Jul - According to Sky Sports, Everton have beaten off competition from Charlton Athletic to buy out UD San Pedro of Spain's Andalusian regional league and have installed former Anfield and Goodison player Steve McMahon as director of football. Wyness considering his options 31 Jul - Keith Wyness, who resigned as CEO of Aberdeen this week, says that talk of him taking up the post vacated by Trevor Birch at Everton is premature. As well as non-football interest, he is also being courted by another as-yet unnamed Premiership club. Gregg keeps up the pressure 31 Jul - Paul Gregg has issued a statement to the media this afternoon restating the need to resolve the boardroom standoff so that he can make funds immediately available to David Moyes for team-building ahead of the new season. Kenwright: There was no deadline 30 Jul - Bill Kenwright has broken his week-long silence to reject today's "deadline" as fictitious [umm, Bill, helloooo] and insist that he has had no contact from Gregg except e-mailed letters of resignation for him to sign. He maintains his search for new players, a new CEO and new investment continues. Hero? 30 Jul - Does the deafening silence from Bill Kenwright signal defeat for the True Blue who fulfilled a life's dream by becoming Chairman of Everton Football Club? Seb Gordon thinks so and offers heart-felt thanks to the man who saved us from the Johnson regime. Responses Campbell declares team unity 30 Jul - Kevin Campbell who, if rumours are to be believed, was one of the dissenting voices towards David Moyes's training tactics says that squad harmony is as strong as ever. The striker himself certainly seems revitalised with three goals already this pre-season. Don't Kill Bill! 30 Jul - As the boardroom impasse continues, Everton fan David Booth states an empassioned defence of Bill Kenwright and asks if the theatre impresario has done such a bad job over the past four years. Responses Ambassadors for the 'EPL' 30 Jul - The Blues' 5-2 win over Pachuca has got Houston Chronicle writer Jose P. Lopez proclaiming Everton to be the embodiment of Premier League class. With the superb job by the club's PR department, it seems victory in the Copa de Tejas might extend beyond the playing field. "Target" resigns at Pittodrie 30 Jul - The man widely believed to be Everton's choice to succeed Trevor Birch has resigned as Chief Executive of Aberdeen. Keith Wyness, who recently played down such speculation, said the time was right to move on. Can the season start, please? 30 Jul - With the boardroom saga and the Wayne Rooney's situation dragging on without resolution, it's the fans who are bearing the brunt of it all, as evidence by this out-pouring of frustration by TW reader, Stephen Burton. Ex-Blues set for Bradford 30 Jul - Michael Symes and Stephen Schumacher, released from the Everton Youth Academy this summer, will sign for Bradford today according to the Stellar Group website. Thai players set for Goodison 29 Jul - Sutee Suksomkit (midfield) and Choketawee Promrut (defence) of the Singapore "S.League" and Nirut Surasiang (defence) of Binh Dinh in Vietnam have apparently secured trials at Everton as part of the Chang Beer sponsorship agreement. More on the Boardroom Battle 29 Jul - In The Telegraph, Mihir Bose seems to have an inside line to Bill Kenwright and compiles a history of the parting of the ways between him and Paul Gregg: "Paul wants me and Jon to step down. If that means bringing in money for Everton, then I will walk away with my head held high but my heart bleeding." Arrrgh! Leigh RMI 1 - 0 Everton Res 28 Jul - A young Everton Reserves side lost to Leigh RMI in their fifth pre-season friendly at Hilton Park, Leigh. Moyes looks to land Bosnar 28 Jul - Everton are reportedly ready to sign defender Eddie Bosnar after his current club, Sturm Graz, gave him permission to leave. Because of his Australian citizenship, the 24 year-old defender would qualify for a two-year work visa. Gravesen: Show me progress 28 Jul - Following discussions with David Moyes, Thomas Gravesen has declared that he will have no hesitation in signing a new contract if Everton can prove they are making progress by finding funds for new players. Chester make Clarke enquiry 27 Jul - Chester City of Division Two (that's the old Fourth Division to those not keeping count) have confirmed that they have made enquiries about Everton's out-of-contract defender, Peter Clarke. Gregg reaffirms commitment 27 Jul - In a direct response to an e-mail we quoted today in the Rumour Mill, Paul Gregg has issued a statement confirming his "personal and long-term commitment" to Everton FC and determination to keep Wayne Rooney at the club. Moyes challenges players 27 Jul - With 14 players in the final year of their contracts, David Moyes expects them to perform and show they are worthy of extensions. Sounds great in principle, but was it this kind of tough and confrontational management style that devastated the team spirit last season? Gregg wants to beat window 27 Jul - In a statement released yesterday aimed at clarifying his proposal to raise funds at Everton, Paul Gregg outlines the need to get cash in for squad reinforcements before the August 31st transfer deadline. Cahill off to the Olympics 27 Jul - Tim Cahill, who will miss the first three games of the Premiership season through a pending suspension, has joined up with the Australian squad for next month's Olympic Games in Athens. Cold shoulder from van Bommel 27 Jul - "I want to move to a larger club ... and Everton are not a larger club than PSV." So ends any prospect of van Bommel boosting the squad. Can we stay up? 27 Jul - ToffeeWeb reader Andy Rowlands thinks so. While we await the next installment in the boardroom saga, he finds a few teams who may struggle just as much as us next season. Naysmith looks forward to talks 27 Jul - According to his agent, Gary Naysmith will seek talks with Everton within the next two to three weeks regarding an extension to his current contract which expires next June. Still one of the Big Five? 26 Jul - Antony Melvin's analysis of football tradition, history, and precedent suggests that Everton still qualify as one of the Big Five in English football. But only if you go back 45 years or so, into the era well before Sky invented football... Luvvy dovey soundbytes 26 Jul - "The fact that there is currently a grey cloud over the blue and white palace, hurts me more than I can say." For God's sake, Bill, jack it in now while we still like you... We must, however, wait until Friday before any decision is made about TBH and the future Board of Directors. Where the money goes 26 Jul - Many fans seem puzzled by Everton's lack of money, given the average 38,943 gates last season. In this long article, Prof Tom Cannon explains where the money goes and why there is so little extra available to pay for new players. D-Day for Kenwright 26 Jul - The media are expectantly awaiting some sort of decision about Bill Kenwright's future to come out of today's Board meeting at Goodison Park. Comfortably Numb 25 Jul - Paul Holmes takes a look at Paul Gregg and the effective strategy the seasoned businessman has adopted in furthering his agenda, despite a less-than promising history... Everton passion in Houston 24 Jul - The Houston Chronicle has been doing a good job building things up for next week's Copa de Tejasa games in which Everton will play Mexican teams Pachuca and America in the Reliant Stadium. Formby 0 - 1 Everton 24 Jul - Patrick Boyle scored a scrappy goal to take the honours in a pre-season reserves friendly game at Formby. Still no sign of Pascucci in the line-up which included no experienced players. A Day in the Life... 24 Jul - After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, Paul Coleman feels we are nearing the bottom and he's already looking up... Radz out; Cahill in 23 Jul - Despite earlier rumblings that the transfer of Tomasz Radzinski to Fulham was not yet done, Everton confirmed his departure on Friday afternoon... swiftly followed by confirmation that Tim Cahill has completed his move to Goodison Park. Not phat, Felipao! 23 Jul - Portugal manager Luiz Felipe Scolari claims that Everton approached him during the summer with an eye to taking over the reigns from David Moyes but he scoffed at the 15M transfer budget he was promised! The claim was of course vehemently denied by Everton FC. Szetala in weird lottery 23 Jul - Some interesting snippets in this lengthy article about the MLS "draft" for Danny Szetela, who turned down a pretty lucrative deal Everton offered him last year. Burnley 1 - 1 Everton 22 Jul - Everton were held to a 1-1 draw with Burnley tonight in their second pre-season friendly of the summer. Joseph Yobo scored a late equaliser for the Blues. We have a report on the action from Steve Milne. Board meeting set for Monday 22 Jul - Bill Kenwright and Paul Gregg will sit down with Jon Woods on Monday to discuss the proposals put forth recently by Gregg. Kenwright has remained silent since Gregg stepped out of the shadows last week until today's quotes on the Official Site. He also said that he had a good meeting with Paul Stretford this week regarding you-know-who... Ferguson denied US entry 22 Jul - As expected, Duncan Ferguson was denied entry to the USA for Everton's visit to Houston and the Copa de Tejas, because of a prior conviction for assault. Vauxhall Motors 0 - 1 Everton 22 Jul - Paul Hopkins was on the mark after 16 mins of this Reserves friendly with Vauxhall Motors on Wednesday. Read our report of the action from Steve Milne. Keegan warns against foreign move 22 Jul - Speaking exclusively on the League Managers Association website, Kevin Keegan describes his experiences of playing abroad and suggests that 18 is far too young to make such a big move. Rumours connecting Wayne Rooney with Real Madrid continue to fly around media and Internet sources. ESA Press Release 22 Jul - Steve Allinson, Chairman of Everton Shareholders Association, calls for True Blue Holdings to be dissolved in this press release, and gives advance notice that a petition for an Extraordinary General Meeting of Everton shareholders will be served on the Club this Friday. As the groundswell against Bill Kenwright builds, Nick Armitage adds his views. Everton dismiss Bosnar speculation 21 Jul - Communication head Ian Ross has dismissed reports that Everton have already signed Australian defender Eddie Bosnar. The Sturm Graz man played 90 minutes in the friendly against eleznik in Austria last week by way of a trial but nothing official has come of it thus far. Rooney back on Merseyside 21 Jul - Wayne Rooney is back on Merseyside today after two weeks' holiday in the Caribbean and New York. Further talks between Everton and Rooney's advisers (formerly Pro Active, now known as The Formation Group) will take place before the squad flies to Houston this weekend. Ismael Mia responds 21 Jul - Ismael Mia's recent article on the parlous state of Everton FC prompted some dialogue from the editor. The author offers some responses to clarify his position. [Link Fixed] Self Destruction at Castle Chaos 21 Jul - Len Capeling wades in with a critical view of the two men at the heart of the Goodison power struggle, challenging Paul Gregg to show credibility and offering criticism of Bill Kenwright's ability to save the club on his terms. Lazy Journalism? 20 Jul - Everton fan John Robert Preston takes umbrage at the negative spin placed on every story about Everton and Wayne Rooney, and copies us with the e.mail he sent in response to Soccernet. Unfortunately, that appears to have been a PA report and the developing disaster that is Everton continues to be a major news story, no matter how upsetting the coverage is. Spped to Bolton 20 Jul - Ex-Everton players on the move include 34-year-old Gary Speed joining Bolton for $750k and a 2-year deal. Also, Martin Keown being picked up by Leicester City. And then there were three 20 Jul - The Everton Board of Directors is down to just three wise men Kenwright, Gregg and Woods after Arthur Abercromby split the coup. It was something he had planned to do at the end of last season, and makes the voting tally against Gregg look problematic after Jon Woods gave public backing to Bill Kenwright. Kenwright (32.8%) and Woods (25.6%) between them control over 50% of the shares of TBH and can therefore block any proposal from Gregg to dissolve TBH. Paul Holmes: Let it be 20 Jul - As if things weren't bad enough for Evertonians at the moment, Paul Holmes provides his own unique brand of negativity in this dubious interpretation of events so far, laced for good measure with malice and invective toward all the leading players. New name in the game 20 Jul - In the developing struggle for control of Everton FC (oh sorry, Bill says there is no power struggle), The Independent claims that Kenwright will turn for help to another rich friend, Philip Green. However, The Echo claims to know for a fact that this story is not true. Kenwright considers future 19 Jul - Bill Kenwright is struggling to find the best way to take Everton forward as he considers an investment proposal that Paul Gregg put to the Board of Directors last Thursday. Wayne given two weeks 19 Jul - Wayne Rooney and his management team at ProActive have been given two weeks to make a decision on "the biggest offer in Everton history" (Oh why did he have to say that again?), some details of which have been confirmed by Bill Kenwright. Young goalie dies 18 Jul - Goalkeeper Alex Cole, who played for Everton Under-19s until he was released at the end of the 2002-03 season, died as the result of a traffic accident on the M53 early on Sunday. Savage was never leaving 18 Jul - Robbie Savage tells the Sunday Mercury he never had any intention of leaving Birmingham City to join Everton. Kenwright defiant 18 Jul - Some more classic soundbytes from Bill Kenwright as he spoke to Sky Sports News today, about Rooney: "He's got two years left on his contract, and that situation cannot continue forever." No shit, Sherlock! And about a power struggle with Paul Gregg: "I don't know of any power struggle. It's absolute nonsense. I am not interested in power and control." It's Sunday: Rooney must be off 18 Jul - The usual litany of pundits, jurnos, ex-players (Alan Hudson) , and somewhat disappointingly Dave Watson all jump on the now utterly boring bandwagon, predicting (for the third week running) that Wayne Rooney will leave Everton. Even fan John Reilly seems convinced... Full eleznik Match Report 17 Jul - Paul Traill took in the pre-season jaunt against eleznik and provides us with a full report on yesterday's proceedings in Kflach. Reserves draw at Southport 17 Jul - A young Everton Reserves side drew 2-2 with Southport on Saturday. Goals came from trialist Dave McGoldrick and James Vaughan. Youth team beaten by Chester 16 Jul - A very young (and very anonymous) Everton Youth Academy side were beaten 2-0 by Chester City in a pre-season at Netherton on Friday evening. No teamsheet has been made available, so we have no idea who played... eleznik 0 - 1 Everton 16 Jul - Everton won their first run-out of the pre-season with a threadbare squad through a goal from Kevin Campbell in a relaxed affair in the Austrian city of Klfach. Moyes being stabbed in the back 16 Jul - Echoing many of the fears and concerns currently felt by downtrodden Evertonians, Phil McNulty rejects the rumblings that David Moyes should be tested and potentially sacrificed if Everton start the new season in the doldrums as everyone expects. He concludes (as ever) it's the Board's fault. Gregg Speaks! 16 Jul - For the first time since he began his financial involvement with Everton, Paul Gregg has spoken openly about what he wants for the Club, and how TBH must change to make that happen. Council Leader wants sharing 16 Jul - Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool City Council, made it very clear where he stands with regard to the need for Everton and Liverpool to build a shared stadium. But Liverpool FC moved quickly to make it very clear they have no interest in sharing with Everton and want to press ahead with their current plans for the new Anfield. Grimm Fairy Tales? 16 Jul - Colm Kavanagh has been away on his hols... and he's returned with a fairy tale that has quite a long provenance... No new players? 15 Jul - A financial straight-jacket will prevent David Moyes from expanding his threadbare squad unless significant new investment is found quickly. Recent and new bids for players will be funded by selling others, with Radzinski a likely candidate. New bid for Radz rejected 15 Jul - Everton are holding out for 1.75M before they will transfer the registration of Tomasz Radzinski to Fulham, who yesterday made a second laughable bid of around 1.3M. The Sun is at it again 15 Jul - Rebel-rousing, shit-stirring, you name it: today's piece of gutter journalism in the unrelenting stream of Everton-bashing media drivel tries without a quote in sight to start a fight between Manager David Moyes and CEO Trevor Birch over transfers... only Moyes is in Austria and Birch is on holiday. Go figure! Reserves at Connah's Quay 14 Jul - Everton Reserves beat Connah's Quay 3-1 in their first pre-season run out at the Deeside College Stadium tonight. Goals came from youngsters Laurence Wilson and a brace from James Vaughan. Team spirit nurtured in Austria 14 Jul - Those searching for good news about Everton may be mollified by this report from the Everton pre-season training camp in Austria, where bad press and continuing criticism of the players for last season's debacle has engendered a siege mentality that is binding the players and management together as they look forward to the new season. More Fans Comment 13 Jul - Everton fans are still reeling from the body blows the media is bombarding us with, all Because we are Everton, perhaps? But should we really believe everything we read... for fear of missing something? Or is it more a case of killing us for their sport? Clarke still in limbo 13 Jul - Peter Clarke remains and out-of-contract player with Everton still holding his registration and expecting some reimbursement as a training fee when he does eventually move on. Radzinski in hot water 13 Jul - David Moyes met and had words with Tomasz Radzinski this morning in Austria... but what they said is not widely known as the matter will now be dealt with internally. The Mirror claims Radzinski will be fined 35k. Stubbs' plea falls on deaf ears 12 Jul - Alan Stubbs' attempts to deflect the blame for last season's shambles from the old guard in the squad has been met with defiance by the fans who know all too well why the club finished with its worst ever points haul. Suffice to say it wasn't all down to the manager. Unsworth joins Portsmouth 12 Jul - David Unsworth passed his medical with Portsmouth today and has become a Pompey player. Echo attack unjustified? 11 Jul - So Alan Stubbs and the rest of the players feel that David Prentice's stinging attack on them, Taking the Piss, in the Liverpool Echo back in May was unjustified? Nothing about the disgraceful performances that saw them lose the last four games (and 2M)? Nothing about them rebelling against the methods of the manager? Just the usual litany of meaningless excuses. You can do better than that, Alan. Further comment from Nick Armitage. Strong Words from Moyes 11 Jul - David Moyes has reiterated to the Sunday People his absolute determination to keep Wayne Rooney at Everton and make him captain by the time he is 20. David Moyes also talks at length about the other frustrations and challenges he faces in trying to turn Everton around. Ex-Young Blues score 10 Jul - Trialists Michael Symes and Stephen Schumacher, who were released from Everton's Youth Academy in May, both scored for Bradford City in a 5-0 win over Harrogate Town. Squad jets off to Austria 10 Jul - The Everton squad flies to their now-traditional Austrian pre-season training camp for a week's preparation. Rumours that a twin-prop Cessna was sufficient to escort the lot have yet to be confirmed! < jk> Will bow for cash 10 Jul - Thai Beverages, owners of Chang Beer, are apparently prepared to pay Everton additional money on top of the sponsorship deal if the players will perform the wai on the pitch after matches. The traditional Thai greeting would involve the players bowing to the crowd with their hands together. Embarrassing, but cash is cash! Unsworth to join Portsmouth 9 Jul - Confirming an e-mail we received earlier today, Sky Sports report that David Unsworth will sign with Portsmouth next week after a medical. He turned down a one-year extension to his current contract at Everton and was set to join Bolton before that move collapsed last week. Fans: Don't sell Wayne 9 Jul - That's if our long-running poll is anything to go by. At a fraction of our daily readership, 2,600 votes may not sound like much but it is the biggest response we have had to a poll question. 70% say they would not sell Rooney even for 50m. Davis joins Spurs 9 Jul - Sean Davis, the player whose pre-season injury scuppered a 5m move to Everton last summer, has joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal believed to be half that according to the BBC. Everton and ProActive open talks 9 Jul - Everton and Wayne Rooney's advisers sat down to discuss the contract offer on the table for the first time today. Talks will be "on-going" on a deal that is believed to immediately double the 18-year-old's 13k-a-week salary and net him 50k a week by the fifth year. What we really want to hear 9 Jul - A good comment from Phil McNulty, carried by the Echo, hopefully draws a line under the manic media madness that has set this week apart... Who said close-season was boring? Rats leaving ships? 9 Jul - Contemplation of Tomasz Radzinski's techniques in contract negotiation have spurred Evertonian Mark Jones to eloquent prose and a philosophical diatribe on an old, old theme. 'Golden handshake' offer to Dunc? 9 Jul - The Independent report that Everton are considering a 500,000 offer to striker Duncan Ferguson to pay off the final year of his contract and get him off the wage bill. It would mean the Scot losing 2m in wages over the coming season but allow him time to find a new club before the new season starts. Moyes admits Hemdani interest 8 Jul - David Moyes has confirmed that he has made enquiries about both Marseilles defender Brahim Hemdani and Millwall defender Tim Cahill. However, Hemdani appears set on seeing out his contract where he is and Cahill is the subject of a 2M bid from Crystal Palace. Ground-share proposal coming 8 Jul - The Telegraph report that Everton CEO Trevor Birch will formally approach Liverpool FC with a bid to share a new stadium and take advantage of 40M of public money. Sun article irks Rooney camp 8 Jul - Wayne Rooney and his family were apparently not consulted over The Sun's decision to use the 18-year-old as a pawn in their veiled apology on the front page yesterday. Because they would have said no, perhaps... NB: there are no new episodes of the Wayne Rooney story in today's edition... Simonsen joins Stoke 7 Jul - Steve Simonsen, out of contract at Goodison Park, has signed a two-year deal with Stoke City. Neville talking in riddles? 7 Jul - "He's another team's player and I think I'd be lynched if I went to Everton having said we're going to sign him." Can someone explain exactly what this strange comment from Gary Neville actually means? Barmby moves home 7 Jul - Nick Barmby, once a badge-kissing Player of the Season at Everton but reviled when he moved to Liverpool, has left Leeds to join Hull City, the home town club... that he has supported all his life? Chang Beer deal announced 7 Jul - As expected, Chang Beer announced a 1.5M shirt sponsorship deal with Everton at a Bangkok press conference today. The year-long deal will see the Chang logo on Everton shirts, and three young Thai players join Everton's Youth Academy for next season. Rooney keeping goal 7 Jul - Today's episode of The Wayne Rooney Story in The Sun features Our Kid as a goalie as he recalls his early years learning his football at Everton. Chang set to sign 6 Jul - On Wednesday, Everton will sign a new shirt sponsorship deal worth around 1.5M with Chang Beer, the Thai brewing company. More from Rooney 6 Jul - Today's stories from Wayne Rooney in The Sun include more praise for Sven, and how Wayne already knew about the dodgy penalty spot in Lisbon, after he had missed in practice. Real Footballers' Wives 5 Jul - This article by David Chambers previews Becky Tallentire's new book on the stories of the women behind some of Everton's greatest men. The book will be published in September while Becky's first tome, Talking Blue is back in print by popular demand. Internationals update 5 Jul - Steve Flanagan has updated the Internationals pages of our Complete Record section, adding recent appearances through Euro2004, as well older information on U-21 and B-team games. Sean Doherty stays at Fulham 5 Jul - Rumours that ex-Everton Youth Team player 19-year-old Sean Doherty was to be released by Fulham are unfounded according to this BBC news story Still looking for more players 5 Jul - David Moyes wants more players (obviously!), but seems less than certain where they or the money for them will be coming from. So, er, what happened to the 7M offered for Alan Smith? Wayne Rooney in The Sun 5 Jul - Two articles featuring Wayne Rooney's experience crashing out of Euro 2004, and his views on David Beckham as captain of England, appeared in The Sun, under a publishing deal believed to be worth 250k to the Everton teenager. Bare bones report for training 5 Jul - A sparse-looking senior squad of Everton players reported back to Bellefield for training today, with five internationals still away, and a number of old lags (Gerrard, Simonsen, Unsworth) out of contract. Rooney in Team of Euro 2004 5 Jul - As expected, Wayne Rooney's outstanding performances for England earned him a place in the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament. Lambs to the Media Slaughter? 4 Jul - Protection of Wayne Rooney and his fiance Colleen from the glare of media attention is no longer deemed necessary, as this News of the World double spread confirms... No more incoming at Old Trafford 4 Jul - Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill has announced that the Old Trafford club can't afford Wayne Rooney at Everton's valuation and, in any case, they have bought all the players they are going to this summer. Friendly against FC eleznik 3 Jul - An Everton XI will line up against Serbian club FC eleznik from Belgrade on 16th July at 6:30pm local time in a friendly during their pre-season training camp in Austria this month. Yobo nicks it for Nigeria 3 Jul - Joseph Yobo scored the only goal with 5 minutes left as Nigeria beat Algeria 1-0 in a World Cup 2006 qualifier. The win sends the Super Eagles back to the top of Group 4. No place like home 3 Jul - Three Fans Comment articles (by Garry Adams, Colin Dempsey and Stephen Weightman) continue the feeling of resentment towards those in the football world pushing Wayne towards the door and reaffirm that he doesn't need to go anywhere in a hurry. McGoldrick to have Bellefield trial 3 Jul - Notts County's striking prodigy David McGoldrick will have trial spells at Everton and Blackburn Rovers before deciding his future. The 16 year-old is valued at 500,000 by his club. Stay. Go. Which is it? 3 Jul - Thomas Gravesen's agent, John Sivabaek, continues with the mixed messaging saying that now his client wants to stay with Everton despite interest from Britain and abroad. Now Rooney writes for The Sun 2 Jul - The Sun is still hugely despised on Merseyside for its execrable treatment of the City of Liverpool in general and the supporters of Liverpool FC in particular over the tragic events at Hillsborough 15 years ago. We cannot know what Wayne Rooney thinks about this himself, but it is hard for us to understand how his advisors could presumably conceive it to be a good thing that Rooney would agree to be credited with stories from Euro2004 in this tabloid rag. Season tickets selling steadily 2 Jul - New Everton CEO Trevor Birch is not unduly concerned about season ticket sales at Goodison Park, which are set to hit 20,000 shortly. It's a long way down from 28,000 and a waiting list last season, but the numbers are respectable when set in the context of the Premiership years, with last season classed as "a blip". Everton are a selling club 2 Jul - No matter what the current spin might be coming out of Goodison Park, the precedent in recent years has been for Everton to sell their best players. David Prentice reviews the depressing evidence in Liverpool Echo. Hang on or let go? 1 Jul - Richard Parker weighs up the financial benefit of cashing in on you-know-who now versus the possible risk of keeping him and him not fulfilling his potential. Gravesen seeks greener pastures? 1 Jul - The clearest indication yet that Thomas Gravesen won't be signing a new contract at Goodison has come from his agent, John Sivabaek, who says after 4 years, "it may be now time for him to try something new." Sound advice from Goodison greats 1 Jul - Everton legends the kind to which Wayne Rooney can aspire have publicly urged the 18 year-old not to consider leaving Goodison so soon. Neville Southall, Kevin Sheedy and Dave Watson all advise him to follow his heart and stick with the Blues for the time being. The other side of the coin 1 Jul - After weeks of the world and his dog urging Rooney to ditch Everton for the filthy lucre of Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge, a growing number of articles in the press are coming out on the opposite side of the fence, including this measured piece by John Thompson in the Daily Post. ToffeeWeb enters its 10th season 1 Jul - ToffeeWeb has now switched to the 2004-05 season, our 10th year! More on that in the coming weeks but for now, click here for a brief update. Gerrard gets Forest wish 1 Jul - Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of Paul Gerrard who was released by Everton this summer when his contract expired. The former Oldham goalkeeper apparently rejected offers by Leeds and Ipswich to sign on at the City Ground. Scot Gemmill wasn't so lucky in securing his move to the Midlands. Everton in America 1 Jul - The Houston Chronicle gives a quick overview of Everton's past exploits in the Americas, including how they once trained in Manhattan's Central Park and were the first European club team to cross international waters for a match when they played in Uruguay and Argentina in 1909.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; † Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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