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We are not worthy!

By Russ Quinlan :  24/01/2011 :  Comments (28) :
Putting this on hold as I don't think we're legally allowed to reproduce this without permission, nor should we really as it would reduce the likelihood of future emails getting replies -- LL ------- With this season looking like yet another write-off, I decided to write the Club an email asking what was going on with no incoming players, no investment, etc ? you know, the usual stuff. I didn't expect any sort of reply (which I stated in the email to try and get a response!) but when I did get one off Ian Ross, I got the feeling that I shouldn't be asking ANY questions about what was going on because, after all, I'm just a pleb!

This was my original email;

Sirs,

I don't suppose there is any chance whatsoever of this email getting to anyone who can make a difference or take what I am about to say seriously, I fully expect this to end up in your Junk folder.

I have supported Everton since 1964 when I was 9, lots has happened during the intervening years and I have witness some truly awful Everton teams as well as the greats.

However, if you read ANY Everton Fan Forums you must know that the majority of fans are well and truly fed up with the way the Club is going, downwards and backwards.

We keep hearing that Bill Kenwright is searching '24/7' for 'investors', thats been going on for years and yet during this time, teams like Sunderland, West Brom, Bolton, Wolves, Wigan, etc are buying quality players, we are scraping the lower Leagues and hoping they come good. We may get a Tim Cahill now and again but most of the players we bring in actually belong in the Championship and not the Premier League.

Now we are nearing the end of another Transfer Window and we have lost players on Loan and sold to other Clubs but brought nobody in. Net result, a smaller squad with less quality and this has been going on for years.

We now look like a Championship Club and cannot even afford decent loan players that other teams seem to get hold of, many, many supporters are sick of the inability of the Board to come up with any sort of 'investment' that will halt our slide to further mediocrity. I don't know how David Moyes can continue under the restrains that the current Board are putting him under, if it wasn't for him we would be in deep, deep trouble.

The 'Peoples Club' is a thing of the past since the Club decided not to answer questions put to them at the AGM's and you only have to speak to any Evertonian to find out how depressed we all are and nobody in the Club seems to be doing anything about it.

Please do not insult my intelligence by reeling off typical 'Political' answers because I have been a Blue Nose for long enough to know they mean nothing, its action we all need.

It's no good Mr Kenwright telling us all how much he loves the Club, my god there are people in the stadium every home game who can hardly afford the tickets and love it as much if not more than him. Yet we all still go to hope that the remaining decent players can perform but they are doing it less and less and the good players will be leaving for Clubs where decent players can also be added to the squad, not taken from it.

He is in a position of find investment, if he has to sell then do it, we're not talking about Man City type finance, just enough to enable progress which is something we should have done when we won entry to the Champions League, again the Board failed to provide finance to enable us to compete. How can he not find Investment in a Club so right in History and such a loyal fanbase??

We are so depressed at the moment there is a very great possibility that we are resigned to eventual relegation, it is not inconceivable if we can't beat those teams around us like yesterday.

Like I say I don't expect this will go any further than the 'Fans Junkmail Folder' but you really need to sit up and take notice before it's too late, that day may not be far away.

Russell Quinlan

However even after a fairly measured email (I don't tend to do that!) the reply from Ian Ross proved to me we just have clowns in charge.

Part of his reply said, "If you do not believe Bill Kenwright is attempting to sell the club, that's a matter for you.

"There seems little point in my answering your questions as you stated in your email you were unlikely to believe any responses...but - you were wrong...we didn't dump your email...we never do...we always reply...personally and swiftly."

I replied just to say that I thought the Club's reply to a genuine fan enquiry was disgraceful to which he said that he "unable to discuss transfer market policy as it is commercially sensitive....but I suspect you already knew that. If you have any questions which do not fall into that bracket, I'm happy to receive them."

So, any questions other than awkward ones are okay!!

To be honest its no more than I expected, if he is the 'face' of EFC to the public, its no wonder we can't get any investment.

I really do worry for our future with these clowns in charge.

Reader Comments (28)

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Leon Perrin
1 Posted 24/01/2011 at 22:46:41
Russ,

Don't know about you mate but I am fuckin steaming over that reply. What arrogant shite, confirms every suspicion I have over these people.

Not one more penny will I give these arseholes.

Simon Jenkins
2 Posted 24/01/2011 at 22:50:30
Without sounding like Ian Ross myself, I totally sympathise with your point of view mate, and I want Kenwright out as much as you do.

However, as good as your e-mail was, what did you expect him to say in his reply? He's not going to slag off his employers is he? He's probably not aware of Moyes' transfer talks or the size of his transfer kitty available (if any), and even if he was, he's not going to tell some random fan on e-mail is he? When other clubs have gone into administration, it's usually 'come as a shock' to 95% of the club's employees, so even if that was imminent, Ross probably wouldn't know.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with everything that you said in your e-mail. But Ross is just an employee, doing his job, answering fans in as civil manner as possible (at least in these replies). He isn't going to rock the boat is he?

I often wonder why no-one has ever put any pressure on BK to think outside the box - okay, no-one wants to buy us/invest in us. Fine. Why not come up with a business strategy to MAKE MONEY (not by selling players!!!) off the pitch? I'm no business analyst, but we reach nowhere near our marketing potential in several areas. A new share rights' issue has never been fully explored. It might not generate Man City wealth (or even Spurs wealth), but there are things that could be done that aren't currently being done, to make our club better.
John Shaw
3 Posted 24/01/2011 at 23:00:54
The initial reply is typical of those running OUR club and in particular the arrogant arse that is Ian Ross.
Mike Rourke
4 Posted 24/01/2011 at 23:02:54
Well, at least Ian personally replied to your email Russ.

You were wrong.

They didn't dump your email.

They never dump any emails.

They reply PERSONALLY...

...and swiftly.

That's something to be proud of isn't it?!

Someone remind me, how much does 'our club' fork out so that this genital wart masquerading as Head of Communications can respond to fan's email's in that manner?

Unbelievable.
Larry Boner
5 Posted 24/01/2011 at 23:01:05
Mr Ross, Mr Elstone or Mr Kenwright need to open their eyes and look at what is happening around them.

Now, the performances of the team, poor mostly, but definitely inconsistent, are what I have been witnessing for the last 50 years of supporting Everton, you accept that there are other teams who want to win and only a tiny fraction can be successful and unlike Liverpool supporters believe, we have no God given right to be the top dogs.

For a few of those 50 years we were the top team, playing good attractive football, but for the vast majority of those seasons we have been as we are now, also rans, but the board and chairman have always backed the manager, until now.

My Dad, 91, still a season ticket holder, my son, my brother and me are not renewing our season tickets next season, it's not because of the team, or Mr Moyes, because I have seen a lot worse than I see now, but I still wanted to go the game, put my money up front, still felt that tingling when Z Cars started to play, but I dont feel that buzz anymore.

Its because of the way the club is being run behind the scenes, the Kings Dock and Kirby fiascos, the pathetic business sense of the people charged with maximising the clubs incoming revenue, but most of all the complete lack of initiative regarding the state of the stadium and the clear improvements that are required to bring it up to minimum modern day basics to enhance the viewing and match day experience.

Staggering up to the Top Balcony on Saturday, with the escalators again not working, the number of people saying they had had enough and would not waste their money on season tickets for next season was frightening.

As I have mentioned before the poor facilities, such as toilets, the ridiculous prices for the most basic of catering, this is 2011, for fucks sake, nothing has changed in this area of the club for several years, apart from the customers expectations and people will not stand for being ripped off, look at the lack of queues for the catering, the massive queues for the toilets.

Sitting in cramped seats watching the game, it doesnt matter how the team plays if you are not happy with the match day experience, because all you are thinking of is this seat has cost me nearly £500 and for what?

It was different a few years ago, when everything was affordable, but it isnt now and Everton need to compete much, much fucking harder for my hard earned £500!

I can take the poor teams, I can't take the pathetic efforts of a board and chairman who are clearly playing for time, the reply to the email another example of people who have no idea what is about to explode around their heads.

The lack of initiative regarding contracts and selling of players, well, what do you expect from these people, the closing of the window now a week away, unbelievable.
I write the above with a heavy heart, always I have tried to carry the name of Everton forward and defend it against all comers, but you can't defend the indefensible.

Andrew Laird
6 Posted 24/01/2011 at 23:31:01
Someone remind me, how much does 'our club' fork out so that this genital wart masquerading as Head of Communications can respond to fan's email's in that manner?

A parking space, a laptop, an "I lie with BIll" T-shirt and a very large bag of self importance, which in my opinion is more than enough for this sycophantic buffon.
Steve Cotton
7 Posted 25/01/2011 at 00:03:21
Larry Boner.. well said my friend, please someone forward his one reply to anyone and everyone who has an email address at Everton FC, they treat us as idiots, lie to us and have let the asperations of an entire generation collapse.

if EFC lose 3/4 thousand off next seasons season tickets then the end is surely nigh, so someone at the club grow a pair of fucking balls and tell us what the fuck is happening with our club.

Just dont show me Bills smiling face before our next live match.. Heavy heart does not even begin to cover it Larry...
Dara Vaughan
8 Posted 25/01/2011 at 00:28:20
While we´re on the circus theme I wanted to let all you guys know... that again this season you can't buy an Everton jersey in the Republic of Ireland.

Now don´t get me wrong I understand our nations youth have a new found love of all things Chelsea but Christ above, we´re the Blues. Chelsea literally replaced Everton replica gear on our nations shelves in the last few years.

But come on nothing for Everton. I´m at a loss to understand the business decision making in our commercial-marketing whatever department. Of course we´ve no monies, there a bunch of clowns, up there with our own glorious leaders in Fianna Fail if ya ask me.

Jan Kowsky
9 Posted 25/01/2011 at 00:52:23
I am surprised that anyone is actually surprised by the attitude of that smug, condescending, sunglasses in winter wearing twat, Ross.
Eugene Ruane
10 Posted 25/01/2011 at 03:26:43
Bet he only replied in the hope his response would be printed and he could take legal action.

The useless pointless cunt!
Lynn Thorne
11 Posted 25/01/2011 at 06:49:21
Whatever Ross said - it was a stock reply and answered no questions at all.
Not sure how - but maybe if everyone could e mail Everton with a standard text - maybe a shorter version of the one above, it might start to get through.
I have been as passionate about Everton as anyone else - but it is being slowly drained out of me. The last 2 years have been horrendous on a personal front and watching Everton has have been a release at times. Not any more - it's getting harder. Don't know how, but something has to be done to make them aware of the unrest among fans
Roman Sidey
12 Posted 25/01/2011 at 07:26:24
If they weren't wasting their time replying to every email "personally and swiftly" maybe they'd have more time and money to put into running the club properly or maybe finding a decent investor.

It's not the answer that's annoying in this case, it's the way he says "that's a matter for you."

How alienated does that make you feel?
Alan Clarke
13 Posted 25/01/2011 at 08:14:04
Evertonians are born not manufactured. Ian Ross was born a snidey little twat.
Ernie Baywood
14 Posted 25/01/2011 at 08:24:23
"we didn't dump your email...we never do...we always reply...personally and swiftly."

So there you go. He's said it now. Would anyone like to volunteer to start a thread compiling questions to be submitted to Ian Ross? A kind of open letter from Toffeeweb.

He couldn't ignore it - Toffeeweb is too public.
He couldn't give a stock answer - Toffeeweb is too public.

The only thing to bear in mind is that lots of thing will be commercial in confidence. That's simply a fact of business.

So we need questions that work around that. Do they exist?
Russ Quinlan
15 Posted 25/01/2011 at 08:38:51
Walter Smith had to put up with a lot worse with Peter Johnson but at least he had the balls to stand up to him and eventually got rid of him. Its a pity DM hasn't the same amount of bottle to get things moving. The whole Board as a sham, they have less business acumen than I have and thats not a lot. Mr Ross's replies only reinforce what most of us think about their attitude to us 'plebs'. We were here a long time before these idiots and we will be here a long time after they've gone, I just hope its sooner rather than later.
Gavin Ramejkis
16 Posted 25/01/2011 at 09:52:42
Russ, Walter had money to spend, what's the net spend of DM over the last four or five transfer windows?

Johnson may well have been a gobshite, but he hasn't pulled half the stunts that Billy Bullshitter has
Brian Waring
17 Posted 25/01/2011 at 10:00:54
Ian Ross = prick of the highest order,
always has been, always will be.
Richard Dodd
19 Posted 25/01/2011 at 11:04:31
Even I agree that Ross is an incompetent of the highest order! He has, in the past, asked me NOT to write as I do about BB as it harms his image!
Dave Richman
20 Posted 25/01/2011 at 11:24:45
@Larry Boner:

Mate, could I please nick your response and post it on a Facebook note?

I'm in the process of trying to wake up the countless sheep who follow the party line and continue spouting utter fucking nonsense about how brilliant everything is and to quote someone the other day "..... Bill Kenwright has never let us down before....." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That remark almost caused an instant aneurism.

Cheers
Alan Rycroft
21 Posted 25/01/2011 at 11:25:05
Dear Russell,
Great letter thanks. The reply was condascending to say the least I could use more colourful language. Apart from one or two great performances this season against Tottenham and City and a rearguard against pool it's been pretty dreadful fare. I was coming up from Bristol for the hammers game, thank God I didn't! Lucky to get a point and newcastle just hammered them! The players seem very on off and Pienaar just abandoning ship just like that after being made as aplayer by Everton! That pissed me off but I can't say I altogether blame him just I don't like the greed he manifests soccer is insane now. It is almost immoral to give one's money to these people. I think not just everton but football needs a thorough overhaul, it's so boring to see manure prancing about and toying with other teams yet again yet again. It's getting like Scotland and has been for a long time. We have an ageing forward past his best and another Championship player in Beckford who isn't bad but really he's no Big Dunc or Joe Royle! It;s another season we just sort of scrape by hopefully avoid relegation though there is nothing in it really between the mid and bottom clubs! Scarey. It's so sad to see this great club in such dire straits. I wish I didn't care but I do!
Russ Quinlan
22 Posted 25/01/2011 at 12:15:17
Dave (#20) there is already a Facebook page set up, Evertonians For Change

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/EvertoniansforChange

All we can do is keep pushing until something happens, I hope.
Dave Richman
23 Posted 25/01/2011 at 12:28:26
Thanks Russ..... Already on there, but we need to recruit way more people. It's around 1100 members right now, which is a tiny fraction of our support, so my idea was to publish as many of these articles as possible to spread the awareness.

It IS growing though, so as you rightly say, we just have to keep pushing.

COYB!
Larry Boner
24 Posted 25/01/2011 at 13:13:00
Dave @ # 20.
Certainly you can use it, anything to get a reaction.
John Daley
25 Posted 25/01/2011 at 14:30:42
There will never be change while there are still Evertonians out there with their head in the sand, unwilling to look any deeper than the pro-Bill bullshit media portrayal. Take this joker who posted on Facebook condemning anyone aiming criticism at BK:

Mathew Stock Seems everybody doesn't understand that Kenwrights been trying to the past 6 years to find a Buyer... He's constantly looking when He isn't producing things for his West End Productions. He's a fully 100% commited Evertonian, not alot of other Chairmen can say that about their own club and actually mean it.
You all need to stop thinking about on the field and actually get to know the facts behind the Board. Not wanting to offend anybody, but you're all like 'We need money, We need it now!'
15m for Felli, 11.75m for Yak, 11m for Billy, 8m for Beattie, 6m for AJ, that's 51m straight then all the Loan Fee's, contracts and under £5m signing has totalled up to about £75m, so yeah, you're all right, He hasn't invested ANYTHING has He?
Don't beat around the bush, think about it before posting it."

That he has the cheek to demand people 'think' first beggars belief!
Russ Quinlan
26 Posted 25/01/2011 at 15:24:22
He must be a BK love child !!! (OMG!)
Liu Weixian
27 Posted 26/01/2011 at 06:27:47
Their dismissive and condescending replies make me want to renounce my allegiance to Everton. What a fucking disgrace!

Dara (#8), In Singapore things are just as bad: I cannot find a single Everton shirt in some 'official' Premier League stores!
Tommy Coleman
28 Posted 26/01/2011 at 19:35:39
The connection between the Everton hierarchy and Everton fans is nothing more than a business/customer relationship. Evertonians exist only to consume their products and make them richer.

Want to wipe the horrible, smug attitudes from Bill Liar and Ian Ross?

Stop consuming.
Tony Wilson
29 Posted 27/01/2011 at 20:31:49
Tommy, #27, and therein lies the problem I think us fans really have.

The commercial nature of football has obliterated the key conditions that make a fan: a shared sense of pride, a belief in something beyond our everyday lives, an affiliation to an entity we can feel passionate about.

I would contest that you aren't all really angry at this PR guy, rather the hyper-commercialisation of the game. I mean come on, his job title is "PR executive", or something to that effect. Does this in itself not say it all?

Perhaps you disagree, but without more fan integration into club structures, football is only going one way, and that's to the dogs.

It's idealistic, but I would love to see some fan ownership/ representation initiatives. I would like to really feel like a fan, and not just a peripheral customer. Until that day I can only vote with my wallet.

Cheers




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