An Alternative Strategy Required

Courage, humility and trust are key words. I like this idea a most positive step in the right direction, lots of issues, figuring out the right folks, how, where, how often etc, but highly do-able.

I am now Bill-Baiter, but the fact is that EFC is a business owned by him and two others. They will not relinquish control which is how they would see your suggestions. heavens, even Robert the CEO is a puppet for Bill who dictates his every move.

Sadly, the solution is to sell to a consortium, group of person who will run the business as a business: with investment, evidence-backed decison-making and a break-even/profit target for current account and a dwindling/eradicated debt enabling greater capital value.

Put simply, sell Bill, and move away.

My name seems to be popping up on every other TW article, although there are a number of passionate Evertonians who are working hard to get Trust Everton off the ground. We never gave a progress update last week due to the accounts coming out, but we should have one out this week. Everyone please be assured that Trust Everton has progressed a fair bit since the first article appeared on here.

I wish Trust Everton every success and feel they can play an important part/role in the solution to Everton's current woes on and off the pitch.

Perhaps it's now time for BK et al to ask the question whether they are also part of the solution.

I think the Club would need to be sold first because I have no faith that the current Board and it's backers would be prepared to see their power diluted.

I really hope your vision can be brought into reality, it would truely then be the People's Club.

Well done, Christine.

One of EFC faults is a lack of and poor decision making adding more to that process just makes it more complicated. Simple matter is we need more revenue to invest more both on and off the field; the gap is around £70 million per year to match Arsenal and £20 million Liverpool that?s before we get to sponsorship revenue. The gap is far too big in the current climate and EFC are a casualty of modern football and the only medicine is £300 plus million cash injection.

If it was a level playing field then Christine's points would be of interest... as they aren?t then it's just a soppy dream. COYB

Ever since Everton has been allegedly up for sale, the only word coming from our chairman and CEO is, 'investors', even on Radio Merseyside at the weekend, Robert Elstone kept on saying, "We are looking 24/7 for the right investor" ? not once have i heard the word 'buyer'.

Can anyone out there clarify this for me?

The new building in the Park End End car park is a decent short-term solution but why not look into the costings of a Park End second tier? Complete with row of posh boxes? That will increase the capacity + revenue. We can then wait a few more year's before we work on say the Bullens.

But given we have a bigger Park End we won't suffer from a severely reduced capacity during that building work. A sympathetic renovation of Goodison over 10 years would be preferable to a move to a flat pack soulless bowl that everyone else seems to be doing at the moment.

Business has evolved from the pyramid approach (CEO at the pinnacle, management in the middle, employers in the lower tier, and customers in the baseline) to one that inverts the aforementioned pyramid. Shameless he may be, I don't think even Kenwright and 'two others' will be able to ignore the continual sights of half-empty (or empty) stadiums and the media furore that will inevitably follow.

It is time for all Evertonians to act and show that fat useless lump ? and I don't mean Anichebe here ? that the days of taking Evertonians for granted and treating them with contempt are over.

Good article in today Times, back page on the supplement about EFC. COYB

This come from the top, summed up with Mr "I'm bored with your question now" Kenwright. How anyone can defend that comment, directed to a supporter and shareholder who cares for the club, I have no idea. He is an embarrassment to the club and must go now.

I hope we all support Tony and Mike in their efforts for the supporters trust in whatever way we can.

For argument's sake lets call the fans representative base The Everton Network ? a group of perhaps 3 or 4 people who have good networks across the board for operational revenue generation, corporate box selling, cost cutting with improved services, etc, all from an Everton Network website and personal vetting.

Increased Matchday revenue. Increases entry prices are a fact of life these days, but who wouldn't pay more to help the club for a particular project? In the process, give the opportunity to invole rather than just hit the pocket.

Let's say a compulsory Matchday seat number raffle included in your increased ticket price (I said seat not meat) as a means to contribute towards a higher ticket price with a matchday prize of £5,000... (38,000 x £2 price increase = £76k) with a half time presentation of the prize. Basic ideas.

From a strategic perspective, the board could look for suggestions or alternative solutions without having to put to tender as such but attempt to use the professional networks to assist

Sorry, Tony, I know how to do it but these are a few basic examples of what could be done. I am sure there are plenty more but this is a forum response and not a presentation.

It's important to understand it's not a volunteer network, it's a resource of expertise at the club's disposal.

Schalke 04 had a new stadium built for the World Cup in 2006. The supporters were directly consulted as to the design of the stadium. The ticket policy is also a lot fairer. Schalke are situated in an industrial area which has seen much decline as are Borussia Dortmund. Both these clubs take that into account with their ticket prices. It is little wonder that the Bundesliga attracts the biggest attendances of all the European Leagues, when they seem to treat the supporters with respect and directly involve them in their clubs.

It is only one example ? but I am surely not the only Evertonian who, when I read about the problems in redeveloping Goodison Park is appalled at the missed opportunity of the Park End Stand? The amount of "wasted space" behind the structure. There was enough scope to have constructed a two-tier stand similar to Aston Villa's Holte End. I wasn't happy with the decision in 1994 and I am still of the same opinion. But what if the supporters had been consulted/been involved ? things might have been different.

Pragmatism, Apathy, Realism, Cynicism, all have basis in our history but without the will to change, why try?

This club is worth fighting for. Our vision may not be the same as the clubs because we don't have one.

Yet.

A million years? I think it will take 5 years for a fully interactive relationship to happen, with or without the current owners. But we can't wait and watch in the meantime.

1. Survival
2. A shared Everton Vision
3. Best use of all available resources
4. The future involvement of the fans in the club.

Alas, as I have said, it needs willing parties, organisation and other places to look for solutions.

It could be done even now, it could be done. As I said, it takes courage and humility.

It should not be consigned to the "too hard basket" or "just another utopian idea."

Everton Trust may be the vehicle to do so but it would need to get the trust and co-operation with the club in a proactive manner.