FAN ARTICLES

Everton FC ? Love and Despair, Part 4: The Future

By Michael Fields :  24/02/2011 :  Comments (11) :

Unfortunately, like other fans, I have no magic solution. Even if a rich benefactor could be found, we have seen this solution go wrong elsewhere. Would we want to be controlled by a rich Arab Royal Family, given the state of revolution in the Middle East? What of Americans such as the previous owners of Liverpool, dedicated to finding ways of profiting from the club? Could we trust an oil-rich Russian not to lead us into further debt?

The previous chairman, the hated Peter Johnson, was seen as a rogue and, at the time, a Supporters? Trust was set up to attempt to buy him out. As it happened, along came Bill Kenwright who purchased all available shares. He was seen by supporters as a benevolent, if a little hard up, uncle, who would do his best for the club.

Kenwright appointed Walter Smith as manager and, while he is still viewed with affection by Evertonians, this appointment was a mistake. It can be a positive move to bring in fine players at the end of their careers (viz. Phil Neville), but Gascoigne and Ginola?

Kenwright?s tenure has been characterised by decline, as Goodison Park has aged. His two plus points have been the replacement of Peter Johnson, and the appointment of David Moyes. Despite our manager?s faults, he has many strengths and, given the club?s lack of funds, without him Everton could have been relegated instead of frequently challenging for a Europa League place ? and once securing a Champions League place.

As I suggested earlier, it would seem that Bill Kenwright must go. Chairmen do not move on as frequently as managers, but they do go. He may hold most of the shares, and he may not wish to give up his hobby, but those in strong positions can be moved aside when there is considerable pressure, for example from the people of ?The People?s Club?. The metaphor may not be exact, but witness Hosni Mubarak...

The principal, and most likely in the short term, alternative is to find a rich buyer. Keith Harris, commissioned to seek investment, has suggested that potential buyers are out there. Where there used to be four clubs significantly richer than Everton, now it seems that there are perhaps eight or nine clubs who can spend freely to improve their squads. Can Everton now afford to buy any player good enough to join the first team, unless they first sell? As Everton fans, we worry that we may have to sell players such as Rodwell, Baines or Fellaini (or others) as they perceive a lack of ambition at the club.

Barry Horne wrote an article recently about the advantages of having a real fan in control of the club. Well, I have much time for Barry as a very fine ex-player for the club, but here he is wrong. If we can find a system whereby large numbers of fans have a share in the club, maintaining its strength and influencing its decisions, then fine. Otherwise, we are left in the position we have now which, as surely Barry Horne must recognise, is completely unsatisfactory. While his business is not local, Bill Kenwright is in a tradition of magnates who ran (or still run) clubs like Burnley (remember Bob Lord?), Blackpool, or Newcastle. Like it or not, the world has moved on.

It is a real worry that, even if a rich benefactor could be found, the club could suffer as a new owner ? interested only in profit ? did not always act in Everton?s best interests. However, we cannot compete with the richest clubs at present. If Everton Football Club is again to challenge for the top position in the top league, change is required. There may be risks involved as a new owner is found, but risks are essential if Everton is again to be considered as ?the best?. In any event, an extensive process of ?due diligence? would have to be completed, and I understand that FA and Uefa checks would also have to be met.

If Bill Kenwright and Keith Harris are actively seeking a buyer, and if options in the USA, Russia or the Middle East have either dried up or are unsuitable, what about India, Japan and China? These are massive and growing economies and there must be some very rich interested parties out there.

Beyond all of that, I believe that the best solution would be for the club to be run by its supporters. There are various models, but the one operated at Real Madrid appears to be excellent, and they seem to have little difficulty in attracting top players! At Real Madrid, a ?socio? is a member who pays an annual fee. The socios then gain discounts on season tickets and merchandise. They also may vote in elections for Club President ? and of course, they may stand in the elections. Many would like, I am sure, to see individuals such as Bill Kenwright stand in such elections at Everton. The personal fortune of the President would be irrelevant.

Unfortunately, I do not believe we are ready for such a development at Everton. However, various supporters? groups have come to the fore in recent times, and one of them could develop a model similar to that at Real Madrid. I am not associated with any of the groups mentioned here, but their existence shows the feeling which is abroad. I imagine that I will join one of the groups, but I need to be persuaded of which has the most rational plan, and which the best chance of making a difference.

The idea of Fan Shares has come up again. This seems to be a system whereby individual fans are enabled to buy shares or part-shares, perhaps helping in buying new players. If it could be organised, this might be of some benefit to the club.

The letter sent by the organisation ?Evertonians for Change? to the club recently included a great deal of sense. They believe we need much better channels of communication between the club and its fans. This seems to be undeniable ? even shareholders have not had an annual meeting for some time! Unfortunately, it was answered by Chief Executive Robert Elstone in a patronising way. The reply could be paraphrased as ?Yes, we are already doing all of the things you want and there is no need for us to change.? I am sure that this group will keep pressing.

A model described as ?Trust Everton? has been proposed by Tony l?Anson and Mike Owen and, from what I can see, their ideas are also well founded. Members would pay a subscription and would then own and secure assets for the benefit of the club. They would not buy players. The club is currently paying off a number of loans from different banks, at no doubt high interest rates. Trust Everton would loan funds to the club to pay off the debts and members would be paid a dividend.

Such fans? groups could develop, and perhaps merge, to the benefit of the club. Their development could, of course, continue even with a new owner in place. The desired and ideal outcome would be that Everton would truly become ?The People?s Club?, owned by its fans, where Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

« Part 3: David Moyes and the Team

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