Graeme Sharp named Everton Players” Life President

He always said when he was young that he wanted to be a journalist when he stopped playing so the media aspect is a great thing for him.

I'm pleased for Graeme, although to be totally honest I also think it shows that Bill Kenwright's nepotistic influence is still all over the Club. It's becoming a bit embarrassing in some ways or maybe I've just become a bit too cynical over the years?

Jobs for the boys. Go away Kenwright.

If this had been announced just by Everton and not Kenwright specifically would there be the same cynicism?

What qualities does Graham Sharp have to be a point of contact for the Board, Academy, Executive Leadership team and First-Team Management staff?
Another Kenwright cringe appointment.

Players president would have to be one of the boys wouldn't he?
The clues in the title.

Brent, Sharp has always been the one to toe the party line, hasn't he? If they pay your wages, then I suppose you should. But he's a former great who doesn't rock the boat, unlike say southall, so it was always going to be him.

The question is, what exactly is Sharpy going to be advising the board about? Sounds like a load of tosh to me. Just jobs for the boys and something to make it look like the club is doing something.

I don't begrudge Sharpy at all by the way. He's never earned superstar money and it's good he will continue to earn a nice living. Just if we wanted to see something actually done, then you'd go get big Nev involved.

Steve, my point was obviously not a defence of Sharp's appointment but a comment on the predictability of knives out for Bill. Subtle difference.

Steve, the club is not in a good place behind the scenes. Why would you employ somebody like Neville Southall who will upset people?

It's just a bizarre move. What difference will he make, what will he actually do? Is this all lip-service?

Another Kenwright appointment for a grateful someone who, instead of "getting" Everton, is now described as having "Evertonian DNA".

More (im)pure, unadulterated claptrap for the gullible. Just what we need.

I like to imagine an Everton devoid of the alien - see Dave Abraham's post on another current thread for more on Ripley's unwelcome adversary.

Andrew, because it needs someone like Southall to upset people. There's too many there doing not a lot. He wouldn't let all the hangers-on get away with it. He could help bring an end to all these cliques at the club hindering progress behind the scenes.

I don't know what goes on behind the scenes at Everton.

Quite honestly, in the past it struck me as a shambles of a business. These days, it seems bloated on all the TV money with a lot of employees, jobs and departments just springing up all over the place and appointments like this that don't really seem to have any real point to them.

Like I say, I don't know, it's just a feeling I get. Anybody know anybody who works at the Club who can shed a bit of light?

Gerard McKean wrote a few articles on this subject Karl. Others have repeated things he's said and all point to pointless people inside the club who all have personal fiefdoms that don't actually help the football club. A common complaint by those staff leaving the club is that you need to get into the right clique to progress.

Another sinecure for one of BK's boys!

A guy who scored over 150 goals and has served the club after his playing career for years, spanning over 4 decades and we complain he is given a job for life which, most likely, is probably the same role but with a fancy name.

Graeme Sharp, what he says in public is a lot different to what he says privately, if it wasn't Sharp it would have been Snodin or Stuart, they all say what the club wants them to say, doesn't matter to me what they say, I take no notice, yes men.

The Peoples Republic of North Kenwright strikes again. I'm just surprised a tearful toffee lady is not announcing it, sitting behind an enormous mahogany desk on EFC TV, with a great big pic of our Never Will He Leave US Leader, sobbing blue tears, behind her. I suppose they have to pump something new out seeing as we look to be getting no new player(s) in this transfer window. Control the narrative and they, the people, will comply.

What a miserable shower!! The guy does a good job at the club and his role will never be to criticise what is going on at manager or board level. He is an employee with responsibility for being a friendly and approachable face at the club not to ruffle feathers. Brands is the man who should be doing that and hopefully that's what he does. Nowhere in Sharps job description does it indicate a duty to challenge people or do anything other than be a mouthpiece for the club and spread goodwill both outside and within. He has the skills to do that and he does it well.

More luvvy duvvy meaningless bullshit from the quadruple chinned one to divert attention away from the club's total inability to do anything right
Sharp was a fantastic player but this is yet more Pravda style total bullshit

Dave (19) Being miserable is part of our DNA.

#20 Why do people have to make fun of somebody's looks? Making fun of Bill's face here; on another thread today there's fun made of Steve Bruce's face. Grow up. It's childish.

What will he do? Make sure everyone has a place in the corridor to keep their locker, a car parking space and see that nobody arrives late or gets sent home early from training even if one is just to make up for the other.

So he's a glorified doorman/greeter? Good luck to him but is it ad honorem? Him being such a huge Evertonian and wealthy man and all.

I'm not criticising Sharpy, I'd take the money as well from billy muggins.

I really don't understand some people. A great player and a man who is proud to be part of our club. Yes proud to be part of the club.
Yet some want to take to the piss out of him and this announcement.

How can people be so stupid to knock GS over this? His job is to promote the club and liaise with local institutions, fans and do on, not to comment on how the club is run.
How long do they think they would last in their own workplace if they went round telling all and sundry that their Senior Management and Directors were idiots and hadn't got a clue what they were doing. Not very long I don't think.

Jonathan- what on earth has Everton or Bill done to you- your posts are often pretty savage and whilst I can understand being hacked off at performances this seems to run deep with you?
I can't see a problem with Sharps appointment and of course the club will appoint people who will tow the party line. No employer in his right mind will engage a potential troublemaker. Southall for example would likely speak his mind which is great in the press but no good at all if he was an employee who openly disagreed in blunt terms with what the manager or board is seeking to achieve regardless of whether or not he may be right. Sharp knows how to play the game and will do the job well- good luck to him.

What a pleasant thread to read.

This much venom over what is essentially a PR hire.

Amazing.

Never liked Sharp. By the time I was old enough to pay attention he was averaging a goal about once every six games. I also didn't appreciate him when RM was in charge and we lost a game and he publicly stated "we would have won if Moyes was still here." Hopefully that is not indicative of his idea of the "right behaviors across the club."

All of that being said, they're rolling him out as a not so subtle PR exercise to remind us that Everton were once a good team. So I don't really care, he isn't there for my benefit and I am not paying him so they can do what they want for all I care.

I loved Sharpy. Great in the air great link up play and could score.

He has probably taken on more of the meet n greet stuff at the club and asked for a pay rise to which Bill has invented a new job and gave him the role.

I wonder if he is earning more now than what he did as a player. Anyhow I don't begrudge him the position. To put things into perspective we are probably paying Schneiderlin 100k per week.

Good luck to him.

Well I saw Sharpy all over the place in the late 80's and he was a fine centre forward, capable of scoring with thunderbolt shots from 25 yards and bullet headers. Kieran, he didn't score a massive amount of goals because they were shared out through the team. Only when we got Linkeker did one player get lots of goals and that was the season in the sandwich where we didn't win anything!
Sharp was a scorer and a maker of chances, a brilliant targetman and he had pace. I loved him then and I don't begrudge the lad continuing to make a living at our great club. He has contributed more than most.

Nothing wrong with Sharp as a player, but for me Sharp, Snodin and Stuart are yes men and say what the board want to hear.

Not a chance will they offer a job role to Southall, because he will say it how it is.

Surprising how the likes of Southall, Reid or Gray have never been asked for any job role whether with the first team, the youngsters, or Media.

Some will bring up Grays past with sky, others with Southall being out spoken, but these are the three heat and soul of Everton Football Club, where losing was not an option.

Heart and soul above.

I was critical of Sharpie at the time of the Blue Union protests. He was obviously a clubman, everything was hunky dory apparently, and he was dismissive of the protests. I was critical of Snodin for the same reasons - in fact, thinking about it, the club had the media all on their side around this time. The Echo wouldn't give any coverage of the Blue Union, I remember David Prentice producing articles one summer about various subjects such as the great banter between players, or that we might be stronger by not making any signings - this while all our rivals were strengthening left, right and centre and we were the poor relation yet again with Kenwright refusing to sell us!

Anyway, I met Sharpie once and he was a lovely fella, and I have to say that he is perfect for an ambassadorial role. Being an ambassador is simply representing the club in a positive manner. It's basically what he has always done, despite our frustrations 15 years ago when we thought Kenwright had taken us as far as he could. He's never gonna speak up against Kenwright - but then that's not the job of an ambassador. As an ambassador I wouldn't expect him to speak up like I did when he was a voice on the radio.

Kenwright still being involved is another topic entirely! But I wish Sharpie well in his new role.

James@27. Thank heavens there are still some people on
this site with non negative views. Sharpy was a great player for us, is a great ambassador, and is one of the nicest humblest blokes you could ever meet.
Does it really matter much about the proposed appointment? He's not being made Director of Football,
pity really he'd do a good job.

I love this thread, we all need cheering up. But yes I agree he's a Kenwright Happy Clapper.

Pickford is going through a mare at the moment.

How hard would it be to bring Neville Southall on board to help out with tips and coaching.

Poor Nev says it how it is so not a bloody chance. Meanwhile the likes of Sharp, Snodin, Stuart, even Jeffers soho area Bills nodding yes men get various job titles around Everton.

Dont worry Neville you are one of us, do not hold your breath for a phone call, anytime soon.

Not sure where the soho came from, should say so are.

Brian, I went to the evening with big Nev at the Winslow last summer. What a great man Nev is. He was asked about coaching but said he is more interested in working with younger people nowadays who need help. It was a privilege to listen to him.

Thats fair enough then Clive,never have another like Nev.

Brian@39, I was talking to an old goalkeeping friend who liked Pickford, even though he's a red, but he was saying those antics of his, having a go at his defenders every time he makes a save are very off putting, and he also thinks he might be not be getting coached properly, although he was only judging him on Newcastle's second goal the other night, because he was saying no good goalkeeper, should have been that far behind his line when they scored.

I was wondering what Big Rob's views would be, seeing how he's part of the goalkeepers Union?

To be honest Tony, Pickford seems to have those lapses, even against Burnley he stayed rooted to his line when it was his to win, Coleman then Digne had a go at him for not coming for the ball.

I think if even Neville Southall tried to pass on anything, it would go straight over Pickfords head and disregarded.

Keown was spot on about needing to calm down, but I doubt Pickford will heed any advice coming his way from anyone.