Everton's long wait for silverware is far from unique as football's superpowers continue to dominate

As far as I can see Financial Fair Play is a failure.

If it was introduced to stop clubs going into hock and having an unfair advantage, then it has been a total failure.

If it was to stop clubs from going bankrupt and therefore disrupting the whole competition by being unable to complete their fixtures then wouldn't some sort of emergency fund paid for out of gate and/or TV receipts have been a better alternative and then, at season's end, clubs relegated or put into receivership. Or even a requirement to pay transfer fees upfront.

I also tend to think that having a small, privileged group leaves the way open to corruption and seems to negate a more fair competition.

There has always been an advantage for clubs with a millionaire backer such as we had with Sir John Moores, but oil rich state governments seems to be taking it to unusual levels and does make me ask if they really are just that interested in football.

Despite its title, this article is not aimed at Evertonians but for anyone with an interest in the future of the game - if it has one!

No matter the finances other teams will continue to snaffle the odd trophy as crews from the moneybags group rest players for domestic cups but we can never be among the snafflers.

Swansea, Wigan, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Leicester could unexpectedly sneak up on silverware because of non-existent history whereas we are Everton with all that being an institution entails. The luxury of being underestimated will never apply to us.

And post Joe Royle we have lost courage we quiver in our boots when the big cup ties come along games that might go our way if we went balls out never can because contemporary Everton seem incapable of heroism.

Our hopes rest on Carlo constructing technical excellence because as I have said previously "up and at 'em" teams are not part of his cv.

Alisher Usmanov's millions have saved Everton from a financial fair play disaster.

That is according to finance guru and Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after the Daily Mail revealed that the billionaire's holdings company USM is set to sponsor Everton's new stadium in a £20million-a-year deal.

He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “An independent valuer from an independent body will come in and say that the naming rights deal is coming from what is known as a related party.

“Any transactions have to be assessed at fair value and they would work out what they think that is.

“Usmanov is not a shareholder in Everton so therefore this is, in theory, an arm's length agreement. He also paid £30m for the option to have the naming rights for the stadium before the stadium had even been approved. That dug Everton out of an FFP challenge at the time.

Now I am not sure who agreed £20 Million a year from the independent valuer as fair, while Man City can have the very same naming right to their stadium set at £67 Million a year.

Okay, you can allow for Champions League, but that is over triple the amount, they have said of Evertons fair value. Where is Paul the Esk when you need him?

Brian, wasn't there a complaint when this sponsorship first arose because Spurs have been looking for someone to sponsor their ground? FFP rules protecting the interests of the few I'd argue