Fan Advisory Board to hold public meetings to gauge fan opinion

If Neville and Rats can attend too, with a hint of Reid, and even Digne (as a player who had had enough of what was happening to the club), that would be grand!

By the time the meetings with concerned fans have taken place and the FAB have reported the issues to the Board, the transfer window will be closed, and who knows we might be firmly ensconced in the Bottom 3.

FAB – Thunderbirds Are Go – a great 1960s made-for-TV puppet show.

All that Jazz & Co need to do is look at the media coverage recently by the Echo, Sky, BBC and social media in general, to “gauge fan opinion”. They're nothing but pieces on the Everton chess board that are pushed around by Kenwright and the rest of them.

This is exactly what's required. Not another time-waster.

That's my gut feeling. The power of the people (NSNOW) is something we don't want sidetracked or hoodwinked, like the FAB.

Christ, even the bods in the Space Station know the fans opinion, for fuck's sake!!!

I just hope the meetings don't end up showing the supporters in a bad light.

100%

Yes, yes, yes!!!

Brian 8,

I will lighten the mood with a rendition of Abide with Me and a bit of juggling…

What the supporters would like is a copy of any discussions held between the FAB and any of the club's representatives and a copy of how many supporters attended the public meetings to show that it is just not supporters writing in on fan sites.

I wouldn't ask them anything. Tell them what a shambolic mess they have made and that things and personnel must change. Do they realise that, if relegated, it could well be the end of EFC as a big club?

What is the strategy for improving the performance of the board? Who measures and monitors this?

Are the board members subject to an individual performance-based review against annual objectives?

How will fans' views be aired? Will the points raised be publicised for comment prior to review with the board? Will the board review of said findings be publicised?

For the rest so far, with your petty little comments? Don't participate then.

For anyone who hasn't read the Echo article yet, there's this within:

… [Fans'] concerns surrounding the club. Against this backdrop the independent FAB has organised meetings through which fans can relay their thoughts, with an overview then to be provided to the club. Summaries of the meetings will be made public.

The FAB said: “We know how much our club means to all Evertonians and fully acknowledge the concerns and views being expressed about the club's current predicament. The FAB was established to ensure that the views of Evertonians are taken into account in the strategic decision-making process at EFC. We want to make sure that Evertonians have the opportunity to share their views or concerns about the strategic direction of the club.”

There will be a total of four meetings. The schedule below:

The face-to-face meetings will be at the Blue Base, on Salop Street, at 7pm on Wednesday, January 11 and at the Hot Wok at 1pm on Sunday, January 15. Two meetings will be held over Zoom. They will be at 7pm on Thursday, January 12 and 7pm on Monday, January 16.

For more details, and to attend, email: Chair@EFC-FanAdvisoryBoard.com

We have had first-hand experience of it already when we had that 27 Years Protest at Goodison in the pouring rain, when Sky interviewed (yes you've guessed right) Jazz, and there was no mention of Kenwright being the subject of the derision and anger, it was all centred around Moshiri being culpable as the Owner.

No reason to think why this will be any different, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I will keep my powder dry till then.

The owner and board cannot fear the fanbase. They cannot ignore the clamour for an explanation and they can't just hope it goes away with a couple of wins. It won't!

Ultimately, the buck stops with majority shareholder Moshiri and nobody really knows how the club has functioned or what pressures the hierarchy may have had to deal with under his leadership.

But the board of directors, including chairman Bill Kenwright and CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale also have a responsibility, too.

With every position of office comes responsibility and accountability.

Alan Myers: Time has come for the club to put up, show up and speak up

Even the Morning Star have written about the club seemingly prior to the FA Cup meeting with Manchester United:

Everton's root and branch reform needs to start at the top

The Club and the board know exactly what the fans are thinking; will they do something radical to address those concerns? I very much doubt it.

We need our own Bastille. It's the only way we'll ever get rid of you know who.

Barry, as an old Trotskyite, I can't believe I read the Stalinist rag but it was a good, accurate article.

As one of the oldies, yes, Harry Catterick was a controversial manager in his own " write" but I was proud to be an Evertonian during his term.

From the mists of time, selling Collins okay was wrong, but his signing Dennis Stevens, Ray Wilson and Tony Kay went a big way to us being Champions in 1963.

Watch the games on YouTube at home versus Inter Milan and Man Utd Charity Shield 1963 to see how good we were
Then other great signings: West, Fred Pickering, Howard Kendall, Alan Ball also magic etc. I was lucky to see all these players.

Sadly, I can't say the same about the present crop. We will need more than the Goodison roar this season to get us out of jail.

You have to 'Apply' to be heard/speak your piece – that to me seems potentially 'Selective'. Picking and choosing who you want saying it and what you want said.

Obviously you don't want a rabble chanting 'Bill, Bill, Bill, - Out Out Out' (Do you??)

Nor the other extreme of a Father Ted protest plackard saying "Down with that sort of thing now".

Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I did a Club survey a month or so ago... Bland questions with bland options – with a load of woke diversity shite tacked on the end.

I might(?) be an arl cynic, but I got the impression from the 'body langauge' of the wording, that my opinions would carry more weight the more 'right on' boxes I ticked.

*Interviewer thrusts microphone under woman's nose as she leaves one of Kenwright's productions... 'Apart from that Mrs Lincoln - what did you think of the show?'

I'd be quite happy (well, you know what I mean) if Moshiri sacked the Board – there must be plenty of candidates on LinkedIn – and kept Lampard.

What's Trevor Birch doing nowadays?

Why do you think that, in the face of a very organised NSNOW protest, the FAB are suddenly interested in fans' views?

I will tell you why: because it was organised to head off the Fan Led Review and then the original 27 Years protest. This latest effort is more of the same, trying to counter the recent NSNOW protest, arranged from Everton's offices in the Liver Building. That is its only object and outcome.

They are on a hiding to nothing, just like the Board they represent. It is so bare-faced, it is embarrassing.

“Plans are at early stage and may include minority investment”.

Behind a paywall but you can listen to the article (it's terrible but ignore that)

https://assets.bwbx.io/s3/readings/RO7P1TT0AFB41673306435157.mp3

This sounds like the perfect buyout opportunity for EFC (or even investment) but no doubt Kenwright won't let go without a dirty tricks campaign. I'd be doing everything in my power to get in-front of this lot with pitch books and all sorts. If you don't ask, you don't get. Seems like we never ask, for reasons known.

'Cynical' is the word that springs to mind. Like everything Kenwright does.

A cynical attempt to maintain the status quo and his position at the club. A cynical attempt to belittle a beleaguered fanbase who are desperate for stability never mind deserved of success we all crave (and should be aiming for).

Cynical = Kenwright. Shameful selfish man. I'm sure deep down even he doesn't believe it anymore but he's so desperate to maintain this smokescreen of lies and deceit, he'll do anything.

I signed up to. Not that I expect much to come of it but I figured I'd at least give them a chance,

We want them to listen to fans. In theory, FAB are best positioned to share our concerns. If we boycott it then the only people involved will be sycophants fans so the idea of it being useless becomes a self-perpetuating prophecy.

If we participate, there's a possibility – albeit a small one – our voices will be heard. Worst case, it's a waste of my time and I lose an hour. Best case, maybe something comes of it.

What part of this, "For the rest so far, with your petty little comments? Don't participate then.", don't you understand?

You haven't provided a single good reason for other Evertonians to not attend these meetings. So keep on with your meaningless arm-waving.

However, hope springs eternal. Here again:

There will be a total of four meetings. The schedule below:

The face-to-face meetings will be at the Blue Base, on Salop Street, at 7pm on Wednesday, January 11 and at the Hot Wok at 1pm on Sunday, January 15. Two meetings will be held over Zoom. They will be at 7pm on Thursday, January 12 and 7pm on Monday, January 16.

For more details, and to attend, email: Chair@EFC-FanAdvisoryBoard.com

I dislike Bill Kenwright, as much as any Evertonian, but I do believe it’s churlish to suggest that he could still stop Moshiri from selling the club now.

Someone suggested this to me recently, and it never made any sense, unless what Jerome alludes to is true, and our chairman, is helping to prevent the club from receiving punishment for our horrendous mismanagement?

My thoughts could go deeper, but if Moshiri wants to sell, then although Bill Kenwright, might object, he’d be a very foolish man if he actually could prevent the sale of Everton going through, and he tried to do do this?

What objectives in changing the Everton situation do you think will be achieved ?

Why is the Board completely silent ?

Why is the FAB being wheeled out at the this time to gauge Fan opinion?What have they achieved so far?

Have the Board and owner recognised and answered the NsNOW letter?

Does FAB recognise the NDNOW letter?

What is your opinion of the NSNOW letter and what should be done about it?

As a member of NSNOW and Fan since the 1960s I want those NSNOW questions answered and the proposed talks to begin, with a view to having the proposed actions taken.I have authorised NSNOW to add my name to any communications with Everton, having been involved in discussions with #27 years/NSNOW since the start.

Michael Corleone, got Hyman Roth in the end, nothings impossible, he said!!

Newcastle have risen from the ashes after a change of ownership, it may be time for changes at Everton.

I respect those who are part of it and I'm sure they have good intent. But it has been virtualy silent since it's conception and there has been no communication as to what they are achieving and their own communication with the club. Maybe I'm reading the wrong pages and have missed something?

I'm not naive enough to think that such a panel will make decisions on behalf of the board. They won't. But I would expect it to influence, inform or at the very least give the decision makers food for thought.

Use it or don't have it springs to mind.

I'll attend one of the Zooms at least. I can possibly make the 15th in person.

The Hot Wok? No disrespect to that establishment but a Chinese restaurant in the old Blue House as a venue?

Surely if the Club was taking the FAB seriously they would have opened the doors of Goodison and allowed them to host it in one of the executive suites?

Or don't they trust the supporters?

I'm getting more and more cynical and suspicious. This sudden setting up of meetings feels like a reaction to seeing the national media now turning their attention to the board and owner rather that the manager being the root cause.

Almost like a "erm, FAB, can you go and see what they think" moment in the closed corridors of Goodison power.

Gauge the supporters' feelings? Where have they been? When you have optimistic fools like me turning, the worm turned long ago.

Frank came over with the players on Friday to show respect to the supporters, who responded well to him and the team. It was almost defiance on both sides. Only as they headed towards the tunnel in the far corner did we turn our frustration at where the real issue lies. Sack the Board might be an easy thing to chant, but 9,400 Evertonians were calling for change and no doubt represented many more.

We will support the team every week with all of our heart and soul. That is not in question and unreserved.

But it doesn't stop us wanting change at the top of OUR club. Change the manager, wheel in the next unsuspecting victim and we'll be here again in 12 months time with the same people still in charge at the top.

Apologies for the outburst.

If you think in terms of a new investor, imo this would be the truer objective of the takeover, that Everton want. Even Moshiri was proposed in the last takeover of only being prepared to sell some of his shares.It was never stated that Kenwright would sell his. It could be that it is a Markll takeover.Markl being the original Moshiri takeover.There is no evidence that Moshiri wants Kenwright out or himself out of Everton.There is no evidence that they both would be gone after a takeover. They both would have a say in any takeover negotiations as the main shareholders.

Lampard obviously just isn't a good enough coach or strong enough mentally to demand what new players we require or how to get the best out of them and should be replaced immediately. That should be where our focus should lie but looks as though it's being completely and deliberately overlooked.

News that Pickford could be leaving would be the final straw, I wonder if any of these issues will be discussed at this meeting which will probably prove to be totally fruitless as the owner seems to have abdicated all responsibility for our predicament and has effectively gone missing.

A specific set of questions need to be answered but they will never see the light of day with questions required to be submitted and therefore vetted prior to meetings. This is NOT a public Q&A session.

To what benefit Danny? The FAB cannot discuss or reveal any discussions they have with any member of EFC unless they are expressly permitted to do so. So this is distinctly one way traffic.

We have gone way beyond a FAB. Answers are required from the owner, chairman and CEO.

Your last sentence speaks volumes.

An owner who has seemingly lived in a dreamworld throwing his money at people I wouldn't trust to go and buy a pint with a five pound note and give me the correct change. And now facing the reality of his main benefactor not being available.

A Chairman and former owner who having ridden into Goodison on the back of a ticket of claiming to be a saviour now clinging on to power despite decades of failure.

A CEO who isn't really a CEO. Admirable work with Everton in the Community; I wish that would be expanded to other parts of the city and region as it does much good for a deprived community. But we are a football club first and foremost. If we don't sort out our core business, we won't be able to fund stuff like that.

One of my favourite players of all time seemingly acting like a lap dog. An elevated Duncan Ferguson, with just about as much non-influence.

I said I was getting emotional about this. Give me a pass. I'm having a moment!!!

As many have said, this is about placating fans and delaying reaction. I can see it now, FAB 'So, loyal fans - what is the problem? Your not happy with what we serive up as football? Shall we drill down to see what can be done? Say another meeting at the end of Jan? Deliverd as if they have no awareness of the pressing, urgent issue at all. It's patronizing and shows utter contempt toward the fans.

Christine Foster, I really hope you are involved in some way, as you articulate the concerns superbly and have offered some sensible ideas of how to move forward.

The only time I have come across FAB is on Twitter during #27 year discussion.Inevitability I get into a spat with them, in the Twitter medium.A medium I don't have a clue about.My communication on Twitter is pure luck most of the time.

I don't know if James has anything to do with FAB.I am communicating with him as purely a fellow ToffeeWeb poster on this thread.

Christine, I will (if allowed in!) do my best to report back on here my thoughts on the the meeting.

I won't say that I'm deeply suspicious that the reults of this meeting will be filed under "B" but the sod who won't hold Shareholder meetings is the same one we're campaigning to see him leave.

As Derek Knox has reported what happened, I went to that meeting in the pissing rain outside the Church at the corner of the ground. All that came out of the press meeting with a rep of this FAB was to do with Moshiri.

Well, that's not what I went there for, and I guess it was the same with many others. It was to protest at the 27 year slow strangulation of our great club and the man at the head of EFC for those 27 years.

That is now exacerbated by the rapidly increasing speed on the road to relegation.

These meetings are to find out our "concerns" and report to the Board.

well, they aren't concerns! I'll be saying that Kenwright should go, and his croneys with him. He has done enough damage to our club; and masde himself very rich in the process. If he had one ounce of dignity, he'd have gone years ago, the day that Sheik Mansour wanted to buy our club.

There is a probably a fine line between hot-headed activists and passionate supporters who care deeply for the plight of the club.

I get what you mean, but the majority are not pitch fork wielders and we shouldn't prevent the club hearing what supporters think and almost the entire football world can see.

Eric, try Spoons in most parts of the country. Even areas of London outside the centre!!

Keep telling everyone they need to be satisfied with their lot and everything is okay and they will think and rise against it.

I'll use an even simpler analogy from my childhood. Remember the "hot do not touch" signs on the glass in the Chippy?

What was the first thing you did? Burn your finger.

Tell people they can't have or want something and you poke the fire.

If this meeting was taking lace in my back garden I'd draw the curtains.

Not telling others how they should express their concerns, but for me, attendance to this carefully managed charade gives it a credence it doesnt deserve.

He got a lot of sympathy because people believed the interview shouldn’t have been taped. Proving My, my - hey hey, Bill Kenwright, was here to stay

I also agree with Christine, Darren, and everyone else who can’t take the FAB however many, seriously. But I’d go the meeting and tell everyone to be quiet and listen to what these fans who have been selected by the club, have got to say about our current predicament first. Then I’d speak

They know what's coming so are prepared and stick to the script regardless of the questions that they have already been told they are going to be asked. The party line as they call it.

A deliberate tactic. In my line of work, I've had media training. They call it bridging. You always turn the response back to the point you want or have been told to make regardless of the question.

Personally I'm more honest and transparent, but that's what they teach you.

100 percent right.

A lot of money has been wasted, but the club have spent on average around £33 million per year, over the last five years, so this isn’t even extortionate?

We have given massive wages, to a lot of average players, which equates to gross negligence once again

I have no objection to anyone signing up or attending the meeting.The more the merrier and some like yourself, with good articulation, may be able to put across his view. It can only help, because it can be contrasted with the actual response of FAB.You may find that it will be one of a series of meetings.Good Luck being selected.

To me, this has numerous advantages, including:
a) One meeting, one record of it widely distributed and available as a matter of record. If the feedback path has to be: supporters - fans' groups - FAB - board and back again then OK, not as streamlined as supporters would want, but at least open and accountable;
b) Promotes the fans' groups as being responsible representations of the fanbase;
c) Enables fans groups to prevent a more united front and avoid repetition in the questioning. It will mean the fans groups co-ordinating beforehand, but surely that's a good thing?
d) The co-ordinated supporters groups (see above) have the opportunity to ask general and strategic questions as well as more specific ones, bearing in mind sensitive commercial and business matters will (understandably) not be on the agenda.

Is it really, really a matter of economics? Do we have to wait till the new revenue streams open up to us via Bramley Dock so we can compete again?

We have recovered about 350m by selling our most desirable players. Thats why the net spend doesnt look quite so bad. But it does'nt, as you well know, even begin to tell the true story.

Ironically; The want away players will go a long way to saving Moshiri from the mother of all financial losses. When he emerges from this intact...ish. It will be more through luck than judgement...He isn't as slippery as Uncle bill.

Kenwright on the other hand, has always been highly adept at portraying the departing player as the villain and himself as the victim.

"They've taken our boy, Mum".

In other words "All I did was alert Man U to the fact that they could get Rooney on the cheap... And the bastards took him"

If waiting for new revenue streams from BMD to transform us it'll be a long wait.

The list of clubs who built new and still await mythical salvation is endless. Arsenal are only now showing signs of reaching Highbury levels.

Without a bail out future generations will point at BMD as the final nail in the financial coffin.

I’m thinking of claiming it for us Evertonians, who have been the real victims, because nearly every single day now, I’m reading something else about Bill Kenwright, and can’t believe how gullible so many genuine Evertonians, have been.

My heads banging with it, and I can’t imagine it is good for any Evertonian, right now. Bang - bang - bang - bang fuckin - bang

Aside from all the criticism, have any of these fan groups, etc come up with a plan for the club? Some new ideas, a vision of what to do to take the club forward? Like, what would they do if they were in charge? Who would be suitable candidates to replace 'the board.'

Am not sure what Saturdays event will achieve - media attention?

I have often been surprised that no group has ever decided to pitch up outside Kenwrite's offices in London.

BTW: In my previous post (62) under point c) it should read as present, not prevent. Apologies for any confusion.

Going to be quite expensive for a league one side.

I would call the cops on them trespassing.

Besides, even with an American takeover, such a minimum price would be financial suicide.

I haven't had further details yet specifying if the questions have to be submitted beforehand. But with that being said, for the Zoom calls at least that would make sense or if not questions, at least making a schedule of who gets to ask one otherwise it could get chaotic if everyone can chime in and talk over each other over the phone. For the in-person meetings I don't see any reason to have such a system. It should be just like any town hall meeting where people can show up, get in line and ask or say whatever they want.

There is no way fans will pay that if we take the drop. In theory we may go down and bounce straight back up for the opening of BMD season but I wouldn't put money on it.

If they are the cheap seats, how many will be available? What will be the price of moderate and premium seats?

Either way... cannot see it selling out if we don't improve as a team.

He has the power to make any changes he desires, he's not made the changes yet even though the club's been a disaster for years now.

There's next to nothing ever comes out of the club that has any substance to it, that's not good enough. It's just very bad customer relations.

The bottom line is though, that the only power us supporters have is to stop buying tickets to attend the games, but that's just cutting your nose off to spite your face. They know that we are daft enough to attend games whatever happens now and in the future.

The least we can do is make life uncomfortable for him and the rest of the hierarchy.

Gosh, it's been a quiet day! No whiff of any transfer gossip for us?

The protest is an emotional vent for supporters nothing more which is understandable but utterly futile. To change matters of substance, which I presume is the aim, only big money can do that.

"big money" = Mansoor not Moshiri/Randy Lerner.

Had he been sacked by now, we would have had a new manager bounce instead of being led by Frank Spencer.

Was Frank in charge for over two decades? Lampard is a symptom, not the cause, but you're right, it's all too much for him and the momentum is too far the wrong way.

Very dangerous (for Everton) to do nothing for six weeks including the recruiting team if we have one. Reap what we sow, unfortunately.

Is this what you're trying to say, Barry?

But we remain 3rd bottom in terms of how much we charge.

I know it's contentious and plays with the souls of purists as well as us having to be realistic as having to be realistic to our traditional support base but most expensive season tickets:

Tottenham £2025
Arsenal £1839
City £980
United £950
Chelsea £940
Liverpool £869

Everton £625. Only Brentford and Forest are cheaper than us. And those clubs listed above have bigger capacity stadia than us.

What surprised me was Southampton at £1149, the 3rd most expensive.

I like how Everton try to keep them available and affordable to the fanbase but it tells a story.

I've not seen it mentioned...