Merseyside Police issue statement following 'threats' towards Everton board

So they made it all up as they haven't reported anything before the game.

Shame they're more focussed on their own “image” rather than how badly these bastards have run the football club….which has led to this situation in the first place. They're a disgrace.

There must have been thousands of supporters around and there appear to be no witnesses, no CCTV footage, no report to police — just a claim by the proverbial master of smoke and mirrors.

CASE CLOSED!

Yesterday it was reported “Everton confirmed they are liaising with Merseyside police” and now the police are reciprocating.

Didn't know this is the somewhat lengthy process for reporting an alleged physical assault. Maybe communication is via fax.

No name provided. Nor this person's qualifications. The clear implication is that it was club staff, with no input from the police.

What makes this so much worse is that the club itself not only made the decision unilaterally but they chose to put out what any idiot should have known was a massively inflammatory "Club Statement", telling all and sundry they weren't going to attend. That part of the story was totally unnecessary.

Kinda has throwbacks to that equally heinous Club Statement which destroyed the career of our 31-year-old married player at a stroke, and rile up the other one we had on the books at the time, Fabian Delph.

"No threats or incidents were reported to police prior to the game [against Southampton], but we are in communication with the club to establish if any offences have taken place, and to ensure that any future reports are received through existing channels.

“Any threats reported to Merseyside Police would be assessed and investigated as a matter of course, and any appropriate safety measures implemented. We are also aware of videos in circulation of fans approaching players' cars as they made their way from Goodison after the match.

“At this stage no offences have been reported.”

What is happening at this club? Total disrespect for the fans coming out with fabricated tales.

Funny that they are “advisors” but then stated: “Club's Board members have been told they must not attend today's fixture.” That's the club's own emphasis in bold.

Yet advisors don't make demands, only advise. Very odd.

This leaves the possibility as has been speculated that DBB perhaps initially wanted to forget the matter and put it behind her due to the humiliation, embarrassment and such, so didn't report.

However if this is the case, one wonders at the care and consideration shown by what I'll broadly call "The Club" to then publicize the event to an audience of millions.

DBB would have either had to come to terms with things pretty quickly or succumb to some rather unsavoury pressure.

The original statement might've been more suitable without the phrase "targeted physical aggression".

All in all, something of a thickening plot, to go with the rest of the mess.

Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent just brushed him aside saying there is no way in the world a football club would make these allegations against its own fans if it wasn't true.

I really think this has gotten to a point where the directors have either got to substantiate the allegation or fuck off.

Someone loses big time here. Goldstein and Bent are like the rest of the media. They have already presented the case for the prosecution and appear to have found us fans guilty.

Seriously, how come they didn't have any contingency plans in place following the alleged incident involving the CEO? Also giving in to threats of violence will only encourage more idiots to think that they can do likewise.

Obviously, as witnessed at the end of the Spurs v Arsenal game, there are a growing number of selfish morons who seem to believe that they have the right to attack players or staff; it's never been acceptable behaviour, and it never will be.

However, it has become a growing trend for people to take out their frustrations on doctor's receptionists, shop workers and anyone else who they believe is responsible for not doing what they want when they want.

It's something that the whole of society has to tackle; how to do it? I've no idea.

Given recent events (alleged or concocted), I'd resign if I were you, Roger Kenyon.

Somebody needs to get a grip of all this. The police have just hung the club out to dry.

Is it perhaps in response to influential Evertonians who are seeking the truth, asking questions in high places and applying pressure for them to say something?

All very, very odd. And does absolutely nothing to address the previous concerns of fans... in fact, it goes to stoke the fire yet more!!!

Also wouldn't the cops be fully aware who the “Security & Safety Advisor” is that passed this information on?

And why were the cops not told of this threat in the first place?

a good start might be to get globalism off everyone's backs to relieve the pressure and the deliberate influences. Since this chaos is exactly what's wanted however, I won't be holding my breath.

The board is so inept they can't even fake a story.

I got the same feeling watching a video of Jeff Stelling, reporting on the Evertonians outside Goodison before the game on Saturday night. His choice of words wasn't very good, making me think that Everton's Board had already set the narrative.

Yet more proof that the vile man that is Bill Kenwright would throw the loyal fans of the club he loves, under the bus.

I doubt the wider media will report what Merseyside police have said leaving the wider public to label us as thugs who scared off the board.

Do not let the snake slither out of this one as this is as low as it gets.

Personally, I hope they don't show their faces at Goodison again.

Merseyside Police say Everton DIDN'T report any 'threats or incidents' before telling their directors to stay at home for their safety, amid club claims of CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale being put in a headlock at a recent game

They say, among other things:

● Merseyside Police advised board members not to attend Saturday's fixture

Can't say I know the current complex legalities regarding privacy in such matters, though have noticed the increasing trend of hanging people out to dry by "sharing" sensitive info with the public that once would have never happened prior to any trial or action.

Not much diplomacy left - but it will push the game on in this instance i.e. stir the pot of shit.

Sadly the conclusion looking more and more likely is very unpalatable. Disheartening times for EFC.

Confirms what I thought; an unnamed senior security adviser (as indicated by his title in caps), giving a direct instruction, in bold letters no less, to the most senior officials at the club.

As already stated, to air this so publicly was incredibly naive and damaging and the timing stinks of premeditated actions.

As for Merseyside Police; perhaps they are telling the club to provide the evidence or retract the claim? The alleged headlock is very serious if true and a case of cough up or shut up from what I can see.

If the reports of threats to the board are true then I hope the police investigate fully and throw the book at anyone found guilty, Time will tell I suppose.

Care to elaborate?

The issue has no proof in an age of cctv & mobiles, no police complaint, and was held back 13 days from the actual incident.

If it looks and smells like Bull shit, its because it is.

Frank blamed the fans previously, Moshiri blamed the fans mid week. They'll come up anything to ensure no shines a big light on their failings.

Link08

Sounds just like a High Court judgement, Darren, great stuff :-)

They could easily have said that the board were staying away to prevent attention straying from the pitch etc- instead they exaggerate a response.
I said this on Saturday- if it was a credible threat it would be a police statement, not a club one.

What a lamentable state of affairs

It's like watching a car crash in slow motion.

How about a total boycott of all home games until Kenwright gets booted out………or is this just a bit too much of a sacrifice for the fans?

Principles are everything…

Hit them in the pocket…👍👹😡😡

It wouldn't be much of a sacrifice these days!

We need to stay behind the team – just shift the protest to the next game!

Haha too true

Divide and conquer? This will be divide and fall on their part. I can't believe the thought process. Blaming the supporters for their failure is below the belt.

If there is justice to be had, then consult with the police and show the evidence. No-one will dispute that. We are a civilised society and live in one of the most CCTV'd countries in the world. It's not like anyone can get away with it. A timely statement on a website isn't evidence.

If something wrong has happened then report it and demonstrate it. Then the perpetrator can be prosecuted for assault.

I don't see the complexity in that.

Club Official Notice

To ward off any further attacks on her hairstyle, the club is enrolling a large number of Scouts, supported by Cubs and Brownies, to form a singing barrier totally drowning out, any naughty words shouted at them by infuriated season ticket holders (the ones that are awake, that is).

Girl Guides will be on hand to give her an emergency hairdo, should the worst happen. Laughing at her distressed state, will not be tolerated.

This is if the brave Board Members take their places for the next thrilling installment of "Get down To Goodison Road" if they can find their way.

Whatever is going on, it's shining a negative light on the only thing that's positive about this club: the fans!

Sorry Jim you can't call them Brownies anymore. Apparently it's offensive and disrespectful to some people amongst other things.

We're trying to get players in - that's a good one.
Whatever Frank needs we'll support him - there's another.
Moshiri - Frank has my full support - next thing Moshiri will do is sack him.
The club is not for sale - oh stop it. You're killing me !!
I'm searching for investment - oh yeh
Usmanov has nothing to do with Everton - laffs cock off !!!!!
The Board are doing a great job. They are local !! - oh my it gets better and better.
I won't communicate through Jim White anymore. Hi Jim it's Moshiri here. The fans are to blame for everything !!! - ha ha ha. ( A pity it's not really funny ).

Can we now reclaim the moral high ground here please because the fans don't deserve this – we can't let this pass! We need to take the initiative and redefine the narrative.

What other club in history has done anything like this to its fanbase? Or certainly anything like this without organising extra security, especially for the players.

People should be angry. The whole club has been built on nothing but lies for over 20 years. These directors cannot ever show their faces at Goodison Park again – that's on them, not on us. And they won't apologise.

I think there needs to be a joint fan group statement released.

Forget the owner and his underlings, staying in this division is all that matters now.

All these shenanigins must be a distraction to Lampard and the players.

If this statement has no credence, then I for one have now lost any little support I had for the persons running the Club.

This statement has been published Worldwide as fact and
will make any investment or chance of takeover a lot more difficult. A public apology should be issued to vindicate our fanbase.

As it stands at the moment, there is not a shred of evidence to back up these threat allegations, or of a headlock on DBB.

I imagine one day there will be an independent investigation in the ongoings at this club long after this board is gone. It's going to be mortifying what the uncover.

Everything else is an unwanted distraction that we can get back to later.

We will be down in 10 games time if we do not focus on one thing – the team!

He'd probably be happy to expose the whole mess, despite the consequences, just to regain control of the club like some kind of saviour. He will end this club if he stays.

To throw the lifeblood of a club under the bus with lies and fabrication is the worst act of a narcissist and puppet of the Usmanov dictatorship.

Why should we give our hard-earned money to these wankers, they don't respect the fan base, they don't respect the club, they have driven our historical and famous club into disrepute, the fan base that was pivotal to our survival last season.

If there is proof of these allegations that the safety of the BoD, present it to the authorities, the same authorities that have told the whole country that there was nothing reported.

As much as I don't believe the police, I believe them more than the sham of an ownership we have at this club. I call on Evertonians to protest in peace, and boycott the next home fixture, we are the People's Club not Putin's puppets club!!!

It is disgusting that Kenwright and Co can do this to the club them claim to love.

There is no place for this shower of shit in our club!!!

MOSHIRI USMANOV KENWRIGHT DBB GET THE FUCK OUT OF OUR CLUB!!!!

We are loyal, passionate fans, our history is ours not yours!!! Do yourselves a favour and fuck off!!!

Notwithstanding caretaker managers, in my living memory:

Billy Bingham
Gordon Lee
Howard Kendall Mk 1
Colin Harvey
Howard Kendall Mk 2
Mike Walker
Joe Royle
Howard Kendall Mk 3
Walter Smith
David Moyes
Roberto Martinez
Ronald Koeman
Sam Allardyce (feel sick)
Marco Silva
Carlo Ancelotti
Him
Frank Lampard

How can so many managers be wrong? I get it that getting the right manager in place is part of the structure of a successful or competitive club. But it starts at the top. How can so many very different managers be wrong??

For the first time, this had been picked up by the national media which started to examine and criticise the Owner and Board for the way they have been running our Club.

A PR-led exercise swung into action to besmirch our fanbase and deflect attention away from the running of the Club. Highly successful in that the national media (radio, TV, print) fell into line that the Executives were, in fact, the victims and not the perpetrators of the decline of our once great Club.

No matter what happens now the good name of our loyal fanbase will NEVER be restored.

A Police Statement virtually destroys the narrative put out by the Club which confirms what we already knew, that the people at the top are self-serving and more interested in their own positions than that of the good of the Club.

They have destroyed the very essence of our Club and I cannot see a way forward.

The financial situation that we're in regarding the P and S rules, the "ringfenced" (where have I heard that before???) 𧺬million cost of the stadium that appears to have become, in a blink of an eye, over 𧽴 million.

Our role in acquiring managerial staffing (do we get financial rewards for spending our precious time in showing this board who we should hire; and presumanbly money for guiding them who to sack??)

All this within a day or so of the meetings of fans and the FAB. It is a disgraceful attempt by the Board, to excuse their absence from what would be a fairly muted protest on Saturday afternoon against the record of Everton FC's Board of Directors.

I don't think there is any evidence to show, and I wonder what security risks there were, that made presumably either Moshiri's or Goodison's advisors, issue it.

I suppose it had nothing whatever to do with them being scared of showing their face after such a panning for their awful performance record?

Even worse was Moshiri's statement about us choosing the manager! Although I supported the choice of Benitez, as a top manager, I was in the minority.

So how come they chose him when many supporters did not want him? The same with Sam Allardyce. The supporters had nothing to do with either of them, or any of the previous.

Then he goes on the Radio blabbing away to the Talktalk man. And then we have our very own "Good Times Charlie" who, rather then face his fellow Blues, he says nothing and hides behind a mythical attack on the CEO nearly a fortnight before...allegedly.

Pathetic! And I don't know how they will be able to face the rightful derision they will get for their lying, for their performance and his Chairmanship over nearly 30 years. Cowards.

Remember when the reds opposed Hicks and Gilette, and started a campaign to shift them. The media were all supportive. We've been cast as villains by Kenwright, who I expect nothing else off, and I'm sad to say, by our owner as well.

You say why should we give our hard-earned money to these wankers? Trouble is, about 32k of us already have, via purchasing a season ticket.

I doubt very much anyone would get a refund if we don't turn up. Maybe other ways of not passing money into the club is not going to the club shops, buying programmes, buying refreshments in the stadium (it would save Danny the heartache of not getting served at half time), but even then, all of this would not really cause much of a dent in the club accounts. Not for one game anyway.

As much as we've witnessed how fucking stupid a minority of our supporters can be, I just can't, and don't, believe any one of them put Denise Barrett-Baxendale in a headlock.

It's ludicrous!

Stinks of a total fucking stitch- and cover-up, especially as the headlock has been downgraded to a jostle.

What next... death threats downgraded to a stern letter?

Christ on a Bike! Millwall board probably have more respect for their hooligans than our board has for hardworking decent fans.

All together now: "No-one likes us, we don't care!"

Chelsea got sold on pretty quickly (although it is West London real estate) once the sanctions were proposed. Plus they wouldn't be paying top dollar as they'd be forced sellers. Either that or we sit on our hands get relegated and wait for a takeover, which doesn't look like happening anytime soon (Tony A?).

I want the owner and board replaced for their gross mismanagement of the club, but the saga that is playing out by the hour ignores the fact we are managed by someone who is desperate to be relieved of his duties.

Lampard is finished as Everton manager – desperate to find a way out but the board are crippled by indecision. His body language, post-match comments and tactical paralysis during games show that his head has gone – just turning up for work going through the motions and longing to be elsewhere.

In the absence of such a recording, it is clear to most of us that this is a pathetic deflection tactic and excuse for their non-attendance from Kim Jong Ken(wright) as he knew they would be in for a rough ride at the game.

His media luvvy mates fell for it and turned it on the fans. He has now lost the few fans he had left. Those that happy clapped his walrus face on the big screen over the years must feel foolish now!

If the instruction to stay away didn't come from the police but this “independent security official” then it was ultimately the board telling themselves to stay away.

Final thought for all those fans from other clubs criticising Everton fans – it isn't enough to simply spend 𧺬M – there is no leadership, strategy, correct appointments, or adequate playing staff. Signings were not good enough and we paid over the odds massively and burnt through that spend.
We churned through managers – the fans don't hire and fire. The fans don't spend the cash. The fans don't drive the strategy. We didn't need to be Alex Ferguson to see spending 㿈M on Bolasie etc etc etc was good business – look at how Newcastle have gone about it. We are run by Waldorf and Statler!

The fact Kenwright is still in the frame tells me he must have some sort of covenant in the sale of the club to Moshiri to keep him around. I can't think of any other reason he is still here with the other village idiots.

All anyone is talking about is the board and the ‘disgraceful' supporters while Teflon Frank just gets away with absolute murder. It must be annoying him as much as me because it's clear as day he wants out with his payoff.

I think the directors and the major shareholder/owner, haven't a shred of dignity. I think our good name will hold up, should the press and media come and talk to thousands of ordinary fans, not that crew of self-seekers and moneymakers.

We've acted with restraint for years, decades. We are not painted as the victims as that's already been claimed by a group who don't really deserve that epithet.

We can just be us, and whatever others make of us, we can't help. It's a terrible shame. In fact it's scandalous, that a supposed fellow Blue will go to such lengths to protect his own name, but not us, who are the club.

Can't stand that man. And none of them will go back and correct their stories. The media in this country is despicable.

You know from the discussion we had previously, that the source of these headlock and spitting allegations was all made up by Denise Barrett-Baxendale. Who, as CEO, this should in my view make her position untenable. To deflect the hypothetical blame onto already frustrated fans at the Board and Owner's incompetence is surely the final straw.

The person who divulged this should and will remain anonymous, is closely connected to the Club and has no reason to lie, unlike the Board Members.

Furthermore, as has been covered already, the advice to not attend on Saturday by Board Members was another pathetic collusion to paint an incorrect picture, also exacerbated by Sky (Jeff Stelling) making people believe there was an angry and blood baying mob ready to attack should they have done so.

All this like a very weak storyline for an episode of Coronation Street, to try and increase waning viewing numbers – now there's a coincidence!

This tactic is clear to any sensible person. An attempt to besmirch the fans and the following bits of video of Gordon's Humvee and Yerry shaking hands with the wannabee gangstas of Walton.

The thickos like Bent on Talkshite have not a clue of anything north of Watford(nor did Lampard before taking the dirty dollars) and yet these idiots inform the rest of the footy world of our predicament.

These board members have turned on the real fans and they must never be allowed to get away with it.

I once had a lift off Director Keith Woods's daughters. Went to a game with a mutual friend, a lady in her seventies, who knew one of them.

It was very interesting driving to the ground in the big Merc and hearing their views on the oiks being watched by the police vans.

The two Woods ladies dissappeared into the car park to be ushered towards the corporate areas. I took my friend to the Winslow.

You wouldn't believe just how out of touch the two Woods women were. They just had no idea what ordinary fans did. These people see the fanbase as useful but a necessary evil.

They think they can manipulate everyone and we are now seeing their true colours.

They must not be allowed to denigrate us and we need to fight back through the media and expose them for being the true villains of the piece.

Police receive no complaint from anyone at the club, so NO direct threat made to any board member

Police receive no official threats from any direct source ie a board member, hence their statement NO threats received by them

BUT

and this what will have prompted the Police to act

They have received intelligence from a variety of sources which are NOT proven but credible, that someone is going to have a pop at the Directors whilst in their seats or on arrival or departure from the ground and this is intelligence only

This would leave the Police duty bound to say to the Directors " we advise you to stay away, we cannot give you all one to one protection. There is a credible threat for your safety and so this is our advice.

THAT is what has happened.

The intelligence forms part of the Safety brief and the Police would have been obliged to share their "intel" with the clubs Safety Officer and Football Intelligence Officer.

The Police are obliged and so the board are advised. If they had turned up that would have ruined any working relationship between the Club and the Police particularly if disorder at had have ensued, at any level

We need to move on from this No-Show.

It would have been the same at any club

Can an educated guess have facts, and if there are facts, then surely it's not an educated guess?

Then further down you say “THAT is what happened”…… surely that is a statement of fact?

Sorry for being so pedantic, or maybe I'm just reading your post wrong.

https://twitter.com/bbcmerseysport/status/1615076433508052992?s=20&t=fbpaKtVOFJOuWFWuk2cJXA

"The Club will not be making any comment related to specific historic incidents. The health, safety and security of our supporters, staff and players is and will always remain our top priority." #EFC

EFC's game with #SaintsFC was made a high risk fixture following consultation with @MerseyPolice
. Following further discussions with the force, the Club can confirm Everton's next fixture at Goodison Park (#AFC on Sat 4 Feb) will also be categorised as high risk."

EFC's Directors were instructed to not attend Saturday's fixture following a thorough security assessment in advance of the game. The guidance was based on intelligence gathered and information received directly by the Club."

EFC say that the club is "reviewing all matchday & non-matchday security arrangements following the home game with #SaintsFC" & that "enhanced security procedures & protocols are being put in place for the Club's players & staff following incidents at this & previous games."

If the CEO was put in a headlock nearly 2 weeks ago, wouldn't she have reported it back then?

It totally stinks that a statement was read out all over the media before the game, that our directors' safety was at risk, and they were told not to go to the game.

The backlash the Everton fans got from the media over a statement issued by the club, has to be investigated, it's an absolute disgrace. Can the club go any lower than that?

"Directors were instructed to not attend Saturday's fixture following a thorough security assessment in advance of the game. The guidance was based on intelligence gathered and information received directly by the Club."

@Everton
: "#EFC's game with #SaintsFC was made a high risk fixture following consultation with @MerseyPolice

. Following further discussions with the force, the Club can confirm Everton's next fixture at Goodison Park (#AFC on Sat 4 Feb) will also be categorised as high risk.

@Everton
: "The Club will not be making any comment related to specific historic incidents. The health, safety and security of our supporters, staff and players is and will always remain our top priority." #EFC

2 weeks = ancient history.

Top squirm, guys.

The club will not be making any comment related to specific historic mistakes, nor will it act decisively to correct those mistakes – in fact, it cannot rule out that future mistakes will not occur.

The biggest problem is the manager and the need for new players. Both issues seem to have been forgotten by the custodians of our club.

1) Before the match, the police received credible intel from their own sources, that the safety of the directors was threatened if they attended the game.

2) The police told the Board and recommended the directors didn't attend on the basis of the potential threat of violence against them.

3) The Board issued its statement before the game stating the directors wouldn't attend due to safety concerns.

4) After the game various alleged incidents took place outside the ground.

5) The police contacted the Board after the game to ask if they had actually received any direct threats (they said no) and also to discuss the alleged incidents outside the ground after the match.

6) The police are continuing to investigate the matter.

All seems perfectly feasible to me.

Way too much of an echo chamber going on here I think. I respectfully suggest we need to all calm it for the good of all of us and the club.

Now is not the time to do this. The team is the priority and this sort of shit really doesn't help our survival chances.

The Police advise him. There is not a Kenwright hotline or at least I would not expect there to be. The intel is filtered between the Safety Group and the Police. It's not rocket science. It's simply info being shared. Decision made.

If I was advising Anthony Gordon, I'd say, based on post match Saturday, "Don't drive to the ground for the foreseeable because there is a risk to your safety." That is based on the footage of the bell-end chasing his car and filming it all.

It's not a direct threat made to the Police or to him. It's purely info / intelligence.

Vilifying match-going, paying fans who absolutely love the club because they've completely fucked up is beyond contempt. I don't think I've ever seen such a transparent attempt to create division and pass the blame outside of actual politics.

If the Board had made the police aware as you speculate at 96, then the statement by the police would not have been so definitive. The statement by the police puts the Club in a spot of bother.

If the Board had made the police aware before the game, I'm sure the police would have touched on that very important point in their statement and said something like “The police were made aware pre-game of ….. and are now liaising with the Club”.

The police are instead politely saying that they knew nothing about any incidents.

It might suit the media to report it... but they're also seeing how ridiculous it is. The leadership at this club is highlighting just how inept they are.

Keep applying pressure. Keep it above the law. Keep feeding them the rope and they'll do the rest.

I do not hold any facts. It's a guess based on experience.
I just see this as a sideshow and, whilst I think it is damaging to our club, I think chasing players' cars is far more concerning for the spirit of the team and that concerns me more right now.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone John 8:7. Such irony.

Don't go – just leave the place empty.

The owner has blamed the fans.

The Board has blamed and vilified the fans.

The players have no faith in themselves and the manager.

The manager claims (understandably) not to be the best coach in the world. But he gets Everton.

Keep the faith.

I think the message of contempt for the board would be deafening if the fans held a minute's silence and just stared at the board.

No headlocks, no threats just dignified protest at the death of this club.

I can see them both stepping down in the next few days. A lot of people will cheer. I'm not so sure. I think we could well be screwed here. Burning car over a cliff scenario. Assuming that Moshiri will be brought to heel by this, I think is an optimistic take.

The media has bought into the narrative that those at the top of the club created to deflect their own failings. I don't care for Kenwright or Denise, but Graeme Sharp should walk out in protest to retain his dignity and reputation.

On the whole police advice thing. I've not liked the way they have reacted in recent years. We saw the heavy handed reaction at Old Trafford in the FA Cup match. Okay, not exactly on French or Italian baton wielding standards, but over the top and they had to pull out after antagonising the supporters and making an issue out of god knows what.

I know the derby matches are more toxic than they used to be, but marching Everton and Liverpool fans down as if they are a 1980s London or Manchester away following? Most of us are related!!

Sometimes the authorities create the issue in the first place. I can remember watching a gap open up in the Kop at half time as one or two had a Mexican dance off to the amusement of both sets of supporters when we used to take a 3rd of the Kop to the right hand side as you looked at it.

Us throwing abuse at the Kopites who used to take up position and gather in the lower section of the lower Gwladys Street. But we all travelled together, met up after and went home together.

Is it right? No. But sometimes poor judgement can add fuel to the fire. Everton has handled this badly and created an unnecessary situation. They have alienated the one asset that they rely on the most.

That would defo be first on Match of the Day.

Kenwright is used to and can play the media. Not sure about Sharp – I suspect he must feel very conflicted

Simple fact is they didn't want to come to the game as they knew there was going to be a protest so they cowardly stayed away.

Can you imagine a fan has our female CEO in a headlock but no one sees it, tried to stop it, tells anyone or even records it/ puts it on Twitter, it's ridiculous!

They must be petrified because I reckon there's some big shit to come out about Usmanov and his involvement in the club.

If we are relegated, as is looking increasingly likely, so much will come out in the fall-out, the club will implode. Don't think we've seen anything yet but fans aren't stupid, they know it's dodgy and shady.

Turning our backs to the pitch on 18 minutes and leaving the ground on 78.

Twenty friends responded to a message I did on WhatsApp and all thought they could go along with it,

Of course if there is an ounce of truth in it all, the culprit(s) need hammering and Security needs their arses kicking.

I expect the whole thing... the damage now having been done and Scousers once more besmirched – by one of our supposed 'own' no less... will be now played down.

The Club and Chairman will, in best 'Dick Dastardly & Muttley' mode be laughing up its sleeve as the thrown mud continues to stick.

The Police will, sometime down the track, issue a non-committal statement 'nothing to see here, Investigations proved inconclusive, not in the public interest to proceed' blah, blah etc, etc.

Danny @ 112; The same fans they'll probably be exhorting to get behind the team come May.

Twelve months ago, the fans are praised for keeping us up but now blamed for bad managerial appointments.

welve months ago the govt telling us all to clap for NHS, now they won't even pay the same people a living wage.

I can't put up with worry and uncertainty anymore, if this is what it takes to remove this board... bring it on.

It's only a matter of time before I give up altogether if this shit continues.

Everton are reviewing all their security arrangements after the club's board of directors missed Saturday's game against Southampton because of threats to their safety.

The board of directors did not attend after "threatening correspondence".

In consultation with police, Everton classed the fixture as "high risk" - a status also given to their next home game on 4 February against Arsenal.

I'm confused. Merseyside police saying nothing was raised with them, but the above says Directors stayed away after game being classed high risk in consultation with the Police. Well which is it? Did they know before the game and agree it was high risk - eg. There were credible threats? Or was nothing raised with them?

Whole thing smells of bullshit.

I hope not.

"In consultation with police, Everton classed the fixture as "high risk" – a status also given to their next home game on 4 February against Arsenal."

What that means is they knew a protest was happening and the club were concerned it might get heated.

"Earlier on Monday, Merseyside Police said no threats or incidents had been reported to officers prior to Saturday's game."

No threats reported to police prior to game

So no threats or incidents reported prior to the weekend's game, yet Denise Barrett-Baxendale was apparently assaulted, manhandled, sorry at the Brighton game..., which wasn't reported so can't have been part of the advisory for the Southampton and Arsenal games.

Had a fan assaulted or manhandled one of the board, their name would have been taken and steps made to charge or bar the individual.

But they "...added officers were aware of videos on social media of fans approaching players' cars as they made their way from Goodison Park after the 2-1 defeat."

Have they seen how passionate fans can get and the damage they can do? There's been nothing like that so far. It's been extremely passive so far.

All it said was... "Hi dad I'm fine and well... what a gang of wankers."

Bill will claim ill health is keeping him away. A bit trickier for the others, maybe they will just resign? Moshiri never goes to Goodison anyway these days so it is easier for him.

Correct. That BBC article is as disjointed and confused as the whole situation itself thus far, with no real correlation and timeline. I'll assume it's a result of the writing and composition but the piece sheds no further light on nor accurately explains what's happened. Becoming a theme of this whole shebang.

Trying to get clear information in a comprehensible form without bias is becoming near impossible.

What gravely angered me was the fact that the so-called "pundits" on TV and radio, and the National (and wider) Press were so quick to condemn the unidentified violent and aggressive supporters purely at the say-so of the suggested advice given and the decision of the absent directors to hide away.

You can not help but conclude that, in part at least, their knee-jerk responses were motivated by the long-existing demonisation of Scousers. It is disgraceful.

Perhaps the chickens are now coming home to roost as little, or, in reality no, evidence exists to support the claims made by the directors. However, the damage is done.

As with most lies, the more you pedal it the more people will believe it until the truth eventually emerges. Hopefully, upon proper forensic scrutiny, that will be very soon.

In the meantime, the club is paralysed. Would anyone seriously want to sign in these circumstances?

If Lampard has to go it should be now. Who in their right mind would replace him apart from chancers after a very fast buck?

Who could you trust to make an appointment? The owners and board deserve to be relegated. The players (some of them at least) the same.

The wonderful fans. They deserve honesty and fight and commitment and an overwhelming recognition that there are no better and more faithful supporters anywhere else in the country.

I wonder do they need letters of retraction from the threateners to return to normal. How will they know when it's "safe"?

Could be years...

It would imo be in the police interest to make a truthful statement; otherwise, it may cause them a mountain of headaches each matchday.

Right now, I will rant all week long, but I really just want us to turn the corner and get results.

But we need change (scratched record). Sell or replace Mr Moshiri.

For now, I just want us to turn the corner and pull us up the table as I'm sure we all do.

Here's the link;

BBC News

Now a large amount of people have given their thoughts already, so I'll add mine here.

IF, our CEO had been version a) put into a headlock whilst leaving the Directors Box, or been version b) man-handled whilst leaving the directors box, or version c) been man-handled and spat at whilst approaching her car, or version d) had misogynistic, sexist and abusive language used against her, and been spat at, during the same incident; then why, in this day and age of legal protection for women, did our CEO not immediately report this to the police, and have the individual(s) identified, arrested and banned from the club, on or about the 3.1.23 which was the date of the alleged offence?

Why did the club wait till 14.1.23 before making a statement? Why did in-house security and safety department not collate the evidence and the facts, and present them to the Police for further official investigation?

Oh, and lastly, why are official sources citing FOUR differing versions of the alleged offence?

Why would the club be so reticent about enforcing their legal requirements to properly protect one of the clubs employees, which shouldn't matter if you're a ball-boy, or a CEO, it is a legal requirement.

Now here is another interesting link, stating it is believed that Mr. Kenwright received death threats;

Death Threats

Excerpt;

"Author: Carl Markham, PA/Abi Simpson

Published 15th Jan 2023

Last updated 15th Jan 2023

Everton were forced into an unprecedented step of ordering all board members to stay away from their match with Southampton following reports of death threats and an assault.

It's believed death threats sent to Chairman Bill Kenwright and a reported assault on Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale forced the move."

Further down the piece it states, "The PA news agency understands Kenwright this week received death threats via email"

Again, if that was the case and the club internally thought it was 'Real and credible', they why have the club not reported this to the Police for further investigation. Tracing an Email, is not very hard for any Law Enforcement Agency, due to the nature of email creation and retention.

Therefore, again the club is being negligent regards the safety of another of their employees. If a death threat had been received and reported to the in-house security team, they have broken their legal safe-guarding requirement to report it to the relevant authority for a 'risk-assessment'.

As for all else, regarding any safety or security risk, any and all information should have been reported to the Police for an official 'risk-assessment'.

Basically, at best, the club tried to maintain secrecy over an assault or affray with malice event, and death threats. Why..? Go figure, it smacks of... incompetence at best to me.

At worst, it is gross-negligence on behalf of the security and safety team AND the Executive team, for not making the Police aware of the potential, and actual threats and assaults.

After thinking about this since yesterday evening, including writing an email to the BBC's MotD producer regarding Ian Wright's unsubstantiated comments delivered as fact; I can only conclude is that the Executive team, and the S&S department have dug themselves a hole in light of todays announcement by Merseyside Police (MP).

Personally, I'd like MP to ask Mr. Kenwright for all emails pertaining to the alleged death threats.

I'd also like MP to ask the Club for any evidence of any incident regarding our CEO on the evening of 3.1.23. Along with an interview with our CEO to determine the facts as experienced by herself.

IMHO, unless this happens, how can anyone maintain faith in the club.

Sorry, I do try and not type too much, honest! (Dave Abrahams :) )

I'd imagine there would be a meeting with Merseyside Police before every game and a risk classification decided. I'm also pretty sure that this one would have been classed as high risk, similar to big rivalries. That would have dictated the police presence required.

But it's business as usual type stuff. It's nothing to do with allegations of physical assault on our female CEO. That didn't hit the presses until the day of the game.

Regardless of whether it happened, it was used as propaganda. It's the only bit in all of this that I'm 100% sure of.

Shots fired.

They could comment. They're making a choice not to. Read into that what you will.

sometimes it can go the other way. The playing staff detach themselves from the melee and decide to really go for it regardless. Here's hoping!

"It would imo be in the police interest to make a truthful statement, otherwise it may cause them a mountain of headaches each matchday."

Dave, presumably the police statement at the very start of this thread should be taken at face value, and an indication that the police are distancing themselves from the (false) narrative and spin that Everton have been putting on things.

“Any threats reported to Merseyside Police would be assessed and investigated as a matter of course, and any appropriate safety measures implemented... At this stage no offences have been reported.”

Their apparent advice "to ensure that any future reports are received through existing channels" suggests that the club had not reported any of the alleged incidents to the police.

Apply the learnings in all areas and watch for those snakes.

It is also a matter of general security and safety and the club would be anxious to identify the miscreants and ban them for life. The absence of any complaint or material given to the Police can only lead to one conclusion. Everyone on TW knew what that conclusion was on Saturday.

Graeme Sharpe should resign and get back on board with the fans before he's also isolated forever and surely he is being torn apart by this feeling.

As for Frank Lampard well it's clear he is shot to pieces and can't get any more from this team. Only a win at West Ham will keep him in place but if not I'm hoping he resigns if not for his own health as he looks haunted.

Lastly, can we not have a fans representative to demand proof of this allegation so we can hopefully clear our name and get the media scum off our back?

Shameful to say that the further demonization of scousers is coming from a scouser himself. I only refer to his birthright in this of course because he is now so far removed from working-class level that he looks down upon us as low-life commoners as do a lot of people of his ilk.

We need this man out of our club ASAP before more damage is done.

Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale was 'put in a headlock' as she left the Goodison Park directors' box, club sources claim.

Another incident reportedly saw her car surrounded and spat at, while chairman Bill Kenwright is said to have received death threats. This is understood to be part of the backdrop to the safety advice warning the pair, and the rest of the club board, not to attend the club's crucial tie with Southampton on Saturday.

That advice was detailed in a statement released by the club just hours before the game, following which a peaceful protest against the running of the club was due to be held. Organisers had called for the demonstration to be respectful and immediately condemned any threats made towards club staff or directors.

A club spokesperson described the situation as a "profoundly sad day" for Everton after it was announced the board had been urged to stay away from the ground due to a “real and credible threat to their safety and security”. Mr Kenwright, Prof Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp have "reluctantly accepted the outcome of the safety assessment", it was added.

Within the statement, the club made reference to malicious communications and "increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression - at recent home matches". Everton sources claim they have included the incidents focused on Prof Barrett-Baxendale, threats towards Mr Kenwright and the throwing of a crowd barrier into a glass door following the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Don't Attend advice

I suppose that Saturday's encounter was always going to be a potential security risk and the late decision by the protest groups to target the Southampton match rather than the initially planned Arsenal protest may have caught the club and its security team off guard.

What I fail to understand is why none of the incidents in previous matches were reported to the relevant authorities and why the club failed to act against the people responsible for them.

As far as I can see, there is no way back now for any of the Directors of Everton Football Club or Moshiri.

If we just consider what we actually know, as opposed to our varying opinions we're still left with conflicting accounts which tend to tell there own story.

Firstly, we have the EFC statement prior to Saturday's game & without dealing with its veracity, it was carefully constructed in such a way as to give the impression that the advice had come from an “Official” source, ie, Merseyside Police, which it clearly wasn't, it was an internal EFC source. So effectively the directors accounting for their own absence & directing the blame at us.

But more significantly it laid the ground with their opening gambit of fear for their personal physical safety following recent events? This begged the question, “what recent events”, booing poor performances?

We didn't have to wait long for our answer, and what hotly followed was a clearly coordinated albeit less official expose via their media outlets, defining the physical nature of those “recent events” & the notorious headlock on DBB.

The national media frenzy that ensued prompted Merseyside Police to issue their own official statement to distance themselves from that of EFC with an unmistakable rap on the knuckles for going straight to the media with allegations of criminal activity that excluded Merseyside Police, making them look incompetent for being totally in the dark.

Make no mistake, online threats & physical assault are criminal acts that the Police have to take seriously, so they won't take kindly to being publicly humiliated in this way. Hence the reference & reminder to EFC that things will be handled correctly in the future.

This also, led to EFC attempts at damage limitation by backtracking today via their media outlets & “headlock” suddenly being downgraded to mere “jostling”, a significant difference, with every fan in the country being subject to jostling at every game throughout the season, queuing entering/exiting grounds, for refreshments, for toilets, etc.

Further EFC damage limitation was also attempted via tweets from their friends at Liverpool Echo, to give the impression that they had been working with Merseyside Police, despite the Police's statement to the contrary.

However, what they're trying to use to confuse matters is the normal category grading they do as a matter of course with the Police for every home game to determine the scale of Police presence required, which comes at a significant cost to EFC & increases with the perceived scale of risk for such games as the derby, etc.

They may well have had an increased presence on Saturday due to the planned sit-in, which potentially involved thousands of fans? But nothing at all to do with online trolling or alleged historical assaults of which the Police had no knowledge?

All-in-all, a very tangled web that begs all sorts of questions & does them no credit whatsoever, but unfortunately that's Kenwright's EFC, so sad!

Oh what a tangled Web we Weave,
When we first practice to deceive.

I am not referring to the 'we' as us, but I think you can identify the guilty without too much head scratching.

It almost beggars belief that people on TW, not necessarily this thread, think it is all a conspiracy to destabilise the Board.

My message to them, "They are perfectly capable of doing that themselves!"

As Ernie Baywood said @ 101 "Keep applying pressure. Keep it above the law. Keep feeding them the rope and they'll do the rest."

Again spot on there, like in Martial Arts, use your opponent's weight to your advantage!

We're allegedly "led" by a provenly self-serving (at our club, and our personal expense) repeated liar who's placed his self-termed "Lil' Miss Dynamite" as CEO despite the total unsustainability of her CV for the role, then Sharp as "director without portfolio" (just what is your role, Graeme?) and someone else called Ingles.

Why does anyone afford any of these parasites any credibility at all when it comes to these so-called "credible threats" against them?

I get that mate... but a lot of fans don't use social media platforms like this.

Also a certain percentage may not comprehend what the police are alluding to or saying.

A simple statement of... 'no evidence was offered or forthcoming that said offences were ever committed or ever happened' would make it a lot clearer.

Don't rock the boat while we are in calm waters!

Now the sea is becoming angry, and turbulent, be interesting to see how many rats actually leave a sinking ship, or revert to self-preservation mode!

What a crock!

Our board are not really coming out and turning on us head on, they are using political-style ways to portray themselves as victims in a way to hide all of their shortcomings. No board would ever take the supporters full on because there is only one way that goes.

Moshiri, by backing his manager and board and now the board themselves with the “Headlock Gate” have started something that hopefully brings about their downfall.

There's a video out there somewhere showing Newcastle supporters calling Ashley a “Fat Cockney Bastard” but I don't remember it being shown all over the media.

Look at them now though!

If it was possible to be arrested for my thoughts towards our leaders, I would be locked up right now.

It's beginning to remind me of Owen Oyston's Blackpool years. Is that our future?

NSNOW and other fan groups need to take advantage of this. But, fans need to stay smart and calm.

Peaceful protests inside and outside the ground are essential. Do not give the board the excuse to besmirch our name.

It wouldn't hit them in the pockets though, most of our home game attendees are season ticket holders. The Club already has their money so won't care.

F&B is outsourced, as is the merchandise. Not sure about programmes but how much is that worth?

"You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time."

Never let them forget.

This kind of action is peaceful, and has never been done to my knowledge. We as faithful working-class passionate fans have to take a stand, okay they already have the money for our season tickets, but the amount of money that is raised each match day by programs, refreshments etc is a huge dent in their income, plus all the police presence that needs to be paid for, even when there are no home fans.

It is the pure effect that this action will show, that the Everton family are united as one, and we will no longer stand by and take this from a corrupt dictatorship.

I don't condone any kind of violence, there is not a place for it anywhere in football, so the biggest show of strength will be to stay away, watch the games in the pub or at home, and see on BT Sport a mostly empty stadium, that will definitely get the media talking, and then the media can't carry on their bias against the fans.

We have done on a whole, nothing wrong as fans, we don't deserve to be tarred with the brush of hooliganism, we are passionate about what is part of our DNA.

We love our club, we have to be strong and show in numbers that we demand change.

Police say they did not receive reports of threats to Everton's directors – The Guardian

The proverbial worm is turning.

If this really happened why was it not reported the morning after Brighton?

Release a statement on the morning of the Southampton game?

Fuckin nuts.

Yes, that simple statement would have been, well, simpler. I guess Merseyside Police didn't want to be seen as openly-critical, knowing that the message would at least get across to EFC anyway.

And if NSNOW, get really cute, it could be a case of - 'What if we called a mass protest...and nobody came?' if you get my drift.

100s of cops, barriers, riot shields, water cannon, the full civil uprising Monty and one man and his dog turn up with a Father Ted-esque placard - "Down with this sort of thing'.

Egg on Board faces all round

Breaking wind in the Palaces of the mighty - what's not to like?

I bet he doesn't have a clue what's going on at the club and, even worse, doesn't care.

Any chance of a sale or investment seems to have disappeared. No transfer deals on the horizon. No money. The club are in deep shit.

Instead of looking for phantom assaults, nasty letters and naughty banners, Merseyside police should be investigating Moshiri and Co for fraud.

So it is hard not to think the above is not an attempt by the Club to spin things. The police are saying that nothing was reported to them. It seems they are trying to defuse a situation and deal with facts going forward. As other posts say, the tone of the Police and Press is interesting, all crossing the 't's and dotting the 'i's.

They want a violent fan reaction – the idiots chasing the players played exactly into their hands.

On Saturday security was heightened in the ground. There are reports of them deliberately being over zealous in the Gwladys Street with checks almost trying to wind the fans up.

During the sit in there was no violence, fans talked to stewards everything was peaceful. There was a massive police and steward presence, particularly at the Gwladys Street end, but nothing happened.

The Southampton players came out for their warm-down, completely ignored by our fans. Our players didn't come out. Did they fear them getting abused? Was this a security risk? I think the "You're not fit to wear the shirt" at the end of the match might have led to this decision.

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened. Would they have been booed, would they have been supported? Maybe the players should have come out to face it. Show they actually care.

The way the club had behaved is abhorrent and should be the final nail on its coffin.

Unfortunately, you have fans turning on fans – especially on Facebook. We have the club using the media to play the victims and portray the fans as the villans, the club have done exactly what they wanted.

As a season ticket holder, I'd happily get behind a boycott; however, the following will happen.

Fans will be painted as the villains not supporting the club and players when they needed them most. You'll have a bigger divide in the fanbase and the club will get what they wanted.

Then the result, Everton lose: it's the fans' fault for not turning up to support them, Everton win: they won because the toxic fans stayed away and all this mess is the fans' fault after all. Either way, the fans can't win with a boycott.

Something needs to be done, the club have declared war – the fans need to unite and fight this.

Unfortunately, without media help, we will lose. To me, it all seems pretty pointless. There is no quick-fix answer and nothing at all will change. We will also walk into relegation and may never come back up.

They have destroyed the club.

RIP Everton 1878 to 2023.

Everton protests are not about money, they are about hope and connection

At least not swallowing the club's statements and a more balanced view on the protest. (Maybe a bit doom-laden in the last paragraph.)

The question of "threats" to my mind is a no-brainer. Of course there's been hate mail to the board, as there has to any board of every football club in the country. But a "credible threat" of imminent physical danger? I think not.

Ask the police were there any such "threats" directed towards Lampard and the players? Oh, there were? (Of course there were!) so why weren't they advised not to attend and the game postponed?

As to the physical assault, what evidence have the police found? Will they come out and fully exonerate the fans if there is found to be none? Will they prosecute the Club official who made up the story?

The police should interview those two players who were "abused" after the game. Did they fear physical harm? Were they fearful of the safety of their kids? What do they feel about the board putting them in such a situation by hiding away themselves?

I would suggest a spokesperson for NSNOW approach the Merseyside Police and act as liaison between the police and the fans in establishing the truth and ensuring anyone guilty of lying or assault gets identified and exposed. On both sides.

A very patronizing Liverpudlian told me I should go to bed and sleep on it with regards to my views on those silly teenagers on the streets after the match. I told him that even if I was Rip van Winkle, I would still wake up feeling the same way.

Now the Arsenal game is high risk? Everton Football Club have scored one of the most “historic” (dirty, cheeky, horrible, patronizing, deceitful and unworthy bastards) unprecedented own-goals and it absolutely stinks to high heaven.

Oh dear... what have we become???

Let's have a public enquiry. Make the board show their evidence of threatening emails, tweets, letters, film footage etc….

If they can't then they should resign en masse.

"but the amount of money that is raised each match day by programs, refreshments etc is a huge dent in their income"

Afraid not, refreshments and merch are outsourced, the Club doesn't make a penny from sales. Not sure about programmes but the would hardly pay for a new strikers big toe I'd bet.

The support.

They have laid blame at the door of the support and taken the easy way out of the mess they and the owner has created.

I don't blame Thelwell, Sharp, even Barrett-Baxendale because for a start off, Thelwell and Sharp have only recently been appointed and Barrett-Baxendale is basically not a football CEO, it's not her fault she was appointed.

The one thing they should do, Sharp especially – being a club legend, is hand in his resignation, show you are not happy with the way things are going; don't be a spineless shithouse and sit quiet.

The club is absolutely ridden to the core with toxicity, it's broken, factions have developed across the club, the disconnects between the board, fans, and players are now worse than they've ever been.

I see no way back for the board now; they can't return to Goodison again now, and the statement from the eve of the Southampton game has pushed the situation over the boundary.

Thank you for flagging that article up.

I've become disillusioned with The Guardian in recent years, so I would almost certainly have missed it.

Jonathan Liew's piece is unerringly accurate.

Well worth clicking on Peter's link if you didn't catch the article.

Jon Liew is one of the better football/sports journalists (actually by a long way) as he's always been prepared to tackle issues away from the mainstream, tired narratives.

I'm not sure it's ever hopeless – look at Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Brentford – but it's a tough ask to break the Sky 6 ceiling. And that's all we've ever wanted – to have a good go.

That's it. And with the right backing, it's possible. Instead, this bunch have mismanaged the millions to such an extent, they have effectively relegated us and broken the club.

After all, there will be 3,000 loyal Evertonians there…

"The Club that Ate Itself".

A Tale of Modern-day Cannibalism.

This somehow came into my head this morning after an intense day yesterday of Media frenzy - - I received many calls for comments but since I wasn't there felt I could not make a statement - - I spoke with many from The Dark House Blues and the consensus was "too toxic" to speak to the media - - cannot argue with that - - BUT - - from such committed genuine articulate Blues at TDH I felt we should say something - - I am preparing a new FB Page around the concept of SOE - - Save Our Everton - - or Reclaiming Our Club for Real Football Fans - - a plan to Revive and Revitalise OUR Club - - and will then try to connect with other groups/Media and so on - - please let me know what you think - - this is OUR Club.

Blue Bill and Barrett-Baxendale could easily have turned up Saturday in a show of defiance and even tried to speak to fans. But this cowardly and divisive action was only ever a PR stunt concocted by Kenwright because that is what that man does best – look after himself. He's a cunt. And that's a horrible word but he is. 100%.

We should have done this in 2010, that's my biggest regret.

Those poor suffering young supporters.

Very good article and the national media now questioning the club's behaviour at the weekend.

I see very little opportunity to reverse back from this for the owner and board now. The damage has been done. I just wish Graeme Sharp hadn't been so compliant and had faced the music. Just like Mina did. Now that is potentially putting yourself at risk doing what he did.

Would you mess with him though?!!

There is no way back for him and those who aided and abetted him in his lies and actions; he must be terrified as, like Jimmy Saville, the truth is finally coming out.

And there's a lot more to come out. And he knows it.

As you say, the article captures the frustrations of Evertonians pretty well, and it also shines a light on the false promises that the game offers to fans in this modern game.

Only certain fans of certain clubs can experience the very highs that are on offer, which thankfully some of us older fans have witnessed in our lifetime, with Everton, but most of us recognise that most clubs even of our size, are doomed to make up the numbers or constantly suffer the anxiety of dropping out of the top division.

The fact that Everton had the opportunity to regain a foothold in the upper reaches of the game and unbelievably squandered so much money on so little talent, only to put us back to where we were some 20 years ago, is so galling for most of us.

The game used to be about romance and dreams, now it's a rich person's plaything, for them to do as they wish, and as fans we are expected to accept what we are given, with little or no say on how our club is managed.

A shiny new ground will be no use to us if the owners and the decision-makers can't be bothered to address the issues at hand. Like other parts of society, football fans are finally waking up to the fact that they have in most cases been sold a pup, a broken dream, in these dire financial times.

The big-wigs might have to reassess how they create the conditions to make ordinary fans feel that they are truly part of the fabric of the game and not just unwanted guests at somebody else's party.

The fact that our leaders have somehow managed to break Evertonians' spirits and hearts in such a short period of time, should haunt them every waking hour of every day. But it won't because they refuse to accept that they are responsible for any of it, and they can take solace that their own personal social bubble will be there for them when they return to their luxury houses.

No wonder modern day footballers are focussed on anything other than the game; the people who pay them have shown them how little they care, so why should the players.

I don't think the future is as pessimistic as Jonathan Liew paints though.

After the disastrous Mike Ashley years, Newcastle Utd have been transformed since the club was sold on 7 October 2021 — less than 16 months ago.

Two things on this thread have really cheered me up:

"Ingrid Baxendale Pitt" – Great stuff George. I spent years believing Ingrid Pitt was a bit of rhyming slang rather than the actress's name.

And Danny.

Mina put himself at risk. I know what you meant, but I had another look and I couldn't help noticing how some turned the color of boiled shite when Big Yerry stepped out of the car.

Good job he came in peace.

I honestly think if we go down we will struggle to get up or worse. I think we have a weak mentality permeating throughout the club and have done for some years, even when we were in the upper reaches of the league.

Hindsight is great, but Newcastle returned to Premier League on both occasions quickly. They remained solvent and when Ashley eventually sold up, they were in a financial position where the new owners had a blank canvas.

Combined with sensible recruitment and good coaching they are thriving at thIs time and still have room to move.

The FFP regs in EFL are far more onerous than the Premier League, so we are already painted into a corner in that score. We will have to flog every saleable asset we have to remain above water.

Even if we stay up, we are financially hamstrung for the foreseeable future – even if we were sold on. It's a perpetual shit show...

Appropriately for this situation, he was talking about rats. And that rats like everyone else have their own hierarchy, and that the big rat will play fight with the other rats to see which is best.

But also that, if the little rat (that's us) isn't allowed to win a certain percentage of the bouts, then it won't play... the Little Rat won't play.

I think that eventually that is what is going to happen with footy, most of the participants will realise it's a rigged game, and won't play any more.

He writes, for those clubs outside the VIP circle, that nothing good can ever last, and we only have to look at what Leicester achieved, yet look where they are now – which backs up Liew's view perfectly.

He goes on to say smaller clubs like Everton perhaps should make peace with that reality sooner rather than later.

There will be no Champions League games under the lights in the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock; we won't see the world's finest players ever wear a blue shirt.

Yes, we have a wonderful history and I am one of the lucky ones who watched us win leagues and cups and even a European trophy. And I wish my two sons and my grandsons who are season ticket holders could have those experiences to look forward too.

I really hope that Jonathan Liew is wrong and we can again scale the heights and become a real force in the game; but – hand on heart – I can't see it.

I realize fellow posters will say that's too negative an approach, and they are right: without hope, what is left?

I am now in my 68th year of watching Everton and, for the first time in my life, I am contemplating watching 2nd tier football next season – not something I am looking forward to. How sad to leave Goodison Park and enter the new stadium playing Championship football.

I just hope maybe we can do what Man City did who dropped to the 3rd tier and are now right back at the top, so let's hope we are the exception to Jonathan Liew's prediction.

The FA shit themselves when the "elite" clubs wanted to leave; they are now bending over backwards to make sure that CL football is a certainty for them every season.

The quicker they re-form this "Super League" the better, we can then get back to what matters... football on an even stage.

They have not won anything yet. We all have had our expectations beaten out of us, judging by the comparisons we are making.

Do you think we enjoy the match-going experience any more than the supporters of Preston, Millwall, Derby etc, and all the clubs in the Championship, Leagues One and Two and even the 5th/6th tier?

I think not, especially in the last couple of seasons! It actually means more in a way to the plastic glory-chasing fans of Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and so on who can only countenance domination. As soon as their team slips up they'll move on to the latest "marquee" club

Obviously I don't wish it on Everton but assuming we manage to stay afloat financially, relegation will not be the end of football as we know it.

As Jonathon Liew kind of points out – and this is a point I have frequently made – there are very few clubs who can realistically expect a trophy from year to year, and as a general rule most supporters of all teams are just as passionate about their clubs as we are about ours. Whatever level they're at.

Let real football be the winner.

I really don't want to be relegated, but if we are (as seems likely), watching us play the likes of Reading and Hull with a chance of winning is preferable to watching the depressing, embarrassing, week after week of humiliation at the hands of the likes of Bournemouth and Southampton, who are hardly giants of the modern game.

It's still football, it's still Everton and there's still glory in victory. And as you say, the Premier League is all about the Sky clubs, the rest of us are making up the numbers. At least the Championship is a competitive, open league.

We're not a club of glory hunters, never have been, and we're not an international corporate brand like the Sky lot. We need to regain our identity, and if we do that in the Championship, so be it. The real worry is whether we just carry on being this shit-show of a club in the lower leagues.

We need to get that ground finished and hopefully wave goodbye to Moshiri as he sells up. He may have been part of the short-term destruction of the club, but his legacy should be an incredible new ground.

(The correct answer is obviously blue with white tops and shorts with a blue ribbon down the side.)

But the Club have done the near impossible and more or less united a good portion of the fan base (even those mistaken souls who think it's all white).

Kevin Malloy's (@195) doom loop 'King Rat' has launched a sneak attack on all the 'little rats'
But to misquote a Mr Yamamoto...'I hope all he has done is to awaken a (lot of little collective) Sleeping Giant and fill them with a terrible resolve.'

This new resolve, if it indeed exists, needs to be nurtured and properly used.

The king rat has nowhere to go, he's played his big media trump card...and its a bit of a busted flush

It's up to us all to slowly reclaim our club.

I know some very knowledgable supporters view it might help us reset. I've posted many times citing Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa as it not being the absolute disaster it may seem. But I don't want to see it and want to fight against it. Especially when we are still in the fight.

Add Leeds to that list, even though they are barely any better off than us.

Go back further and for those that remember, the chains and padlocks on the gates of Molinuex as Wolves sat in the 4th tier of English football. Very similar position to us.

Saturday's opponents. I can even look up the table and still see teams in touching distance.

Nothing is irrecoverable and we are not out of this fight yet. As long as we fight.

The club issues. Well they will go on and I think we are increasingly united on what we want to happen.

I just want 3 points on Saturday right now.

At the same time I was with a life long friend last night, in Ned Kelly's, who had been to a funeral yesterday and at the reception afterwards he said all the talk was about the Blues with seasoned Evertonians failing to hide their disappointment with the state the club is in now, these are long term fans who never fail to turn up at Goodison Park all in their sixties and seventies who have never seen the club and team in such dark times with no leadership on or off the field to form any type of fight or plan to lead us away from where we are heading.

My mate who I have known for nearly seventy years can usually talk on a variety of subjects and have a good laugh together but last night it was nearly all about the Blues and the dread of relegation, I have no doubt this will be the topic among Evertonians whenever they gather in the next few weeks.

I believe Kenwright and those on the board will not harbour the real worries we fans have about the club, George McKane please make sure you let the media know these feelings of thousands of good, genuine Everton fans.

On Saturday the home supporters will be feeling the pressure which will hopefully rub off on their team if we can keep things tight early doors. They are on a worse run than us and they cannot buy a goal either. They ran out of steam at the back end of 2021 and never truly recovered since.

Sheffield Wednesday and Derby were once Premier League clubs, Derby won the title twice in the 1970's, we don't every want to see what a relegation might do the club long term. Perhaps there would be a reset, perhaps not.

You are always the beacon of optimism, and as the song goes you always look on the bright side. Although I know you feel the pain but always manage to put a positive spin on things, and lets hope that somehow this group of players manage to pull off a win on Saturday. I read that the train company has still not confirmed any train times for travel to London and back for Saturday, an absolute disgrace.

I am guessing that with Frank saying 3/4 weeks ago that he was looking to add some more striking options to the squad, and still no signings it looks as if either our financial constraints are making it almost impossible to get the players he wants. Or Moshiri is unwilling to spend any money or maybe because of the cost of the stadium he is unable to produce funds to buy players. Maybe that could be the reason that Frank is still in charge as any incoming manager would want some money to spend.

He's a convicted fraudster who died in 2021.

Seems an ideal candidate to join BK's empire 😂😂😂

At Everton, our aim should have been to challenge the hand-picked elite - I still find it utterly laughable that Spuds are in there but they are - by challenging the authorities at any and every given point on the unequal distribution of wealth in the game. The whole thing is a self-fulfilling prophecy - if by account of geography and geography alone you can charge higher ticket prices, then you have an unfair advantage which isn't levelled out. Then you can spend more money under FFP. Then you can attract better players, pay bigger contracts, finish higher up the league, get more money, qualify for elite European competition, and get even more money. Then you can spend more money, offer better contracts and round and round we go. It's a total scam (pyramid scheme, lol) in everything but name but absolutely nobody will speak out against it - as we see in real life, every day, people are afraid to speak out because they are smeared and vilified, threatened with their jobs and ultimately their livelihoods. And some just tow the line, oblivious, and think everything is ok. Well its not OK and it hasn't been ok since 1992. These six clubs tried to bury everyone last year with the Super League and then what happened - they got a pissy little fine. Wow...and where did that go? Grass-roots football? Like fuck it did. 182 countries watch the PL because it provides a better illusion than La Liga and the Bundesliga of fair play, i.e. that not just 2/3 teams can win the league, and its much closer with some upsets along the way (a bit like the way the FA Cup is sold - everyone loves an underdog and an upset because its romantic). Thus the PL get at least 2x the TV money of the next most watched league. Everton and the likes should be demanding that prize money, TV money and sponsorship money is distributed much more evenly. The only differentiating factor should be your fan base, your own sponsorship deals and the revenue that the club makes through merchandise. If all the clubs piled in and demanded this TOGETHER, we level the playing field out, we pretty much get rid of the Sky6 oligopoly and in doing so, the league becomes eminently more watchable from a fans perspective. I don't want us to be like the shite and Utd and other win at all cost corporate whores who's fans are nothing but customers (to quote FSG) but I do want Everton to challenge and not be left behind. Kenwright & Co jumped on the wrong bandwagon years ago and it was obvious for everyone to see he was an owner/Chairman that never wanted to upset the apple cart and was happy wining and dining with his Sky6 chums. We, and others like us need to approach it differently and be the ones who demand better – our fans certainly do, so why shouldn't the club. This is what needs to happen going forward and we need to be a part of it, without Chairman Kenwright and without the Uzbek over-lord. We need REAL fan representation on the board and we need a fan shareholders group to own stock so that we can be independent. This is what Everton should be.
(Apologies for the ramble)

@IanWright0: For the Everton fans 💙🙏🏾 https://twitter.com/IanWright0/status/1615340602907828225/video/1

Ian Wright, an absolute star.

https://mobile.twitter.com/IanWright0/status/1615340602907828225/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1615340602907828225¤tTweetUser=IanWright0

The Football League have their own Profit and Sustainability Rules and rigourously enforce them.

The destruction of the Club started in the Johnson era. Continued by Kenwright, who was on the board with Johnson. It has been death by a thousand cuts since. Moshiri & Usmanov have been willing participants for this, because it suited them.

It was also good to hear Ian Wright elaborate, even if it's also sickening to think about the damage “the deceitful one” has done over many, many years.

Yes, the board are incompetent but who put them there? And it shows Moshiri in his true light by protecting them and switching the blame elsewhere.

The one thing that it shows me is that Usmanov is not involved in Everton, as some lazy journalist might want you to believe, there is no way that man would have put up with such incompetence.

GET YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT.

Not Ian Edwards of course.

He forgot about the priorities he is banging on about now when it suited him.

Dave Abrahams, I'm an emotional Evertonian. They have me hook, line and sinker. Always have, always will have.

There are two Dannys at the moment.

One that just wants this team to stay in the top flight of English football that they have proudly done for more seasons than any other club.

And then my alter ego that is dismayed at how we have been and continue to be run as a club and wants institutional change.

Come Saturday, I'm first Danny. In-between, I'll be revolutionary Danny.

Thanks for the Wright interview. We now more than likely know that Kenwright was the Everton source of this allegation. It is not a fit and proper way for a Chairman to conduct himself, that he did not make sure the assault was reported to the Police. It leaves him open to allegations and a claim by the party involved that Everton did not fulfil its duty of care to an employee.

But if it is not true, he has nothing to fear… or does he? The Press and commentators don't like being misled and will go overboard demanding evidence. Wheeling out Denise is not an option; she too is open to allegations of not telling the truth because the incident is not recorded and she didn't report it or demand action.

Also, it could be thought that she allowed her name as Chief Executive Officer to be used by the Chairman to counter a peaceful fan protest, with no evidence of truth.

It is disgusting that Kenwright has tried to blacken our reputation in this manner. He should resign immediately.

I may be naive but I don't think Graeme Sharpe will have been complicit in this. I would expect to see him resign by the end of the week if not in the next 24 hours. Ingles I don't really know enough about so can't say either way but Kenwright + DBB will just need to go down with the ship as it were.

However that leaves Moshiri without a board..... so, what happens then all you business experts?

Back to football and although there are 57 points or something to play for unless the team can genuinely and consistently improve it's hard to see where we're going to collect many of them. Morale must be at an all time low in the dressing room, the fans are going to struggle to lift the squad as last year and it all looks a bit bleak to me tbh.

I think we were also Les Ferdinand and Gaby Agbonlahor's bitches too!!!

Thank You, Ian Wright. You are forever in our debt. Please say the same on the BBC as soon as possible, so those who are pointing the finger at the fans, will know what is really going on at Goodison Park.

I also urge the fans to not indulge in face-to-face confrontation with players as that just gives succour to the mob. As for NSNOW, please keep it going.

COYBs.

I would love to know the source of those WhatsApp messages; this clearly shows though how stories get into the press and the levels the club will go to.

I never listen to TalkSport, but hopefully Blues will get onto them and get our side out. We need to take back control of the narrative. I heard Ped on Radio City news today so hopefully we can get the message out there.

What a pathetic and very public demonstration of how useless the board is. They can't even write a “dog ate my homework” type statement without getting it all wrong. Now painted into a corner by their own lies and ineptitude.

How can there be any confidence in them deciding on the manager when they have no integrity or credibility?

Good to be reminded @ 229 that we are joint bottom. I don't know about the rest of you but it certainly had skipped my mind.

One other thing to say is, I'm glad the support has finally woken up to the man. Myself and many others have been banging on about his nefarious activities for many years (tiresome, I know), been called all sorts, got banned from multiple platforms, and yet it's still nice to see people coming together now that his true colours have been shown.

Everton (all together) aren't we.

Moshiri now has the opportunity to blow Kenwright out of the water saying his role has become untenable due to his sickening statement on the threat. Sacrificing the good name of Everton FC and the supporters for his own gain.

I hope Wrighty sends the link to Moshiri of Kenwright's WhatsApp message!!

I would've expected that at the outset. Why hide the truth?

Maybe they are busy putting the film together now and are just waiting for the weather to be the same as it was 2 weeks ago for filming?

When fellow blues still believe the media spin what hope have we got to convince others.

Out of interest Do you also still believe Goodison will fail the safety certificate, the Kings Dock money will be in the bank in the morning? What about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy?

What will be the next statement leaked to press or released by club:

– Stress caused by fans makes Kenwright too ill to attend matches

– DBB too scared to attend matches after "historical events"

– Stadium funding in doubt due to fans attacks on board and owners

– Everton loss against WHU blamed on fans as players were fearful of fans reaction when they touched the ball

– Everton lose out on xyz transfer target because of fans chasing players

I am sure that was circulated to all media outlets at the same time.

Rumours Bill's put the Arteta money to one side so he can build a 50m high Colossus of Rhodes size statue of himself straddling the entrance to the Bramley -Moore Dock.

As far as I can see, the only statement from the club was just about vague threats and intimidation - which is believable - as against the media rumours which were about assault, spitting and headlock which, in my opinion, sound far-fetched

As you say, may sound far fetched.

However, you cannot expect the police (if they have received a complaint of assault against DBB) to discuss the case in the public arena, as this would prevent the miscreant from receiving a fair trial.

Before you castigate me, that's how it is, if the offender is to get his comeuppance.

We cannot jeopardise an investigation by speculation, which in turn gives credence to allowing the offender to walk away scot-free! Think about it!

Any comments on social media may also become disclosable, which in turn may skew the prospect of a conviction.

I may be missing something, but as far as I can remember, all the club said was that there was a realistic threat to the members of the board, and they'd been advised to stay away.

When did the club make a statement about headlocks and spitting? Did I miss that? I only saw it as rumour in the press and on Twitter.

I haven't seen Derek Temple for years, but that seems like a decent shout.

Can anybody put a name to the guy sitting directly above the T?

As much as you might hate members of the Board, try to imagine being on the receiving end of the fuming hate mob that was clearly on the bounce after the Brighton match. Would you report a fan for threats if you knew you would be abused even more as a grass?

Abuse and intimidation is apparent at Goodison at the best of times. Right now, it is the time to condemn the vile cretins that are just itching to take their frustrations out on members of the club, and who drag the name of Everton FC through the mud.

Tomorrow's headlines.

Bill Kenwright, Everton chairman, theatre impresario, boys pen veteran, avid fan, leader of men, admired by all in the worlds football boardrooms, raconteur, god amongst gods, a giant in the pubs of London Town, man of few words, friend to the high and mighty, has passed away after a sudden illness.

Bill gave his life and house to Everton football club. Abused and threatened, never did it pass through bill's mind to abandon his beloved club and he was even prepared to follow it into administration.

BREAKING NEWS:

Three days have passed since his reported demise and Bill Kenwright has been resurrected in what can only be described as a miracle.

Bill told this reporter, “As I stepped through the pearly gates St. Peter himself told me, Bill you can't come in mate. You have to go back and rescue your beloved Everton. All the saints and angels are asking what the Everton board will do without you. So I've come back to fulfil my destiny. Everton needs me and I need Everton”

Bill will soon be back at Goodison protected by several members of the Wagner group paid for by his new co-owner and bestie, Alisher Usmanov.

It's not good enough for them to just let it drop and move on. They opened this up, it can't be closed to suit them.

The Echo attributed the headlock information to a “club source”. Ian Wright referred to it on MotD after seeing either text or WhatsApp messages between a senior BBC exec and Bill Kenwright.

No public statement as the dirty work is being done in a very furtive and underhand way with briefings to friends in the media.

Anthony (271),

The club has a duty of care to employees and anyone else in the ground. That includes reporting assaults to the police and not simply using whispers to the media.

A supporter was banned after the first home game against Chelsea after sexually harassing a woman at the game. This incident involved the police and action was taken immediately. I can't believe that any lesser action would be taken for a physical assault on our CEO.

The statement on the official Everton website talks about:-

"anti-social actvity - including targeted physical aggression - at recent home matches"

Surely "physical aggression" suggests more than, as you describe it, "vague threats and intimidation"?

I haven't seen a direct quote or link for the statement. I looked no further because I saw someone state where it was cited/posted. I think that was on a thread here on TW somewhere but can't remember.

EDIT - now I read Peter's post, The Echo sounds familiar.

I agree.

Assault-

An assault is the act of committing physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt.

Don't speak too soon.

Not quite sure what you mean when you say Michael is right to ask about the headlock specifically. Perhaps I'm wrong but I read Michael's post to suggest that as the club hadn't officially talked about headlocks, spitting...the club were not officially accusing the fans of any physical wrong doing. However, they were officially accusing them of doing exactly just that even if the club didn't provide specific detail.

Certainly the club have not said anything officially about a headlock. This has been attributed to a "club source" and I think, by Wrighty, as a source close to Blue Bill.

I'm also not sure the headlock claim has been downgraded to jostle. I think a few ToffeeWebbers jumped on a report by one journalist who used the term but I've not seen anything to suggest that the headlock claim is being rowed back upon.

Not that I'm shallow but the fact that Jerome (if he's visiting his better half's part of the country) might be in a position to buy me a pint of guinness...changes things somewhat!

A definition of this that I found was "behavior causing or threatening physical harm towards others. It includes hitting, kicking, biting, using weapons".

So it could just be threats of physical violence against board members, although it could also be actually causing physical harm.

I hear what others are saying about leaks from the club to the newspapers, specifically the Echo, but that could be anything from the tea lady making it up, to the head of communications saying don't quote me.

What I'm saying here is that it's all deniable by the club.

Maybe headlocks and spitting, maybe threatening to give someone a slap, depends on how you interpret it?

Actually no, scrub that: a headlock is a headlock is a headlock.

End of.

Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus used two very different techniques...

A Everton Source was given as having intiated the statement.

I suggest you listen to the Link on Alan's post 218 on this thread.It is a interview with Ian Wright where he details his source of the same information as a member of a What's App group.Having made a statement going on information from this group, he has now apologied to Evertonians doubting the sources motives and is now asking for evidence.

I'm just putting it out there, but surely if it's us, the fans, then we have a right under English Law to insist that the Police thoroughly investigate these allegations to determine our innocence of the alleged criminal offence & clear our names? Because I didn't assault DBB & I resent being included by association in EFC's sweeping accusation directed at attendees of “recent home matches”?

Im no lawyer, but perhaps one of our TW contributors is & can advise whether we, as the “accused” have facility to turn up the heat on the Police to ensure they keep up the pressure on EFC with their investigation & hence the teary one? Just a thought???

Maybe he wants to become a Villain, Alec?

Not well in the head, the old tart.

Yes, he was a good player but not a great in my eyes. Funny before he became a silent board member (I think that's his title) he was always good for a quote. Now his silence is deafening. You won't hear a squeak out of him while headlockgate is in full flow.

You'd think being an ex-player in such a great time for the club that he'd have a word in Kenwright's shell-like but no… nothing.

The whole episode absolutely reeks and this isn't going to go away anytime soon while the team are shit. Sad sad times.

On another note I was talking to a Villa fan and a West Ham today in work, I said we're as good as down. He said "Everton, are you joking?"

The Hammer said the same more or less. They seemed convinced the likes of Forest, Leeds, Bournemouth, Wolves Soouthampton are well worst. Funny old game isn't it?

The problem the alleged instance is over a week ago and it was not reported. It only came to light via a Everton Source, which appears according to Ian Wright someone that knows Kenwright very well.There is no evidence of the alleged instance.I am sure now there will be widespread denial.
The Police have stated that they have no report of any instance.
Everton are not going to accept any interviews and certainly won't be answering any question.

One can only conclude that no parties where actually involved in any such alleged instance. I doubt the Police would get involved.

The clubs implied slander of Everton supporters as you feel it would be a matter of civil law. The police wouldn't get involved.

We needed a new manager with experience weeks ago.
This is step one in giving us a chance.

A manager who can make the couple of signings we need for this season, even if we have to pay large amounts of money and suffer a points penalty. It doesn't matter now. We need to save our skins this season.

A manager who can play a simple and sensible formation with a strong midfield, who can motivate the players and get them to trust what they are being asked to do.

A manager who will give the players the one thing they must have before they go on the pitch. A bit of confidence and fire in their belly. The supporters will be right behind the team in every way.

No more bull shit.

The board is in meltdown. It has run away and hidden. It is a laughing stock.

If Moshiri is going to protect his assets he must start acting like an adult and a businessman and act now.
Get advice from people who have been there and done it. Joe Royle would be a start

Moshiri, stay away if you want to, but bring in an experienced sensible manager, do the right thing and the players will start performing, and the supporters might start to forgive you.

I say supporters, not fans, because this club only has supporters. The glory hunting fans left years ago and we are here doing nothing but giving the team support.

Evertonians are the best in the world so act now and start to show us the respect we deserve, by making some tough and urgent decisions.

It seems that the club want to draw a line under this whole affair.

Everton Football Club have declined to comment further on an allegation chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale was placed in a headlock during a matchday at Goodison Park.

Club sources detailed the incident in response to queries flowing from the statement it released hours before the match with Southampton. The announcement, which publicised the existence of a “real and credible threat” to the safety and security of the board of directors, said that members had been the subject of “targeted physical aggression”.

Such was the severity of the reported incident, and the fact the club had already gone on the record with claims of "physical aggression", the ECHO and other media outlets published articles upon receipt of the same information from senior club sources - and then continued to seek further details from the club throughout the day and over the course of the weekend. This included when it took place at and whether it was the subject of a police or internal investigation. However, it has since been confirmed that no formal complaint was made to Merseyside Police and the matter is understood to have been dealt with internally and considered as resolved

“The club would like to thank the vast majority of supporters who behaved impeccably before, during and after the game with Southampton - as they have done throughout the season.”

Link

I probably didn't word my post as well as I might have.

I was trying to say, there had been nothing to attribute a statement to anyone at the club specifically citing a headlock relating to the supposed "targeted physical aggression". This came from... well no-one knows for certain. Ditto the "jostle" thing.

Now in the latest statement Barry posts @ 305 it appears the club are still unwilling to clear the matter, with that "declined to comment further" and "considered as resolved". The obfuscation is doing a good job of answering the questions the board won't.

"They couldn't lie straight in bed that lot."

There is no way back for the board now, Will they be at West Ham on Saturday? Doubt it...
Next home game is Arsenal, already Merseyside Police have catagorized it as a High Risk game... So they won't be at that one either just incase the Phantom Headlocker of Old Goodison Park is about
Then after that it's the Derby at our old ground, there's three games that the board won't be at! After the Derby we have two home games against Leeds and Villa, I suspect that the Board won't be at those either!

If the intention of the protests was to get rid of the board then, basically, the board went and did most of the work for us. They won't be there in a few months.

Long term I'm sure this is the right step. Short term - I worry. The club is destabilised and fractured more than ever. This lot couldn't make good decisions when things were relatively smooth... I don't think decision making will improve now.

As a club we desperately need something or someone to get behind. This is really saddening, maddening and outright tragic.

But it doesn't work that way. If we square up I can't punch you and then say 'tell you what, let's not do this or one of us might get hurt'.

It's going to take a lot more than just saying that they're not going to talk about it anymore.

Which all comes back, to our rarely to be seen owner, who will have to come out of hiding and make executive decisions. As time is running perilously close (again) in the Transfer Market and we have an inexperienced and stranded (almost beached) Manager, our immediate and short term future is precarious to say the least.

Maybe the complete clear out and the almost inevitable relegation, could just be the re-birth of Our once Great Club. A Phoenix rising from the Ashes.

Hopefully it won't come to the relegation scenario.

The current board, selected by Kenwright, is of the same ilk.

Moshiri is a mirage as an (alleged) owner.

We're now disabled for years from mega-signings because of the ineptitude of Moshiri/Kenwright in authorising the signings of shite in abundance, courtesy of the managers/DoFs they appointed and then massively paid off, further compromising the acquisition of genuinely good players.

Does the creation of a 52,000 seater stadium to accommodate derbies with the likes of Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and, maybe in a year or two, Accrington Stanley sound like a good idea?

Answers on a postcard please.

And, as an aside, given that BMD is touted by the council as THE catalyst for the regeneration of a massively decades-long decrepit huge amount of our city what do they hope to attract by visits by the extremely small numbers of fans those extremely small clubs may provide?

The term "two faced" springs to mind, together with the question, do you like sex and travel...

How can the Club internall deal with an assault by a fan, as they are implying in their statements of 'real and present danger'?

The only way they could resolve it internally is if a Club employee had attacked DBB.

And if it was considered resolved long before the Southampton game then why bring it up one hour before kick-off unless to discredit the fans?

Under Kenwright the board sold Finch Farm off to a private company and rented it back from them, in the process paying far more than what it would have cost to develop it themselves. That private company then sold it on to LCC to who we continue to pay rent. Unless I missed something and Moshiri (not the board) bought it back?

The board brought us record turnover?? Explain how.

Our record turnover is a result of record TV rights deals at home and abroad, nothing with which anyone on our board were involved in the negotiations.

Principal cast
The Phantom - played by Moshiri
Christine - played by that most charitable of ladies, DBB.
Book early, sure to be a sell out.

Watch this space. The good times are just around the corner.

I hope we don't let it blow over. It would be fantastic if we start picking up results no matter who is in charge in the dugout but never let this be airbrushed.

Bane just did a press conference saying a letter from Commissioner Gordon said that a fan didn't headlock DBB but in fact Bill Kenwright did.