Everton referred to independent commission over financial rules

24/03/2023 229comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of its profitability and sustainability rules following what is reported to have been a 10-month investigation.

The League have said the alleged breach is from the 2021-22 campaign when the club reported losses in excess of £370m over the three preceding seasons, well above the permitted £105m threshold.

Everton have consistently maintained a dialogue with the Premier League and reported on more than one occasion last year that the League was satisfied that the club was in compliance with financial rules, with the excess losses attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, consequent lockdown and the impact of playing to empty stadiums.

Nonetheless, both Burnley and Leeds wrote to the League last year to question whether Everton had broken the rules, complaints that did not involve any immediate action but may have prompted the investigation that has now resulted in the Blues being referred to an independent panel.

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A Premier League statement said: “In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred an alleged breach of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules by Everton Football Club to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.

"The assessment period for which it is alleged that the Club is in breach is the period ending Season 2021/22."

The latest set of accounts for Everton FC Co Ltd for the financial year which ended last June are expected to be published next week and have in all likelihood already been submitted to the Premier League for scrutiny.

A statement by Everton published on their official website reads:

Everton Football Club is disappointed to hear of the Premier League’s decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review.

The Club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance and together with its independent team of experts is entirely confident that it remains compliant with all financial rules and regulations.

Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position to the commission. The Club has, over several years, provided information to the Premier League in an open and transparent manner and has consciously chosen to act with the utmost good faith at all times.

The Club will not be making any further comment at this time.

Everton's level of expenditure for the 2021-22 season was a reflection of the losses they had incurred in previous seasons. They spent just £1.7m in the summer of 2021. offset the purchases of Nathan Patterson and Vitalli Mykolenko in January with the sale to Aston Villa of Lucas Digne and sold Richarlison to Tottenham for a fee that could reach £55m at the end of June 2022, reportedly to ensure they remained in compliance with the profitability and sustainability rules.

There is no precedent for a scenario where Everton are found guilty of having breached Premier League rules but potential punishments include a hefty fine, a transfer embargo and even a points deduction. While regarded as unlikely anyway, there is little chance that any points penalty would be imposed this season as the case is expected to take many months to adjudicate.

 

Reader Comments (229)

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Kevin Molloy
1 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:32:14
We're gonna need that air of calm. We've just been referred to an independent commission by our friends in the Premier League for breaches of profit and loss.

Just when we thought we were out of the woods.

Peter Gorman
2 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:42:46
Just seen, Kevin. Points deduction?
Brent Stephens
3 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:46:52
I see the Premier League has referred Everton to an independent commission re alleged breach of financial rules.
Shane Corcoran
4 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:47:49
This will make the international break exciting for those who find it boring. Who’s first in with the league want us relegated.
Kevin Molloy
5 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:52:23
Peter,

It's going to be a real dilemma for them. if they hit us with a points deduction and we are relegated, we could well go out of business. How does that help anyone? Much better to fine us, and compensate whinging-arse Burnley.

Frank Sheppard
6 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:55:08
More evidence that we are the worst run club in England… and can't use a calculator, apparently.
Mark Ryan
7 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:55:18
Oh what a tangled Web we weave. Kenwright has seen this coming.

"If I don't go to the matches, if I get rid of my face over the turnstiles, if I don't converse with them… then perhaps they'll forget I was ever here and not blame me when the shit really hits the fan."

Mark Hill
8 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:56:01
Kevin post 5 - haven’t we already done this by buying McNeil?
Anthony Murphy
9 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:56:09
Is that the sound of shit hitting the fan?

Absolutely not a chance we'll wriggle off this – as always, an example needs to be made and who better?

Ed Prytherch
10 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:56:41
If the penalty is a restriction on incoming transfers, then it won't make much difference. We are learning how to deal with that.

A sizeable fine would make things worse. How about real community service for the board like 8 hours/week working in a food bank or picking up trash for a year?

Mick O'Malley
11 Posted 24/03/2023 at 16:56:46
It'll probably mean a transfer ban, so it looks like we are stuck with this set of players if found guilty. according to TalkSport, we should escape a points deduction.
Darragh Farrell
12 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:00:24
Knowing the tight-arses running the club, they would probably welcome a transfer ban.
John Chambers
13 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:02:35
Given the timing, I presume this is based on the accounts coming out in the next week or so. Presumably the Premier League have been given some advance visibility. So much for selling Richarlison to prevent this being a problem!
Andrew Merrick
14 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:03:58
Oh boy, no easy ride this. It's hard when the goalposts shift...

Dyche is about the best we could have right now... The squad we have now must be kept in best possible shape.

C'mon Dom, Andros, we need you guys!

Ian Horan
15 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:05:28
But we were being advised by the Premier League on staying inside the Profit and Sustainability Rules!!! Looks like they thought we were going down so let sleeping dogs lie.

Now Dyche is giving us a fighting chance, they have thought "Fuck it!! Let's sink them good and proper!!!"

Dave Abrahams
16 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:06:50
Let's see what the breach of the rules are before we start all the doom and gloom.
Benn Chambers
17 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:08:12
Am I missing something? The season under question we spent £1.7M on Gray. We then spent £24M on Patterson and Mykolenko but sold Digne for £25M. Dele Alli was a free unless he made x amount of appearances (he didn't) and Donny van der Beek was on loan.

We've spent the grand sum of absolutely fuck-all and the Premier League themselves confirmed they'd signed off all transfers as we referred them to them first.

This will be interesting because Man City will be expected to get the same punishment which will cost them a league title and their manager.

It may well cost us our Premier League status but at the very least, it may well finally rid us of this disgusting gang of putrid clueless bastards who run us. Every last one of them makes me sick. Crooks.

This could go a few ways, we could get relegated and possibly go out of business. We get relegated and someone gets a bargain with us as a Championship club (similar to Gillette and Hicks got with Liverpool) or we get a large fine, maybe a transfer ban (like Chelsea did) and Burnley get compensation, like West Ham had to do over Tevez and Masherano.

Also, I'm assuming Moshiri will have an army of highly paid lawyers ready to take the Premier League to the cleaners over auditing us and signing the spending off?

Are the Premier League gonna put one of its founding members and the biggest clubs in the country out of business when Manchester City have been bang at it? Fulham are spending massively, you can't tell me Nottingham Forest aren't outside the Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

It's all a joke.

David Bromwell
18 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:08:31
Just when things were looking a little better. If nothing else, it just shows how badly the club is managed.

Difficult to blame the fans, we have sacked all the managers, I wonder who has been Chairman during this period?

Tony Abrahams
19 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:11:33
What would Everton do again… ? 🤮
Tony Everan
20 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:11:33
It's a bit belated considering we've spent a net 10 bob in the last three windows, nearly 2 years.

I thought that the club were in constant contact with the Premier League over this and that was why Richarlison was sold before 31 July and that was keeping us just onside. What's caused the rethink?

Different people at the FA decided to do some more digging? Who initiated that? Are they being lobbied behind the scenes?

If it's a points deduction, then that will relegate us. If it's a transfer ban, that will be very damaging.

It's a shocking state of affairs, our board should hang their heads in shame, incompetence doesn't cover it.

Paul Birmingham
21 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:13:17
Hopefully there will be no points deduction, and Everton can stay up this season.

Will this cause for some assets sales at the end of this season? Who knows… but how the hell has the club been allowed to flirt and invite such attention again? It must surely mean a new board at the end of this season!

New stadium, new hopes, new beginning.

UTFTs!

David Nicholls
22 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:13:29
When you look at what Chelsea and Man Utd have spent in recent times, it is almost laughable that we are supposedly in breach of ‘Financial Fair Play'!
Gerry Quinn
23 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:17:09
Official Everton statement:

Everton Football Club is disappointed to hear of the Premier League's decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review.

The Club strongly contests the allegation of non-compliance and together with its independent team of experts is entirely confident that it remains compliant with all financial rules and regulations.

Everton is prepared to robustly defend its position to the commission. The Club has, over several years, provided information to the Premier League in an open and transparent manner and has consciously chosen to act with the utmost good faith at all times.

The Club will not be making any further comment at this time.

Dave Lynch
24 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:17:57
Please don't start with the conspiracy theories.

There is more to our finances than is visible, methinks. Otherwise, as someone has said, "It's been done before."

Let's see what the charges are first.

Gerry Quinn
25 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:18:46
The understanding is that this will refer to a 3-year period, so 2019-20 – 2021-22 inclusive, with the finances of a Premier League club gauged over a 3-year period...
Tony Abrahams
26 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:20:53
The club which lied about its own supporters, has been open and transparent and has chosen to act in good faith at all times.

This is the first statement I've heard from anyone connected to the top echelons of the club since the morning of the Southampton game, and I didn't believe them then either.

Andrew Brookfield
27 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:22:57
How can the club be so poorly run??

ToffeeWeb is a dark place, particularly the Live Forum, I take all the negativity on here with a slight pinch of salt. But I was clearly misguided. The leadership didn't just mess it up, get it wrong, make bad decisions – they've proved themselves to be completely inept, unforgivably so.

There is no good outcome from this. Not unless we are paying a lot for some very, very good lawyers.

Pete Neilson
28 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:23:50
The league said the alleged breach is from the 2021-22 campaign, which is odd as we had a negative spend and released a few high earners. Regardless, the fact that we are sailing so close to the wind further damns Moshiri and the board and for their inept stewardship and financial mismanagement of our club. Shame on them.
George McKane
29 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:24:22
Moshiri - the world renowned accountant who hasn't got a clue about accounts!

The other 3 – and I include once-loved Graeme Sharp in this – couldn't run a greasy spooner. Clowns… but very dangerous clowns with no concept of consequences.

Rick Tarleton
30 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:26:30
We can't label Burnley if we broke the rules. Let's hope it isn't a points deduction, but is a transfer ban. I must admit, I fear for our future.
John Chambers
31 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:26:39
Gerry, the BBC is saying it is to do with the 2021-22 season.
Mal van Schaick
32 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:27:10
We were lead to believe that the club sought Premier League approval for our financial dealings, and were reassured by the club that we had not broken any rules.

If that is the case, why have we been referred to the Independent Commission? Explain!

John Raftery
33 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:30:41
I agree with Dave (16).

Also, it will be many months before this plays out.

Barry Rathbone
34 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:32:42
The plus side is, if we drop resultant of a points deduction we can go full martyr as per the Heysel ban and kid ourselves it had fuck-all to do with buying crap players etc.

Nothing generates unity like a common cause of sanctimonious bleating.

Remember the line "They relegated us!" – ignore our shiteness.

Stephen Vincent
35 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:34:34
This was inevitable, no scrutiny or accountability. No wonder AGMs were abandoned and the publication of the accounts delayed until the last possible moment. Hope Moshiri knows some heavy-duty lawyers.

We are run by a group of dishonest amateurs, let's get the lot of them out., I know that is easier said than done but pressure needs to be increased.

Jay Harris
36 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:35:15
Welcome to "Bill's World" of smoke and mirrors.

What is it they say? "You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

Just when we thought we would get away with it.

I guess the ridiculous figure blamed on the pandemic didn't work in the end.

Let's hope lawyers can lock this up for a couple of years until we get a new board.

John Raftery
37 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:36:57
Benn (17),

We won't know the full picture until the accounts are published but I am guessing the loss of the USM etc sponsorship money is part of the explanation.

Tony Abrahams
38 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:37:32
If Everton got a points deduction that took them into the Championship, then it wouldn't have anything whatsoever to do with shite players, Barry, but more to do with the complete mismanagement of the club that has seen protests before single every home match recently.
Kevin Molloy
39 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:37:47
Why now? If this was going to happen it should have happened at the end of last season. There is something fishy here, I smell politics.

The way Man City have abused the rules for the last decade, the Premier League may feel an example needs to be set, and a warning given to other clubs that such behaviour is now beyond the pale. Rather than have a massive fight with City, it might just be easier to make an example of Everton, which is fair enough like.

John Raftery
40 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:39:19
There is no way we will receive a points deduction this season.
Ian Edwards
41 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:42:11
Journos are saying probable fine or transfer ban. Investigation, hearing and appeal would take many months according to Sky so very unlikely there will be a points deduction this season.
Allen Rodgers
42 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:44:59
Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in…
Paul Washington
43 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:45:21
If we are fortunate enough to stay in the Premier League, surely it will be open season on us from the relegated teams demanding we go down instead of them??
Tony Everan
44 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:48:22
There are more than a few clubs that can't afford to get relegated, so now it's so tight, questions are being asked again about Everton.

Nottingham Forest signed 31 players, net outlay of about ££170-200M plus all the 31 wage contracts.

Summer window:

Nottingham Forest total gross spend: £146.8m. Barcelona (biggest spenders in La Liga): £137.7m. PSG (biggest spenders in Ligue 1): £132.8m. Bayern Munich (biggest spenders in the Bundesliga): £123.8m

January arrivals:

Gustavo Scarpa (free, Palmeiras) Nottingham Forest
Danilo (£17.8m, Palmeiras) Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood (loan, Newcastle) Nottingham Forest
Felipe (£2.6m, Atletico Madrid) Nottingham Forest
Jonjo Shelvey (£6.1m, Newcastle) Nottingham Forest
Keylor Navas (loan, Paris Saint-Germain)

[Ayew was after the window closed.]

Paul Hewitt
45 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:48:29
Given the fact we pocketed £70 million for Kean and Gordon before the transfer window shut, I would file this under 'Bollocks'.
Dave Lynch
46 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:49:56
The word is/was... it will take years for the Man City case to be heard.

Probably be the same with us I should imagine.

Ian Horan
47 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:52:26
Well if it's that 3-year period, all calculations were subject to a season of Covid!!!

A greater degree of loss was permitted.

Paul Birmingham
48 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:57:25
Typical, Everton get the full press last night on a TV, for taking internal UK flights to games... Most Premier League clubs have been doing this for years.

Fateful, but the spirit of Evertonians will transcend media-generated negativity and gross neglect and incompetence of the masquerade of a so-called Everton board.

Focusing on the Spurs game, and hopefully this will be an investigation output of NFA, pay investigation fees only, or a transfer ban, or a forced offset, by selling some assets at the close of the season.

Yes, I'm wishful thinking, but staying in the Premier League for next season is paramount to Everton's future.

This makes the Everton Board's position untenable and I think it's unlikely they'll be seen again at Goodison Park – or, God forbid, at Bramley-Moore Dock.

UTFTs!

John Chambers
49 Posted 24/03/2023 at 17:59:39
I know we had a transfer profit of about £50M in 2021-22 but did we have lots of depreciation on transfers of previous years, eg, Sigurdsson, Tosun, Moise Kean, Gbamin etc?

If we did, that could wipe away the incoming profit.

Bill Gienapp
50 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:03:10
Admittedly, I'm no expert in such matters, but this is a head-scratcher.

Last year, the Premier League said we were in the clear... but now we've been found in breach for this past season, when we basically spent no money and were (supposedly) running all our transfers past the Premier League beforehand. How does that make any sense?

Barry Hesketh
51 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:05:37
Strange timing by the Premier League, as the accounts haven't just been put together today, have they? The Premier League – according to Everton Football Club at any rate – have been kept abreast of all deals for quite some considerable time.

I see this as a way of preventing Everton FC being sold to those who fail to purchase Manchester United. It will put off any would-be investors regardless. I doubt it will result in a points deduction, but who knows?

If the Owner and the board have lied about co-operating fully with the Premier League and have broken financial rules, they should be totally ashamed of themselves.

It does explain the silence from the club in the last few months, I had hoped it was because we were being sold, it now looks as if we are marooned.

Tony Hill
52 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:19:12
Funnily enough, if I were looking to disrupt and nullify this sort of thing then I might want Kenwright involved. He's slippery, ruthless and knows where many skeletons can be found.

Meanwhile, let's open up everyone's books, shall we? If they want blood… etc.

Andy Crooks
53 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:20:23
This is a not a big deal. Best outcome, we get a slap on the wrist. Worst outcome, we get a points deduction at the start of next season (highly unlikely).

But, even a 20-point reduction next season will only mean we will narrowly miss out qualifying for Champions League.
All is good.

Nick Page
54 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:29:06
Kenwright & Co getting bent over again by the dirty Premier League shower of shithouses. How many times does this club need to be made an example of before they actually stand up to these twats?

We've been through the wringer on Panorama, and the Premier League already conducted a review, said it was fine and now this shite. Not only are we an absolute laughing stock run by a bad actor, but we're a punch bag for the media and Premier League.

If there is one thing that getting rid of Kenwright achieve, I hope it's a Board with a fucking backbone.

Gary Brown
55 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:31:17
15th in net spend over the last 5 years and the ONLY club to have a surplus in transfers in both years since Covid.

Sure, wages are likely to distort a little, but our business investment was made before Covid and who's to say the club wouldn't have grown revenue if that hadn't happened??

We are run badly financially… but there's 14 others in the Premier League doing just the same.

Bollocks to the Premier League… this is that Burnley old boy with a connection.

Premier League five-year net spend table sees Liverpool £400m behind Chelsea

Christy Ring
56 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:33:18
Kenwright and the board are a total embarrassment, but nothing has been proven yet, and did we not cooperative fully with them, one of the reasons why we supposedly sold Richarlison?

Uefa, Fifa, and the Premier League have made a mockery with their financial rules. Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, Chelsea Man City and other top teams have broken the rules but they have turned a blind eye.

The Premier League needed Everton and the other 13 clubs to support them when the supposed Top 6 tried to walk away for greed, but we know where their loyalty lies.

Barry Hesketh
57 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:37:33
Gary @55,

It's not about the net spend on transfers, it's the amount of losses made over a rolling 3-year period, as we were spending upwards of 95% of income on wages, with I assume the board taking a fair chunk too, and not having USM money in sponsorship or having poor commercial deals in comparison to other clubs in the league, we were always sailing very close to the wind.

Admittedly, I thought this particular cycle, ending in 2021-22 accounts that we'd managed to avoid the rocks, but seemingly that isn't the case.

Billy Roberts
58 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:39:24
Burnley themselves are under investigation or a transfer ban, aren't they? I can't imagine we will be paying them compensation, as someone suggested.
Joe McMahon
59 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:41:13
Tony @19, exactly. "What would Everton do?"
Jeff Armstrong
60 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:41:30
We should cite Man City as a precedent, deal with them first, then come after us, but don't start deducting points this season before City have been dealt with.

We need a decent lawyer and a decent accountant.

Bobby Mallon
61 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:42:56
Benn Chambers @17,

This is the Premier League hanging us out to dry so they can show the government body being set up to investigate football that they can do it themselves – and we are the sacrificial lamb.

John Keating
62 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:49:45
I could understand clubs reporting us for buying £25 million worth of lawnmowers for Finch Farm a few years ago, but money on half-decent players…? Well, no chance – we haven't got any!
Neil Lawson
63 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:54:16
It's Blue Bill who spilt the beans to the Premier League.

Cunning plan: "Not my fault that we cannot buy any players this summer."

Ken Kneale
64 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:55:40
Jeff 60,

A decent Chairman and competent Board would not go amiss either.

Ian Edwards
65 Posted 24/03/2023 at 18:57:17
Just read about Murray Rosen KC who is leading the investigation. Very experienced in Sports Law and is an Arsenal fan.
Barry Hesketh
66 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:01:42
According to Keith Azulchester freelance journalist - on his Twitter feed:

There was an appendix brought out and circulated just on or after the charges brought against Man City, after calls for clarification on likely penalties incurred Marty. I'm just out of office now but when home I'll get the relevant passage linked up

So that would be a hefty fine circa £12M? Only issue is does anybody actually know exactly what Everton have been charged with in relation to the financial rules?

Fine?

Michael Kenrick
67 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:04:14
When the accounts do finally drop, it'll be interesting to see what happened with our auditors, who reportedly bailed on the club back in October, according to our loveable lefty friends at The Guardian.

If that indeed happened (it was not confirmed, to my knowledge), then maybe the red flags were raised?

Barry Hesketh
68 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:11:39
I also agree with The Esk's tweet below, surely it would be better for the club to display the accounts publicly asap? Unless of course there are rules to prevent publication before the shareholders have a hard copy.

To end what will now be extensive speculation, @Everton could do themselves a huge favour and publish the 21/22 accounts immediately this evening.

Kunal Desai
69 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:12:51
Anyone think Bill has grassed up Moshiri about the accounts being cooked up?

Would be fitting of him to shaft his business partner, the slimeball that he is.

Dennis Stevens
70 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:14:35
According to the Beeb:

"Last year, rivals Leeds and Burnley wrote to the Premier League asking for Everton's accounts to be independently investigated, although they later dropped their threat of legal action.

The two clubs had been advised Everton complied with profit and sustainability rules after meeting with the Premier League.

In its statement on Friday, the Premier League said the commission would be independent of the league and its clubs, adding proceedings would be "confidential and heard in private"." [my emphasis]

This makes me wonder whether the Premier League are referring this matter so that their own judgement on the issue can also be reviewed & confirmed to be correct & above board, rather than because they actually believe EFC are at fault.

However, whichever way you slice it, the protests against the incompetent Board are further legitimised – as if that were even necessary!

Dave Abrahams
71 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:18:24
Barry (66),

Thanks for your initial input and the following link. It gives some relief in case there is something to answer to.

Anthony Murphy
72 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:22:26
Whatever happens, we’ll be made an example of.
Tony McNulty
73 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:23:09
This may well be nothing, and we shouldn't catastrophise, although the old saw about 'no smoke without fire' inevitably springs to mind.

We fans expect the people currently in charge to be aware of their privileged position as custodians of the reputation and asset that is Everton Football Club.

I hope they will all be able to look at themselves in the mirror.

Lyndon Lloyd
74 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:25:33
Regarding Barry's post (66) for anyone not in on the joke, "Keith Azulchester" is chicoazul from Grand Old Team, notorious Twitter wag.
John Chambers
75 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:27:30
Billy #58.

Not sure of the precise details with Burnley but the impression they have given is it is more of a technicality.

They had a transfer ban imposed in the last few days because they are late filing their accounts; I think they should have been filed at the end of February.

They said it was because they swapped auditor at the back end of last year but they will be filed in the next couple of weeks and that will then remove the ban, so it is a totally ineffective sanction as there is no transfer window open until the end of May.

Mick Davies
76 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:28:29
The club is and would be nothing without the supporters: over 140 years, fans have put millions of pounds into the club but, over the last (and most expensive time for supporters) 30 years, the rewards have been extremely unrewarding, and the support has even been relied on to pull the team out of relegation a few times.

Contrast this with a man who has been hugely rewarded for his 'stewardship' and the kudos he receives in his position, while treating the lifeblood of the club as serfs and insignificant peasants.

It would be a lot fairer in these legal dramas if the club and its loyal, law-abiding supporters were exonerated of any blame, and the people who made the decisions were the ones in the dock. After all, in any other business institution, the people breaking the law for gain are the ones charged, eg, the Guinness boss years ago.

To see Fathead being carted off to 68 Hornby Road in the back of a police van would be the correct outcome of this debacle.

Dave Abrahams
77 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:31:29
Lyndon (74), so is that comic relief to what I was referring to @ (71) Eff off Chico if it is!!
Barry Hesketh
78 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:41:34
Apologies to Dave and everybody else; I honestly believed that was a bonafide journalist replying to another sports journalist. I think that has annoyed me more than the charges made against the club.

Once again, I apologise. How any 'Evertonian' can make light of the situation or publish seeming facts about a bad situation for a 'laugh' is beyond contempt.

Paul Hewitt
79 Posted 24/03/2023 at 19:59:50
Sky saying any points deduction will probably only start next season.
David West
80 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:12:59
Love to know how we can put our accounts to the Premier League, they scrutinise them, allow us to continue spending, allow us to be active in the transfer market, and now say an outside body needs to decide?

How can the people who make the rules not know if they have been broken? Is it the fact that the Premier League have known our position all along and now want another body to basically tell them how to run their product?

I am no supporter of this board but I feel the Premier League have led the board and in turn us supporters to believe it was all above board.

Or have the Premier League dragged their heels to avoid any sanctions affecting the league placings, for example, Burnley asking for us to be docked points and reversing their relegation at the end of last season?

It's all a big mess!!


Iakovos Iasonidis
81 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:19:03
If any kind of punishment is imposed to us before anything happens to Man City, it will be a farce.

Truth is though we are the worst-managed club in the Premier League and it will take years to get back on our feet.

Very sad times overall for Everton, when years pass it will be remembered as a very dark period for the club.

Barry Hesketh
82 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:22:34
David @80

I totally agree, the whole thing is a huge mess. If I'm correct, I believe the accounts were only formally submitted to the Premier League a few weeks ago, perhaps a month at most. But surely they would have known informally about the approximate numbers contained within that set of accounts for 2021-22?

Perhaps, it is time for the Premier League to have all the accounts for every club to be submitted and signed off in the close season. Then, if there are rules broken, they can act and dispense the correct punishments.

Everton could be in the position of saving their Premier League status in May and getting a points deduction later in the summer which leads to relegation. Probably unlikely, but it will likely hang over the fans and the club for all of the summer.

What we mustn't do as fans, is to give up whilst there are still points to be won. We should use this issue to back the players even more so than we have so far – if that's at all possible.

Barry Rathbone
83 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:24:03
Tony @38,

If we had gathered enough points to absorb any deduction from the Premier League, we wouldn't be worried about relegation… but we haven't because we have shit players. No way round the fact that a vulnerable points total is down to what happens on the pitch.

Admittedly it's galling this lot are the culmination of an apparent wealthy new owner floundering because of a lack of footballing acumen but that's how it works. Venkys, Lerner, Hicks and Gillette, Ashley – the precedents are everywhere.

I keep saying it because it's true but, until we have monstrous amounts of oil money to drive serenely through the mistakes all boards make, we are done. No amount of spreadsheet juggling at boardroom level will change that.

David West
84 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:28:58
Now we know why there's been no investment!!!

We are like a knock-off footy club. Run by incompetents.
Owned by a dodgy Iranian bookkeeper, with an ugly silent partner, who parades as an accountant, yet can't work out profit & loss.

I mean, would you like to trust your money with them ??


Tony Everan
85 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:33:17
The Premier League may well be anticipating a lot of bad blood and questioning come May. It's a tight and bitter relegation scrap with hundreds of millions at stake.

Legal battles will be launched if there are any perceived rule-breaking malpractices, asking for huge sums in compensation. The Premier League itself will come under scrutiny and massive pressure.

In order to avoid any actions against themselves, they can say that their decisions have been sound and independently verified.

This could be part of the reason for today's announcement, to make themselves bulletproof.

Colin Glassar
86 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:38:19
Is this some kind of sick joke or something?

Why is it always us? Is there some sort of curse on us? Only Everton, eh?

David West
87 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:43:20
Barry @82,

Yes, I agree it's the Premier League causing all this. IMO, they are not going to compromise the integrity of the sporting competition by deductions of points with us, Man City or anyone else during a season. To begin at the start of the season is more possible. Transfer embargos and huge fines, yes.

It all just goes to show what a disgraceful way the club has been run. Every other club had to deal with Covid. Every club works within these rules, however close to the limits; they are they are not in our position. They have people who know how to run a club, how to stay the right side of the rules.

Where would we be if we could not write off a lot of our losses due to Covid? I don't have the inside knowledge of that but it would be interesting to know if we would have still been in this position.

Ian Riley
88 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:44:14
All will be fine!

Thankfully we have Mr Kenwright!!

Kieran Kinsella
89 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:48:39
When they said we were in compliance last year, isn't it possible they thought we were, based on the details provided, but perhaps new evidence has come to light showing we cooked the books?

Bear in mind they're suddenly looking at Man City's books from 9 years ago -- financials that in prior years seemingly passed the litmus test. Likewise, we have Juve this year being penalized for crimes of years past, and someone finally cottoned onto Barce's 10-year "other expenses" of being a bribe paid to a ref.

Barry Hesketh
90 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:51:39
Is it a coincidence that the Premier League charged Manchester City two days before the White Paper was due to be published and Everton [referred to the commission] a couple of days before its [Premier League's] CEO is due to speak before a Select Committee? Source: Kieran Maguire via Twitter.

This is possibly as good a reason as any as to why this has happened at this particular juncture, but given earlier misinformation, I don't know if any such select committee is sitting next week.

Kieran @ 89

It would have been a great help and a lot less stressful if we could trust and have full faith in our current owner and board.

John Raftery
91 Posted 24/03/2023 at 20:59:55
Dennis (70) and Tony (85) have the same thought which crossed my mind. This referral is designed to cover backs within the Premier League.
Anthony Murphy
92 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:00:44
When we received a hefty fine for the pitch invasion/celebration at the end of the Crystal Palace match, did the likes of Nottm Forest and Man City?
Barry Hesketh
93 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:04:23
Anthony @92,

I'm fairly sure that Forest did get punished, I'm not too sure about City.

John Pickles
94 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:07:20
It shouldn't be too difficult to defend the £45M for Sigurdsson, it's hardly Everton's fault his value dropped to nothing.
Paul Hewitt
95 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:14:38
Stop trying to blame this on some sort of conspiracy on Everton. We're in this mess because of the owner and board. Any punishment we get is our own fault.

We have been run shockingly for the last 7 years and now we will pay for it. If that means we go down, so be it. But if it gets rid of Moshiri and the board, I'll take it.

Barry Hesketh
96 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:24:43
Paul @95,

Won't you miss watching all the Premier League games at Goodison? Moshiri and Kenwright will eventually go, whichever league we happen to be in. I'd prefer the top flight, but seemingly you don't care too much about it.

Chris Cook
97 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:27:44
Only light in the tunnel is that, with how slow the Premier League is to do anything, it will probably be next season we lose the points.
Tom Edwards
98 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:32:33
Chris at 97. Don't bet on it!

Where we are concerned, things move faster than shit through a goose. Expect an example-making punishment given to us in double-quick time.

Philip Bunting
99 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:35:41
The Premier League love to make Everton the scapegoats for everything. I think it was Niasse at Palace charged over a rule and I don't think anyone since has...

It always seems that we are up against the World.

Barry Hesketh
100 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:36:17
The most worrying thing is that, according to some reports, there is no recourse for an appeal, if a decision is made to punish Everton Football Club.
Christy Ring
101 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:39:00
Paul, o ye, accept the Championship, no stadium, and no owners...

Be careful what you wish for??

John Raftery
102 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:40:43
Rest assured, this process will take many months. There is absolutely no chance of the commission reporting before the end of the season.
Paul Hewitt
103 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:44:52
Christy @101.

The stadium will get finished no matter what league we are in. It's gone too far not to finish it.

Barry Hesketh
104 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:50:41
Anyway, why can't the Premier League have fixed penalties, eg, for every million a club goes over the permitted loss, you lose 3 points. That would certainly focus minds in every boardroom.
Philip Bunting
105 Posted 24/03/2023 at 21:57:30
And the great lengths Everton go to with EitC, that no other club can even come close to. The work done by the club and expense when it can be quite easily forgotten amongst the Premier League greed and Sky 6 cum Super League 6.

Where would the Premier League be if clubs like Everton didn't speak up against the Super League. Everton – the club who put their neck on the block to speak out...

The Premier League needs to look a lot closer to home. I just read they signed off the accounts... so how can they back-track? To what end and lengths must a club go to to be deemed in the clear.

Don Alexander
106 Posted 24/03/2023 at 22:45:01
Whatever the alleged motives behind this news, it's at times like these that we could really do with an owner and chairman with personal experience going back to the very formation of the Premier League 30 years ago to stop further ruin to our club's very status as a Premier League founder, stop further ruin to our revered (by many other clubs) entire history, stop further ruin to our now parlous (unpublished and unaccountable, as ever) finances, or stop ruin to our club's very existence.

What a shame we're devoid of any such talent.

Barry Hesketh
107 Posted 24/03/2023 at 22:45:11
Here we are ever closer to Easter and, only a few months ago, Denise Barrett-Baxendale had this to say in her Christmas message on the OS.

It is natural at this time of year to reflect on the year gone by. Without doubt, 2022 brought unprecedented challenges for our football club. However, I strongly believe it was also a year of resilience and progression. On and off the pitch, the vital groundwork has been laid through hard work, collaboration, and unity to set us on a more positive path driving forward.

The rewards for some of that work will take time to materialise, but we are confident we have put in place the building blocks for a more stable, robust future. 23 December 2022.

Dan Parker
108 Posted 24/03/2023 at 22:50:54
The Premier League can suck it. Desperate to make us the scapegoats for everything. Push us aside and re-pursue the Super League.

They've no problem with blood money, foreign government slush funds, sports-washing or money laundering as long as it shows a positive balance in club accounts. No credit for Everton severing ties with Usmanov immediately at the onset of the unforeseen Ukraine war.

Don Alexander
109 Posted 24/03/2023 at 22:57:47
She ("Little Miss Dynamite") spouts (im)pure meaningless management psycho-babble learned from a book entitled "How To Successfully Do Fuck-All In An Industry Where You Have No Talent By Merely Kissing The Arse Of A Self-Serving Senior Shithouse".

With a title like that, it should be a very large book, and in terms of book cover size, it is, but there's nothing to read when you open it.

The Tory Party (geddit?) years ago bought enough copies to prevent it becoming remaindered though.

Sigh!

Will Mabon
110 Posted 24/03/2023 at 23:10:53
Dan,

It's just drama, that's all: bread and circuses. We are part of the cast this time. Nothing more.

Don Alexander
111 Posted 24/03/2023 at 23:18:19
Just wondering whether Kenwright is speaking to Peter Ridsdale for our best option hereon in?
Barry Hesketh
112 Posted 24/03/2023 at 23:22:04
I can't see how Everton can avoid punishment if the rules state that, over a 3-year period, losses of no more than £105m are allowed, when Everton's losses appear to dwarf that figure in a 3-year period, unless of course I'm misreading stuff and it's £105m per year?
Barry Hesketh
113 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:00:17
I've found the answer, thanks to the link below, to the question I posed earlier. It is a total of £105m over a 3-year period. The passage below is taken from Paul the Esk's article from January 2022:

So, it seems Everton are in a situation where we have to work within a budget agreed with the Premier League. We are not in a situation that results in immediate punishment. That is only likely if we decided to ignore, breach the agreements we will have reached, or our finances were materially different from previously reported to the Premier League.

Looking forward it is clear we will be in a loss-making position again this year, and likely to be above the £105 million profitability and sustainability limit. This will result in continued restrictions on player purchases into this summer.

Whilst the financial position improves beyond 30 June 2022 with the final legacy of the summer of 2017 player purchases and contracts, plus other poor-value signings disappearing off the books, our ability to recruit for (hopefully) a new manager will be dependent on what is agreed with the Premier League and/or player sales.

Profitability and Sustainability Rules

Brian Wilkinson
114 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:01:52
If it is left to Bill, he will be trying to get a solicitor through legal aid, the tight-arse slippery slimy, curdle-wrenching, sleezy, shifty, dodgy-dealing Chairman.

Hope he has hidden the accounts in the same place as the Arteta money…

Stephen Vincent
115 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:02:27
Paul #103,

Have you not seen the New Mestalla in Valencia? Work stopped about 6 years ago at probably the same stage BMD is now.

Dave Lynch
116 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:03:34
Nobody is "out to get us".

"We" (not the fans obviously) have mismanaged the club for years and it's come on top big time.

Let's see Bill worm his way out of this one, the slimy fucker has destroyed this club. I reckon we are in a worse state than anyone realises.

Dupont Koo
117 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:03:58
Another incompetence of the Board unearthed!

This time it's Denise (or she is only the front for Bill the Liar)...

What was the club's effort in keeping the Premier League "frequently" updated on the club's latest financial conditions and the club's ongoing "effort" to try balancing the books?

Now that we have received this piece of shite from the Premier League, does that mean all those aforementioned efforts yielded nothing from them? Let's not even get as far as "sympathy", but it seems the Premier League doesn't even "understand" or "care about" our situation, hence the accusation.

Fingers crossed that this will result in nothing but burning just another hole in Moshiri's wallet.

Bill the Liar is secretly smiling backstage in one of his theatres because the fine won't be coming out of his wallet.

Soren Moyer
118 Posted 25/03/2023 at 00:07:07
Probably a stadium update tomorrow!
Jerome Shields
119 Posted 24/03/2023 at 00:09:57
'Everton have consistently maintained a dialogue with the Premier League and reported on more than one occasion last year that the League was satisfied that the club was in compliance with financial rules, with the excess losses attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, consequent lockdown, and the impact of playing to empty stadia.'

I thought Kenwright was kept on to deal with the authorities and, as stated above, had been successful in doing so.Why am I not surprised this was all bullshit?

Or is it an attempt to put off potential investors? After all, before the game attended by three MSP directors, it was announced that the Board would not be attending because of imminent danger and unspecified security advice.

A statement that the Police felt they had to respond to with a denial.Also after the Chief Executive was held in a headlock, which proved to be blantly untrue.

This present situation stinks to high heaven.

Martin Mason
120 Posted 25/03/2023 at 00:29:49
And just when you thought that things at Everton couldn't possibly get any worse…
Martin Mason
121 Posted 25/03/2023 at 01:03:36
Massive disconnect between what Everton say and what the authorities say. Well, what a surprise, who could be bullshitting?
Dave Lynch
122 Posted 25/03/2023 at 01:06:50
"The club have consistently maintained dialogue with the Premier League".

I'll paraphrase that... "We lied through our back teeth!"

Dennis Stevens
123 Posted 25/03/2023 at 01:15:19
Btw, who are the independent commission?
Ron Marr
124 Posted 25/03/2023 at 01:15:53
It would be months before this is adjudicated. If Everton lose, there would be an appeal. The MoFos might also appeal if they lose.

I'm more concerned about that clown Moshiri canning Dyche in the summer and bringing in Bielsa or one of Joorabchian's guys…

Don Alexander
125 Posted 25/03/2023 at 03:20:08
Ed's, in the interests of reader coherence, is it possible to delineate "Martin Mason – the consistently eccentric Kenwright defender" from the Martin Mason who, just above, seems to have a grasp of our club's scary reality?
Steve Brown
126 Posted 25/03/2023 at 05:51:16
Can't believe Bill's smooth-talking charm didn't convince them.

The Premier League obviously haven't been briefed about the world-class board we have, or how they are a role model for the rest of the league.

I am guessing that they tried to have talks with the board to clarify the accounts, but couldn't locate them.

Bobby Mallon
127 Posted 25/03/2023 at 06:11:14
Barry Rathbone @83,

For the life of me, I don't know why you mention Mike Ashley. Newcastle fans may have hated him but he ran that club well financially and sold it without debt.

Bob Parrington
128 Posted 25/03/2023 at 06:16:50
Another potential road block for us!

No point in getting back at Moshiri and Big Bad Bill. What's happened has happened. We need to look with hope to the future.

Worst thing could be a substantial points deduction this season. That would be too obvious a vindictive course IMO and would end up in a serious court battle that cost bring the Premier League into a position of disrepute.

Best position would be if the so-called "independent" commission finding is that Everton has nothing to answer for.
Somewhere in between is likely and we go back to the old adage: "If money can fix it, it's not that big a problem".

One good thing in all of this might be a change of board structure and a new chairman.

My first wish is that this doesn't get too much in our players' heads such that it reduces our performances.

If it moves them to a more positive "Fuck Them" attitude and we win all 10 of the remaining games, the Premier League would find it hard to seek out a hiding place.

Okay… dreamtime maybe… but stranger things have happened. COYB

Jerome Shields
129 Posted 25/03/2023 at 08:06:38
Kenwright and Barrett-Baxendale are well in with the Premier League. Everton where given a substantial allowance for Covid. Now we find that, in a season where little was spent, very much under the guidance of the Premier League regulations, a full-blown investigation is to be launched.

In the immediate period before this announcement, there isn't a hint of anything. There would have been a lot of room for manoeuvre over this period. The subsequent "defending our honour" statement by the club has a "thou doth protest too much" ring about it, imo.

The immediate issue is what effect this will have on a potential investor, which Moshiri seems to be convinced is necessary. Prior to this, a takeover that seemed to have Kenwright's hands all over it, and not surprising consisted of men of straw, failed.

A genuine deal which Kenwright could not be a million miles from being involved in has coincided with a precedented Board boycott of Goodison Park and a PR campaign with the intent of turning the fans into savages, which the potential investors risked joining at Goodison.

In the what should be the penultimate parts of potential investor negotiation, a letter arrived at Goodison from the Premier League which, under due diligence would have to have been made available to the potential investor. Who can potentially benefit from this and what effect will it have on the valuation of the club?

Marc Hints
130 Posted 25/03/2023 at 08:22:26
Nothing to worry about: we have not been found guilty.

Looks like the Premier League have just used Everton to be seen to be doing something about their Profitability and Sustainability rules.

I would be surprised if anything happened.

Paul Hewitt
131 Posted 25/03/2023 at 08:47:05
Marc @130.

We haven't been found guilty because the case hasn't been heard yet.

Jeff Armstrong
132 Posted 25/03/2023 at 08:49:50
This is obviously something to do with our then accountants disassociating from us late last year, they basically walked away because they weren't happy with how the accounts are being processed and what was within them.

If you where a fellow struggler in the relegation battle this season, you would want any points deduction to be relevant for the immediate season after the offence, l know I would, and would litigate against the Premier League until the punishment was retrospective and relevant to this season.

Even if we stay up, this could go on into the summer.

Pete Neilson
133 Posted 25/03/2023 at 08:53:36
Bobby (61),

I agree completely. The Premier League needs to show its muscle in administering the game before the government confirms it'll get involved (and undoubtedly make it even worse).

They'll want to make an example of us. We're an easier target than taking on the murderer and his acolytes who bought Newcastle Utd. The recent golf court case exposed the obvious lies used in that takeover.

I won't hold my breath for the Premier League to act.

Jim Lloyd
134 Posted 25/03/2023 at 09:13:26
Hope I'm right, here, but the way it reads to me:

The Premier League have already said that they found Everton
to be within the rules but either Leeds or Burnley or both are not satisfied with that.

Maybe the independent commission is being used by the Premier League to prove they have come to the right decision already regarding Everton, but they feel they need to prove it by the use of the independent commission.

Whatever, our Chairman, who is the guardian of the good running of the club we love, being as slimy as a bag of snails, has assured the Premier League that everything has been done "The Everton Way".

David Nicholls
135 Posted 25/03/2023 at 09:38:06
Every football fan dreams of seeing their team join the exclusive, elite club that competes for domestic and European honours.

In order to achieve this, you need to spend a shedload of cash. The catch is that you are only allowed to spend a shedload of cash if you are already part of the club.

Jerome Shields
136 Posted 25/03/2023 at 09:52:13
Jim #134,

I think you are right on how it will eventually boil down. I am more concerned about how it will impact on a potential investor going forward.

Ian Bennett
137 Posted 25/03/2023 at 09:57:52
So Tony Kay got done for gambling, Niasse for diving, the club's be done for tapping up kids, getting a ban from signing young players… now this.

For fuck's sake, it's going to be Everton getting the shit end of the stick again. Big enough to be made an example of; small enough that it doesn't matter...

Jeff Armstrong
138 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:09:46
The other thing to consider is that this board will not have the will or guts to fight this.
Paul Tran
139 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:12:32
I'd wager that we've broken the rules, in the belief that we'll find a way of getting away with it. The question now is whether the Premier League are willing to let us get away with it.

As with so much in the UK at the moment, when you're led by incompetent, corrupt liars who surround themselves with sycophants, the facts have a way of eventually cutting through the bluster.

This will probably run on into the summer, so I'd expect any punishment to come into force next season.

I'm hoping for a morally dubious decision in our favour.

Jim Lloyd
140 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:12:41
You've got a good point there, Jerome. I'm hoping the club do print a public announcement rejecting the accusations, once they are sure they are in the clear, mind!

It's been printed "somewhere" (I'm not sure where) that the American interest has fizzled out. I hope it isn't true because, without new investment coming in and hopefully bringing new life into our club, I fear for it. For whatever reason (or reasons), there has been a catalogue of missed opportunities and poor decisions for well over 20 years.

How long has Kenwright been the Chairman, by the way?
If the club don't "robustly" and with all speed, defend itself and show it has acted within the rules of the Premier League, I think investors (if they come in at all) will wait and see what the outcome will be.

What effect that will have on the speed of completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, I dread to think.

Alan J Thompson
141 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:13:17
As yet, I haven't read half the comments above but it is of no use comparing our situation with that of other clubs, especially Nottm Forest, as they have only just been promoted and this is the first year of all those incoming transfers so they have at least 2 more years to get any losses under £105M.

In any case, it is not some sort of competition: you stand or fall on your own submitted accounts unless you can show you have been treated unfairly. I also wonder if the situation changes if Mr Moshiri takes up the option to buy out all other shareholders and makes Everton a private company.

Unofficially we should be making public inquiries about injunctions against any season starting until we've had time to pursue any penalties through the British courts as I don't think this would be allowed under British business law, that is company financial laws, and especially if our major shareholder was to guarantee covering any financial debts, although I would appreciate the view from somebody more knowledgeable in such matters.

Also, it has been indicated in the past, although I don't know the truth of the matter, that our accounts may include the costs of the new ground, the Women's team and EitC which the rules, I think, make them deductible from the accounts.

Whatever, I think we are nearly all in agreement that this looks like the chickens coming home to roost, now that there is obvious room in the Directors Box.

Unless of course this is to show that Everton have not broken any rules and all complaints have no grounds.

Jim Lloyd
142 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:34:50
Paul,

I don't think there'll be any chance at all of there being a "morally dubious decision in our favour," as this is now being decided by an Independent Commission (better give them a couple of capital letters, they might be touchy!)

If Everton have broken the P&S rules, then we will be found guilty and the only hope we have is if there are extenuating circumstances, ie, the Premier League had found us working within the rules.

If that's the case, then I think we will have a good case to say "go and sort it with the Premier League!"

If not, mate, I'd say it's down to what punishment would be administered.

Tony McNulty
143 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:37:42
Relax everyone.

Given some of the transfer decisions that have been made, we will surely get off on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Jim Lloyd
144 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:44:10
Hahaha. Well said, Tony.
Paul Tran
145 Posted 25/03/2023 at 10:53:06
Good point, Jim. I suspect the words 'Independent Commission' struck fear into our board!
Kim Vivian
146 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:01:44
I have not gone into Everton's financials particularly closely although I do read through the Esk's various pieces (not fully comprehending every nuance, tbh).

In my somewhat unclear view, I am wondering if this is more than a P&S investigation, and may be a two-pronged look at the club with regard to Russian connections. It seems odd that, having been given the green light already by the Premier League, resources should be getting committed to a further investigation.

Without knowing the mechanics of the sponsorship deal with Finch Farm and naming rights for the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, I have to assume that our financials have taken a hit since February of last year, ie, midway into the 2021-22 season, the season under the microscope.

If the Finch Farm sponsorship is an ongoing thing, then that obviously has evaporated but it may be that the sponsorship deal was a one-off payment lasting 5 years (or whatever). The naming rights option as I understand it was simply an upfront payment.

Whichever way it is structured, surely we have been shafted to some extent. There may even be other Russian-connected income streams that are hidden away which we are unaware of, which having dried up or being viewed as spurious, leave us precarious.

I feel a bit of an ill wind blowing over this and pray like all of us for a swift and positive resolution but I am feeling more than a little concerned just now.

Brian Harrison
147 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:03:16
I have said on many occasions, any cap on what a club can spend is nonsense. Imagine next telling John Lewis how much they could spend – what other industry sets a cap on its business rivals?

Having said that, if you are in a club and those are the rules, however stupid, you have to abide by the rules. Now we know Moshiri is absolutely clueless when it comes to football matters, but he is an accountant that looks after the finances of multi-million pound businesses. So you would expect between him and Ingles, our financial director, that they would have made sure we stayed within the rules.

Having said all of that, according to reports, the club have been working closely with the Premier League to avoid any possibility of transgressing the rules… so, if that's true, what has happened to change that?

There has been a flexing of the muscles of late were a few Championship clubs have been given a transfer embargo, Burnley being amongst them. Maybe we were an easy target for the Premier League but, as many have said, let's wait to see if we have actually broken any rules.

David West
148 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:03:24
FFP and P&S rules are a joke anyway. There's no level playing field in football anyway. They exist in the main to keep the status quo of the big clubs running the show.

It's going to drag on and on, leaving a huge cloud over us, stifling investment, and any progress. How does this help the sustainability of any club? It makes it worse.

How can Nottm Forest spend £200M in one season? I mean, I'm not an expert in their finance, but they are not raking in massive sponsorship or playing Champions League? £105M loss in one season is peanuts in today's football.

Let's just hope the Premier League have their ducks in line and have not led us up a path that sees an outside body tell them they have broken their own rules and we pay the penalty.

Where have I heard this before? Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Everton paying the price for others' mistakes and suffering for years??

Paul Hewitt
149 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:08:23
David @148, let's stop the self-pity.

If we are guilty then we deserve punishing.

Mike Doyle
150 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:08:43
I wonder if the Independent Commission will start by asking “What would Everton do… they always get it right?”
Barry Rathbone
151 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:22:54
I don't know how Financial Fair Play works…
Mick O'Malley
152 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:25:12
Paul Hewitt @ various,

I'm with you regarding the conspiracy nonsense. We are in this mess because of our incompetent owner and board, sacking manager after manager, and the ridiculous wages we've paid to average players with no sell-on value.

Why would the Premier League have it in for us? Why would they want one of the most historic clubs in England and founder members relegated? It makes no sense.

We are in this mess because we've been run by idiots who have run us into the ground.

Brian Harrison
153 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:32:24
Seems when the clubs here were quite happy to see the break up of the Premier League in their pursuit of even greater riches by joining the European Super League, the cry from all the journalists who supported these clubs was "Oh, don't punish them as you will only hurt the fans who are innocent in all of this."

Also, let's not forget the only reason most of the English clubs pulled out was because the fans of those clubs objected to the format, although not the idea. So, had it included some meritocracy in the new format, these clubs and most of their fans would have been happy to join.

But I didn't hear any journalist complain when Derby got a 21-point penalty and doubt if they will use the argument about the innocent Everton fans, who have been campaigning about their incompetent board for months, if we are threatened with a points deduction.

Barry Hesketh
154 Posted 25/03/2023 at 11:48:28
Having referred Manchester City to the independent panel last month, then surely the Premier League had no choice but to do the same with any other club alleged to have broken similar rules? It matters not what agreements were in place or what positive dialogue there may have been between the two parties involved.

What I'm not sure about is whether either Manchester City or Everton have a right to appeal any decisions made by the independent panel – I'm sure in City's case it was reported that no appeals could be made.

What seems certain is that this will be a long drawn out affair and it will fully test the Premier League's ability to enforce what some would call arbitrary punishments for breaking arbitrary rules – even though all member clubs signed up to the rules. In both cases, the Premier League didn't forewarn the clubs that they were going to be put before the panel, although that's likely to be normal practice.

We'll all have to wait and see what happens in the coming months and hope that the punishment handed out doesn't adversely affect the club too much. Some would argue that the mere fact it has been referred to the independent panel has done quite a bit of damage already.

Christopher Timmins
155 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:01:02
The accountant in me tells me that surely all of this is a matter that can be determined quite simply by comparing the financial rules that were in place against the results actually reported by the club. If an adjustment to the requirements was allowed for Covid, this can be factored in, and a determination made one way or the other.

We were either within the guidelines or we weren't.

If, in the worst-case scenario, we broke the rules and suffer a points deduction, then that will be the final nail in the coffin for our Board of Directors (disasters).

Michael Barrett
156 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:07:41
We would have been okay if our owner was a finance and accounting expert.

Oh, wait…

David West
157 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:13:23
Paul 149,

It's not self-pity. Surely the Premier League should be able to tell us if the rules have been broken?

Surely, if the club have been in "dialogue" with them all long since Covid, then they know the circumstances?

Why is an outside body needed to decide? Don't they make their own rules?

Christine Foster
158 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:16:05
So, whatever "understanding" the club thought they had with the Premier League has proved to be unfounded in reality.
The club has therefore either lied about the detailed finances, concealed relevant information in discussions, or didn't meet a required level of credibility when detailing with the league's reviewers.

Doesn't matter which iceberg we have hit, the Board's incompetence has a good chance of crippling us for another season.

A few irksome points though, exactly what is the issue about? Wages? Overall lack of profit, is it a major or minor issue?
We are assuming guilt before we hear the charges, so let's wait to see what the result is, then we can debate the actions of the board.

Stephen Colby
159 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:21:20
From all the concern and comments about our referral to an independent commission, I find it frightening (but not surprising) that nobody at board level has issued a reassuring rebuttal to address these concerns.

If Bill and his band of refuseniks cannot do their job, their clear responsibility must be to resign.

Mal van Schaick
160 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:30:16
The laughable part of it is that we have bought so much shite that not only hasn't improved us, it has got us deeper in the shite.

Only Everton!

Jerome Shields
161 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:31:28
Jim #140,

I think the football club and the stadium and other property interests are run separately. So the new stadium will continue unhindered.

The club needs the input of cash to progress forward, linked with a change in its management capability. It is this that the referral will affect, imo.

Tony Abrahams
162 Posted 25/03/2023 at 12:40:05
If you sign good players whilst breaking the rules, then at least you won't be relegated if you get a points deduction, Barry!
Tony Abrahams
163 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:01:10
Brian H@153, in a nutshell mate.

Not self-pity, Paul H, just more confirmation of how poorly Everton Football Club have been run for a very, very, very long time. I do agree that, if we are guilty, we should be punished accordingly.

If this happens, there's no point in shouting from the rooftops, and the fact that this thread has so many different views of why the club is getting investigated is the one real consistency of the whole Bill Kenwright era, imo.

Nothing has been transparent under this man's tenure, and this has surely got to be our biggest concern right now.

Andrew Clare
164 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:11:00
A friend of my son works for a company that investigates financial crime and he has said that Everton have been / are being looked at.

I think it's to do with Russian money.

Tony Everan
165 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:17:50
It may come down to the interpretation of the extent Covid allowance that is reasonable. I've read in the past other clubs moan about the leniency we were shown.

Is there any P&L mitigation for finances lost through other means, ie, injuries decimating player valuations? Gbamin's injuries have cost us, Mina's injuries made him unsellable and unplayed. Tosun was about to be sold to Crystal Palace and got an ACL injury, Gomes never properly recovered from the leg-breaking Son tackle. There's others.

It's almost like the luck of the draw, another club could have fantastic luck with injuries and be easier to be P&S compliant as a result.

Sigurdsson's situation is hardly the fault of Everton FC, any sale fee was not realised, his wages remained on the books. Is it fair and reasonable to punish a club for things that are not their fault?

I'd like Paul the Esk to give us some insight, if he can, it seems like a minefield.

Barry Hesketh
166 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:29:31
Tony @165

The Esk has just published some thoughts about the situation.

Potential Consequences

Tony Everan
167 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:50:24
Thanks Barry.
Paul Washington
168 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:50:52
If we get found guilty, a points deduction and relegation, the fans who are completely innocent in this will suffer greatly. So, why aren't the club's administrators punished personally?

Maybe I'm being simplistic or even naive, but the supporters of all affected clubs in these finance rules always cop for it.

Brian Hennessy
169 Posted 25/03/2023 at 13:56:59
Has anyone other than our Board confirmed that the Premier League had given us the green light up to now?

If not, I wouldn't be surprised if this was more lies by those trying to run our club. Wouldn't be the first time!

Dennis Stevens
170 Posted 25/03/2023 at 14:15:15
Ta, Barry. As usual, the Esk provides a bit of light amongst all the heat.
John Keating
171 Posted 25/03/2023 at 14:15:51
Regardless of the outcome of this investigation this is just another action that has made us a laughing stock within football.

We can have different opinions whether we are still a 'big' club or not. One thing nobody can argue about is that the supporters are amongst the best, not only in the UK, but in the World.

Since the arrival of Kenwright, we have slowly been reduced to the shambles we are presently in.

Yes, Moshiri has to accept some blame but the day-to-day running of the Club has been Kenwright and Barrett-Baendale – what a pair! These arseholes have brought us to be a shambles and an embarrassment.

Michael Lynch
172 Posted 25/03/2023 at 14:18:57
I assume there will be a pile-on from interested parties (mostly our fellow relegation strugglers) which will put more pressure on for us to be made an example of.

Worst-case scenario is relegation – but then it always has been, though doomsday is the club going into administration as a result.

The probability of us spending some time in the lower divisions has definitely increased though, that's for sure.

Even if we escape this season, and even if we aren't docked points, it seems unlikely that we'll be bringing many new players in during the summer and, if anything, we'll be offloading our best assets.

At this stage, I'm assuming we'll be starting life in Bramley-Moore Dock in the Championship. Not the end of the world, as we could certainly do with a reset, but massive points deductions after relegation and/or adminstration, in conjuction with the costs of finishing the new stadium could be an existential threat.

On the other hand, it might all come to nothing and we'll be Top 8 next season.

Tony Everan
173 Posted 25/03/2023 at 14:28:57
A massive issue will be their take on the sudden and catastrophic withdrawal of the USM sponsorship money due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The club was likely already running on empty and flirting close to the limit of the P&S rules. This loss of sponsorship event has probably tipped the balance and forced us closer, maybe into transgression territory.


Mike Owen
174 Posted 25/03/2023 at 14:31:42
Well, there we all were, enjoying an Everton-free, stress-free weekend, and this blows up.

I found the Esk's piece (see link @166) worth reading.

As we scratch our heads, this is the Esk bit I would highlight:

So what has changed?

The aggregate position for the period 2021-22 worsened from the previous year by virtue of 2021-22 losses being greater than 2017-18 which dropped out of the equation.

The bigger question is why the Premier League are alleging a breach of profitability and sustainability rules for 2021-22 having approved previous losses likely to be greater than the permitted amount?

It is known that the board were in regular contact with the Premier League. It is known that the measures agreed with Everton included those measures in Rule E.15 which effectively required sign-off of any new player recruitment or the issuing of a major new player contract.

Perhaps this alleged breach is a further signal from the Premier League of its abilities to self-regulate, another attempt to push back against the independent regulator coming down the tracks

And many good points have been made by posters on this thread. There does seem to be some general agreement this will drag on for months. But I'm not so sure about that.

I get the impression the Premier League has all the "evidence" already. And it may well be a lot less complicated than the Man City one.

So, I wouldn't rule out a "ruling" in, say, a month from now. I am not predicting that will happen, but I wouldn't be too surprised.

Anthony Murphy
175 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:01:02
So are we the unfortunate guinea pigs in the Premier Leagues' efforts to show they can manage without interference?

We've only got ourselves to blame for the mess we find ourselves in, but it does feel a little like making an example of us is less damaging to the Premier League and its paymasters – we shall see.

Barry Hesketh
176 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:19:53
Tony @173,

Sanctions were imposed by the UK government on Usmanov on 3 March 2022, surely the accounts for that period wouldn't have been able to include or exclude any monies affected by those sanctions?

The day before (2 March) following sanctions imposed by the EU, Everton announced that it was suspending ties with companies connected to Usmanov. Of course, Everton Football Club could have pleaded mitigating circumstances, however, would this have been accepted by the Premier League?

Perhaps, it was allowed at the time, but maybe there has been a change of heart or more likely there has been pressure put on by other parties to clarify the position? Like everybody else, I'm merely guessing about the true scenario.

Usmanov Sanctioned

Everton suspend ties

Kim Vivian
177 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:24:48
I guess we have to assume that the board blagged their stay of execution for last season by convincing the Premier League that our losses for that year would be less than the 17-18 season, thereby presenting an improving situation.

Now that the reverse appears to be the case, they have pulled the trigger.

Ed Prytherch
178 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:38:26
An earlier poster referred to Everton's accountants quitting. That must be a red flag.

Did they see something going on that they did not want to be associated with?

Did this issue then surface and cause our case to be re-examined?

Barry Hesketh
179 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:49:35
Ed @178,

I don't think that the auditors did quit – well not as far as I know.

Everton's next annual report is due to be published by the end of March 2023, according to Companies House. Should BDO walk out on the club, as reports from The Guardian suggest it is preparing to, it would leave the Toffees with just five months to find a new auditor to sign off on the accounts. However, the club remains adamant that BDO will be in place to complete the task.

BDO is re-evaluating a number of its UK audit contracts. In August, reports emerged that BDO was set to quit its role as auditor of Quintessentially. The ‘luxury lifestyle management' firm was yet to file its financial statements from 2020, which were due more than a year ago. BDO had also won that contract from a Big Four firm in 2020 – this time, PwC. A year after the switch, the client admitted to making £7 million in errors on its accounts, and paying out £1.4 million in unlawful dividends in 2021.

Earlier in the year, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) found that 42% of BDO's audits in the last year needed improvements. This was something audit market reform advocates alleged was the result of the firm picking up the ‘more challenging' audits dropped by the Big Four. As such, the cases of Quintessentially and Everton may not be the last cases of BDO apparently re-thinking the roles it recently assumed from the Big Four.

BDO eyes Everton exit?

Joe McMahon
180 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:50:53
Just wondering if any of Bill's fans are still saying, "At least he's one of us"?

I just hope he keeps his bloated mush far away from any Everton games. What a pitiful state of affairs this club is in, and he's left us in.

Barry Hesketh
181 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:57:16
Joe @180,

Perhaps that infamous bed-sit guy would have proved a better option than Moshiri?

Ed Prytherch
182 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:57:42
Barry, Thanks for the Link. I would have been skeptical too if I knew that The Grauniad was behind it.
Mark Taylor
183 Posted 25/03/2023 at 15:57:43
Good point, Ed. Maybe there's a whistleblower at BDO.

What a mess. Our only mitigation would be that we were supposedly transparent in our dealings with the Premier League, even to the point of clearing transfer business. Or at least that is what our board seems to be claiming, so let's hope that's not another porky...

Jim Lloyd
184 Posted 25/03/2023 at 16:09:25
Thanks for that, Jerome @161.

I take your point about the club and stadium being separately run. What I was trying to clarify regarding the stadium, that the said investment coming in may well have used some of their money to fund the increase in costs (is it now approx £750 million?)

If f we go down because of this, would that affect the thinking of any possible investors? Meaning, if we stay up because of our efforts but points deducted sink us, would it affect a potential investor's thoughts about investing?

I still think that the Premier League had previously (and may still have) seen EFC as not guilty of breaking any rule. My thoughts still are that Leeds and Burnley have pushed for this Independent Commission ruling.

David West
185 Posted 25/03/2023 at 16:35:53
We as fans have to rely on The Esk, who is doing a fine job of keeping us informed.

The club must have known 17-18 was dropping off the equation. You basically have 3 years to plan for it, but it's come to this.

Surely all this has to be the end of Moshiri, Kenwright & Barrett-Baxendale. How can they have the front to say everything is going well??

Wish we had been sanctioned like Chelsea were, and forced Moshiri into selling to someone with a fucking calculator!!

Jerome Shields
186 Posted 25/03/2023 at 17:26:44
Jim #184,

I see where you are coming from. Paul the Esk talked of a loan with a warrant to take a shareholding as security. I think your idea is right, but I see the investment in the club as a way to free up finance for the new stadium in that the club needs money and the investment provides that, and is not drawing away money for the financing of the stadium.

I have not read Paul the Esk's recent article, the reference is from his previous article.

Bobby Mallon
187 Posted 25/03/2023 at 17:33:13
Why are people worried about the club being a laughing stock?
Jim Lloyd
188 Posted 25/03/2023 at 17:41:20
Thanks Jerome. Interesting times, eh!
Jerome Shields
189 Posted 25/03/2023 at 17:41:57
Paul the Esk, in his recent article, appears to back your interpretation, Jim. But he also appears to think the consequences are more serious than we think. If he is correct, then Moshiri has to rep!ace the Board to regain credibility.
Zack Threlfall
190 Posted 25/03/2023 at 2023/03/25 : 17:53:13

As a fervent Evertonn supporter, it's both disheartening and maddening to witness the individuals entrusted with managing this once-glorious institution drive us into the ground.

We've endured back-to-back relegation battles, underwhelming commercial results, hostilities towards our own fans, and now face accusations of breaching Profitability and Sustainability rules. Whether these allegations are true or not, the fact that our financially robust club is in this predicament is nothing short of disgraceful.

For years, we've squandered money like a spoiled child recklessly wielding their father's credit card, with no regard for the consequences. The mismanagement is glaringly apparent. Either we've violated the rules, or we've spent so poorly that we've been forced to refrain from financially competing for transfers due to the risk of breaching regulations.

Mr Moshiri cannot escape blame. He has permitted these inept individuals to retain their positions, nurturing a culture of mediocrity within the club. Moshiri must also scrutinize his own role and ask, "Am I the right person to lead this club?" If the answer is No, then I implore Mr Moshiri to bring in a competent, ambitious leader… or sell the club.

As is often the case, the innocent staff and devoted fans are the ones who truly suffer. They face potential job losses due to financial sanctions or relegation, and rather than relishing their weekends of football, they must grapple with this unnecessary drama.

I've always maintained that, if we were a well-managed club and faced relegation on sporting merit alone, then as painful as it would be, we could accept that as the nature of competitive sports. However, when we're staring down relegation and are unable to secure a much-needed striker to strengthen our faltering attack due to years of mismanagement, that's when genuine anger surfaces.

Regardless of the outcome, there should be no doubt that those tasked with running Everton Football Club are woefully unfit for the positions and responsibilities they hold. They should either resign immediately or be ousted by the owner, for the sake of our beloved club and its future.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 

Mike Keating
191 Posted 25/03/2023 at 17:57:13
City seem to be leading by example:

Manchester City charged with breaking financial rules by Premier League

Drag it out as long as you can…

Jim Lloyd
192 Posted 25/03/2023 at 18:18:01
Jerome, that's the best bit of news I've heard today. :)

My view is that the quicker the better! It will provide the independent commission with proof that the club is doing everything possible to show it's setting about the vital task of putting right whatever "weaknesses" we have at Board level immediately.

Zack, I like what you've said, mate! I only hope more Evertonians wake up to what has been done over decades to our dear old club.

Our forefathers must be weeping tears of sorrow to see us being put through this prolonged agony by that wilful buffoon and his crew!

Tony Abrahams
193 Posted 25/03/2023 at 18:34:30
A lot of sense written in that post, unfortunately, Zack.

The biggest questions for a long time are: (a) Why did Moshiri keep Kenwright on? And (b) Why does he still persist with our current board?

I'm sure I've read that Everton come in around 14th for net spend over the last five seasons, so does this make it obvious that a lot of our losses have been on wages?

If it doesn't impact the ground, then that's one of the most important things imo right now, so hopefully any sanctions will surely take this on board?

People keep saying Moshiri won't sell until the new ground is built, so hopefully he's got the collateral to keep building. I take a different view and believe he can't wait to get away from both Everton and Bill Kenwright… but only time will tell us this.

Mark Boullé
194 Posted 25/03/2023 at 19:25:50
I've not been able to read every comment, somebody may have covered this already...

What angers me is that surely a large part of the reason we are in financial trouble of this nature is because the Usmanov funding had to be pulled and all connections with him severed.

Now, when Moshiri took over and Usmanov became involved with the training ground sponsorship etc, he was just another of the distasteful oligarchs involved in football, much like the ones owning or running Man City, PSG and now Newcastle Utd. He may not have been a great human, and the source of his money was always dubious at best, but nobody, least of all the Premier League, was saying he couldn't be there!

I don't see why Everton should now suffer if we made business and funding plans that were at least partly predicated on other deals similar to the training ground one. Those plans would have been made in good faith and before anybody could have predicted Russia's invasion and the sanctions which followed.

The allegations relate to 2021-22, and Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Shortly thereafter, Everton were forced to break all connections with Usmanov, which may well have included funding due to come in from the training ground deal and who knows what else...

Suppose the Emirate of Abu Dhabi committed some heinous crime worthy of sanctions? Man City would, out of nowhere, have all their funding pulled and suddenly be in breach of the rules...

Isn't this just the same thing? Of course, we all know about the stupid, over-valued signings, but shouldn't the club be making more of a point of the sudden, unplanned loss, for which we are not to blame at all, of a rather large funding source in Usmanov?!

Ian Riley
195 Posted 25/03/2023 at 20:22:59
Nothing is going happen. A top QC will ask many questions over many months or years. The Premier League bosses know this could be very messy, involving other clubs. Not good for the Premier League brand around the world.

Everton have been a shining light for years, in profit and played by the rules. Everton need to put the gloves on and fight, make it messy and drawn out. Hopefully, Mr Kenwright has a few aces up his sleeve.

Points deduction... no. Fine… yes! History tells us this will happen or see you in court with other clubs being pulled in.

Even when we don't play, we make headlines.

Jeff Armstrong
196 Posted 25/03/2023 at 23:56:02
Loving the timetravelers on here, can you give us next Wednesday’s lotto winning numbers please.
Alan J Thompson
197 Posted 26/03/2023 at 06:18:53
Ian (195);

While the rules may state that a fine may be applied you'd have to wonder if that wouldn't just be adding to what got us in this position. A ban on incoming transfers, which may ultimately have the same effect as a points deduction, would seem more logical but any sort of punishment would seem to have a financial effect.

I suppose somebody has asked, as many seem to consider, if it is a fair and even system, and not just in the limited parameters of the Premier League. Some say that it is within the rules that, presumably, were/are agreed by all participating clubs but they must still be seen to be reasonable and fall within the laws of the land.

I suppose there is an argument that an entity should be allowed the opportunity to trade out of its predicament.

Mark Rankin
198 Posted 26/03/2023 at 06:35:07
Surely with Covid and Gylfi we are good position to claim exceptional circumstances if the sales of Richy and Gordon bail us out of the mire with the next accounts?
Tony Abrahams
199 Posted 26/03/2023 at 08:00:37
The simple answer is that it’s not a fair and even system Alan J.
Paul Hewitt
200 Posted 26/03/2023 at 10:54:58
It's simple, we have overspent by £265 million in the last 3 years. If that was Liverpool, we would be demanding action. We have been caught, bang to rights. Let's just hope we don't get a points deduction.
Mark Ryan
201 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:22:04
Worst run club in the Premier League.

If they have passed this to an Independent Commission, then I suspect they know it's not good news for us and don't want to appear to be the judge, jury and more importantly, the executioner

As Paul @ 200 says, let's hope the sanction is not a points deduction. A transfer embargo would equally cripple us but would seem to be the right punishment that best fits the crime, ie, getting players beyond our means. Moshiri has thrown good money after bad and, for a supposed accountant, that's surely suicide.

I don't like the idea of letting this drag on and on. I'd like it sorted before the season is out and, whatever happens, let it happen, provided it is just. If we are found to be in the clear, then great… but, if we are to be punished, then bring it on and let's draw a line, provided of course that this means the final death-knell for William Kenwright Esquire.

Brian Harrison
202 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:25:05
So Everton have a billionaire accountant own the club but unfortunately didn't understand the financial implications of the rules to which clubs had to comply.
Paul Hewitt
203 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:26:24
It's a pity we weren't put on a transfer embargo 7 years ago.
Steve Byles
204 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:27:33
The Premier League are trying to destabilise the club, and hoping this can lead to relegation, either this season or next. They hate us and everything we represent (proper fanbase, new stadium). They'd be much happier if we kept quiet and knew our place.

The Top 6 are clearly worried about Newcastle and they are doing all they can to stop any more clubs joining the elite.

Eddie Dunn
205 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:36:01
Is it a possiblity that the powers-that-be have seen the disquiet at our club and the fans' unhappiness with Kenwright, and thought that now is the time to hit EFC?Previously, they might have been under the impression that we were one big happy family.

I wonder if our wish for accountability has made the Premier League realise that we really are being run by charlatans and we are a basket-case of a club.

I think that, because we were one of the Big Five who instigated the Premier League, the smaller clubs (who all resent the big boys) can now have a go back at one of the former big boys.

We are a convenient target.

Bobby Mallon
206 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:46:26
We are not the only club. Man City are in the same boat.
Tony Abrahams
207 Posted 26/03/2023 at 11:52:10
Moshiri said he didn’t want Everton to take up too much of his time, and the smug smiling Kenwright, stood by his side and told everyone that Farhad was the man who just kept on giving, so his ego was getting taken care of by the best player at the club, a man with more tricks up his sleeve than most magicians.

His latest disappearing act is something that most phonies do when they inevitably get found out, so let’s just hope the authorities notice that the Evertonians have been protesting against the inept board and the way the club has been getting run, for quite a while now

Dave Abrahams
209 Posted 26/03/2023 at 12:14:43
Paul (200) We have been caught bang to rights!! Caught at what?

Paul (203) Now that's a good post and funny as well.

Anthony A Hughes
210 Posted 26/03/2023 at 12:15:11
What the hell did Kenwright bring into our club 7 years ago?
We got the Frank Spencer of the accountancy world.
James Hughes
211 Posted 26/03/2023 at 12:54:49
There is always the possibility that the PL is fed up with clubs moaning about our spending.

They being aware that, whilst we have been foolish, we have complied with the rules. This independent commission says that and the suits in charge of the Premier League can then go, "Told you so, we do know what we are doing."

Bill Gall
212 Posted 26/03/2023 at 13:04:52
After reading a lot of these comments, I am just glad that I don't have a lot of the authors of them on a jury, as most of them seem to think we are guilty before the case is opened.
Tony Everan
213 Posted 26/03/2023 at 13:06:14
We need some answers! We've been in constant contact for a long time with the Premier League and taking and applying their direction to comply with the P&L rules.

So either:

1) They've changed their stance and interpretation from what they've been telling us to do.

Or

2) We've somehow ignored what they've told us to do and incredibly, still managed to transgress the rules.

Are the Premier League that duplicitous or are they covering their backs in the face of any future, huge legal and multimillion compensation challenges?

Or

Is our board capable of being spellbindingly financially incompetent. Then making things a thousand times worse due to even more financial incompetence in not following to the letter the restrictions the Premier League have made.

If it's the former, we may, at best, escape penalties as they may find, and rubber stamp, that the Premier League has acted reasonably. If it's the latter, they will throw the book at us.

Si Cooper
214 Posted 26/03/2023 at 14:34:36
“I have said on many occasions, any cap on what a club can spend is nonsense. Imagine next telling John Lewis how much they could spend – what other industry sets a cap on its business rivals?”

I don't have a problem with the attempts to regulate clubs' spending to protect them from idiot or uncaring owners, just how fair and effective those regulations can be when there was no attempt to retrospectively rein in the truly massive overspenders who now have their advantages perpetuated.

Any community-embedded sporting enterprise is not equivalent to John Lewis. Their worth goes well beyond what customers can simply purchase, and they can't diversify to meet modern trends, like a retailer.

“Now we know Moshiri is absolutely clueless when it comes to football matters, but he is an accountant that looks after the finances of multi-million pound businesses. So you would expect between him and Ingles, our financial director, that they would have made sure we stayed within the rules.”

All I can say is that it is my experience of business and businessmen that leads me to expect many of them of being no more truly aware of the recipe for success than Joe Bloggs, and that the majority of them believe ‘rules' are for other people.

Jerome Shields
215 Posted 26/03/2023 at 15:00:04
Zack #190,

I agree with a lot of what you say, but have a different opinion regarding Moshiri. Moshiri's mistake was buying Everton under whatever terms he agreed.

Why did he buy the Club?

Getting in at a discount price because those that had the power to sell wouldn't sell to someone who fitted their terms.

He was bluffed that Everton were well-managed and only needed an injection of cash. (The 'Everton are rich' makeshift flag comes to mind.)

He was attracted by the potential of real estate developments.

He foresaw problems with the authorities having Russian connections and the offshore financial source of his wealth.

He knew that the rules would have to be pushed. Maybe he was given the impression that the rules could be pushed if inside connections existed.

Maybe it suited with his other business responsibilities to invest in a venture that did not appear to need his direct involvement.

He had backup and was encouraged to buy. It is not every day that someone conveniently buys you out so you can avail of an opportunity elsewhere.

If he had not bought Everton, what would have happened?
Someone else would have, but would Kenwright, who had the power to agree to, sell?

Martinez would have stayed. If he didn't, we would have got Koeman.

Everton would have continued to decline, as those in power would have kept their wages at the expense of club progress.

No new Everton Stadium would have been built. Probably we would have been involved in some Council scandal.

Kenwright would have bluffed us for longer and made a virtue out of our Championship status and would have been gone before are Football League status emerged.

Barret-Baxendale would have still been our Chief Executive Officer. No comment.

Everton would have not been a Top 6 Club.

So Moshiri got bluffed to some extent. He did try to get directly involved by introduction of his money to start with and, when his money went South, by appointing Brands to the Board (to increase football expertise and control football wages and exoenditure) and then directly himself through management appointment. But against this were the constant influence and actions of Kenwright & Co.

He never got to grips with the commercial side and seemed to get bluffed by Barrett-Baxendale's unique management-speak bases in appointments and titles, but never accountability or performance.

There also appeared to be a lack of awareness regarding Profitability and Sustainability Rules – or at least unfounded optimism that Everton would manage its problems continuing as before. The Saha Summer was ludicrous in hindsight.

Anything after that was manager after manager, deadwood, youth development loans, and the same regime in place no matter what the results or performance, bankrolled by Moshiri, though he was beginning to kick.

Now we find that the Board is surprised and indignant that the Premier League has referred Everton to an independent Commission, having just received the 2021-22 accounts. Moshiri has been silent.

Neil Copeland
216 Posted 26/03/2023 at 16:04:10
There is a difference between the case against Man City and this one with Everton. City have actually been charged by the Premier Leaague whereas our case had been referred to an Independent Commission with no charge made thus far.

So, isn't it quite feasible that the other clubs involved (Burnley and Leeds?) have told the Premier League they are not satisfied with their findings? The result of this may be that the Premier League, confident of their own review, have referred it to appease those clubs and bring matters to a close.

I appreciate the above is an optimistic view but very plausible, imo.

Martin Mason
217 Posted 26/03/2023 at 16:15:23
And they can't touch Man City so we must not accept any punishment in what is a cesspit of rule breaking by all clubs.

Knowing that idiot Kenwright, though, he would probably accept relegation as punishment to show how amazing he was.

Barry Hesketh
218 Posted 26/03/2023 at 16:21:19
Neil @216,

I think that both Man City and Everton are in exactly the same position, that the referral equates to 'being charged'.

Neil Copeland
219 Posted 26/03/2023 at 16:31:01
Barry, thanks for clarifying. I knew that I should have typed ‘overly’ optimistic!
Tony Abrahams
220 Posted 26/03/2023 at 17:05:19
I doubt Bill Kenwright would accept relegation to show how amazing he is, Martin, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was prepared to accept it to show how spiteful he can be, now that he has been completely found out.
Mark Ryan
221 Posted 26/03/2023 at 17:37:18
Well, he's had his good times…
Joe McMahon
222 Posted 26/03/2023 at 17:48:20
I wish you would all stop whinging – after all, do you not realise Everton FC are not only the only official "People's Club" in the UK, but the only club to have released the Magnificent 7th DVD?
Bill Gall
223 Posted 31/03/2023 at 15:12:49
Were Everton supposed to release their Financial Records today ?
Dennis Stevens
224 Posted 31/03/2023 at 15:53:21
Probably be in about 8 hours time, Bill
Martin Mason
225 Posted 31/03/2023 at 17:06:08
Tony@220 I see him walking away when relegation is inevitable and he will blame the fans. He's possibly started that walk away into blamelessness already by stopping coming to home games. A True Blue doesn't do that. I could say he is smart but that denigrates smart people, that man is devious.
Danny O’Neill
226 Posted 31/03/2023 at 17:20:43
Martin, he can walk away now. He already has, the shit house.

Although not welcome, how can he not attend a home game when he has a guaranteed seat when many can't get a ticket? Yet he goes to Anfield.

I'm going into match mode. I don't care if he is there or not. I don't even notice and I don't want him there.

All I will care about on Monday evening it the players that take to the pitch and the bench behind them.

Barry Hesketh
227 Posted 31/03/2023 at 17:29:53
I admit this is what I thought might happen, however, innocent until proven guilty and all that eh?

The Premier League have told clubs they are hopeful of completing their disciplinary case against Everton this season putting the club at risk of a points deduction as they battle relegation.

Sportsmail has learned that six clubs wrote to the Premier League demanding answers after Everton were charged with breaching spending rules last Friday, with top-flight executives providing an informal response on Friday.

As reported by Sportsmail last weekend Everton’s rivals had expressed unhappiness at the timing of the charges after being given categoric assurances by the Premier League last summer that Everton had no case to answer despite recording combined losses of £371million over a three-year period, more than three times the permissible limit of £105m.

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Jeff Armstrong
228 Posted 31/03/2023 at 18:01:44
Just read a great quote from our manager,
He said he did not seek assurances over the club’s finances before replacing Frank Lampard in January. “No, it wouldn’t have mattered to me regardless. It’s Everton Football Club and if they come knocking it is a yes.”
He’ll do for me.
Barry Hesketh
229 Posted 31/03/2023 at 18:11:41
Everton OS has the accounts to view:

EFC 2022 Report and Accounts

The accounts show the Club recorded a turnover of £181m and a reported statutory loss of £44.7m, representing a £76m (63 per cent) reduction on the loss of £121.3m for 2020/21, despite the impact of a significant fall in broadcast income.

John Keating
230 Posted 31/03/2023 at 18:19:55
Take it the £140 million loss is over the past 3 seasons so we're still over the allowed amount.

Crazy when Man Utd are in for over a billion!


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