Graeme Sharp says he's been hurt and won't come back to Goodison Park

But it's entirely up to him. The decision not to attend games was all theirs. The police were never involved.

Personally, I think he needs to man up and stop feeling sorry for himself.

Let us forgive and forget and give him the love he deserves for all of the joy he gave us – especially 40 years ago today.

He took the money and joined the board to support Bill Kenwright. When the chairman tried to criminalise the club's supporters, he didn't speak up. He went along with the board's pathetic boycott of the games.

Own your actions and stop whinging.

We owe him nothing and he owes us nothing.

Well said, Bill, the club was a shambles and he aligned himself with that. No one asked him to stay away.

Nothing to forgive or forget from my perspective but it seems that Sharpie doesn't feel the same.

Perhaps he could return the money he took given his role in the non performance of the club during that period...

One of the most shameful events in the club's history.

Wel, Sharpy… now's your chance. Tell us the “truth”.

Perhaps a slightly different perspective than his claim for moral high ground?

It was 8 games at one stage, with no efforts on goal… Never ever forget how bad it was under Frank and Rafa…

But Graeme was treated awfully 😂 never mind the 15,000 or so kids in the ground every week having their young hearts broken by their “heroes”…

We were run by a bunch of crooks and got found out. They all got what they deserve.

Did he sell out or did he take a well-paying job to support him and his family? Both I reckon.

He's not the only one to have been "hoodwinked", who "bought into" or kept quiet about Kenwright's shenanigans.

In my own view, he stood by while the supporters were thrown under a bus over "headlockgate" which just did not happen as it was reported and he also stood by and did nothing when the "clear and credible threat" lies were spread.

He may have done what he did, or not done anything, in order to continue supporting his family, but if you take the money you have to be prepared to accept the consequences when the shit hits the fan.

Do I hate him? No. Did he act in the supporters best interest? Certainly not.

Would any of us have done the same in his shoes? Well as supporters we'd all say "No way," but he wasn't/isn't a supporter.

He's tarnished his legacy and, if he feels that badly about it all then, as an earlier poster has suggested come out and set the record straight.

He won't do that though because he'd fuck himself right up for any job in football no matter how small and he'd also not want the complete truth to come out.

Where money is concerned, "some" good men will do bad things.

It was obvious the mood music was not good. He should have resigned his position on the board. That would have provoked change in the way selling Big Dunc did for Johnson. He also would have locked in hero status for the rest of eternity.

I feel sorry for his wrong decision for whatever reason.

Had some contact with him years later in a work context, found him to be decent enough and pretty humble given his playing career.

I can't get especially vexed on this topic either way, it's his decision what he wants to do; live and let live.

Don't actually think he did too much wrong whilst on the Board.

Good to see Sean Dyche reaching out. Nice touch.

Wow, wouldn't be nice to have some like that now.

Oh and Barry 7* what was the "one of the most shameful events in the club's history"?

As a director, non-executive or not, he has a duty of care to all shareholders and stakeholders in the business. Not a duty of care to his employer above all else.

A footballing hero to many being hounded out by people who don't know all the facts is shameful.

Your legalise quotation suggests you know for a fact he was in contravention of the matters mentioned but that's impossible unless you were privy to all meetings and events at board level. Somehow, I can't see that but correct me if I'm wrong.

Blustering hand wavers on social media are not the same thing.

And by speaking out like this, then there obviously isn't anything in his compensation package preventing any public disclosure of events.

God, if that's the most shameful episode in our history!

What a load of rubbish.

And you do know all the facts do you?

We do know that "headlockgate" wasn't as it was made out to be.

We do know that the police made no such "real and credible threat" warning.

We do know Sharp didn't comment on either of those lies, but chose to keep silent, which makes him complicit in them because he was aware of both.

The only time I've been in hospitality at Goodison I was briefly sat next to Graeme and he ignored me as I questioned something about strikers and Moyes's tactics.

A great player, but did he take the money or get played by a better player

Both Tony!

Graeme Sharp's goals will never be forgotten in the history of Everton FC; especially the one he scored on 20 October 1984.

If the truth was so important to him, he could've stated his version on many occasions during and since. Could it be due to a non-disclosure in the terms of his payoff that prevents him?

Great player, Barry, but in my opinion was used shamelessly by Kenwright, but he made his choices, took the money, said nothing, and his reputation has suffered as a result. He was a pawn in a bigger game... no tears.

I think the argument is about the role Sharp made as a well-paid director of Everton and, let's be honest, other roles he took at Everton after he retired as a footballer.

He was always a puppet and a yes-man for his master, as were most people who were directly appointed by him.

Those who are saying that he took the money, sold his soul etc etc, he is a club legend, loved by the fans, he loved us.

Bill asks him to be a part of the board, it would have been an honour for any one of those players from the 80s to have been asked, They all would have taken it. None of them would have spoken out either.

How many of you agree with everything going in your companies? Hell, I work in the NHS part-time and there is a whole heap of shit I disagree with. Should I go and get myself sacked or just try and get on with the job and do my best in the sinking shitshow left by the Tories?

Scapegoated by Bill, scapegoated by us. Could he have thought it out more? Yes i think so but I feel for him and this is one of many episodes in recent years I hope we put behind us. BMD 25/26 clean slate. COYB.

If a sentiment is true, which you concede, it matters not one jot if it's a cliche. The salient point is no one outside of the board knows what went on so fans hounding those involved is simply mob activity based on ignorance.

And the damage is done, whether he has a non-disclosure agreement or not, the vitriol levelled was beyond belief and as you can see from the responses people are still after him. Why would he give an explanation?

Shameful in my opinion but then getting stuck in without the full facts is a bit weird to me.

However, as Christine says, it's about choices and he made some poor ones in the service of Kenwright. The only person stopping him coming back into the fold is himself. Put your hands up and move on from it, Graeme.

Well said

No problem here.

The whole nepotistic regime was corrupt and once the fans decided to protest, they were thrown under the bus by some outrageous lies, and the silence that followed was absolutely disgraceful.

Being disgusted surely doesn't make me a crank, although I suppose this is just the world we live in now unfortunately.

I don't think I've seen an Everton player score more great and also more important goals, than Graeme Sharp, and my memory whilst I'm writing this is of the way he created the first for Andy Grey, and the last for Sheedy, in Rotterdam.

But he let himself down badly and that's the most unfortunate thing, imo.

More arguments to ensue, but I'd sooner get rid of the negativity and move forward, instead of delving back into the past and an era of division, corruption and absolute nepotism, and not a single trophy in 30 fucking years.

But he turned his back on us. He could have made a stand.

I genuinely hope that one day, he comes out and reconciles with the supporters. If he does, he'll be welcome at Bramley-Moore Dock, I'm sure of that.

Some may not be able to forget, but you can forgive.

Jesus Barry, I wrote a long reply to that post before I deleted it because he has his version of the truth which he refuses to give, his choice. But why not if he feels so hurt by untruths?

As Steve Shave says, it's sad because as a player he gave wonderful moments, but has left us all with question marks over his actions.

So fourth then, Danny?

For me he’s behind those plus Degsy who never seems to get the recognition all those (14?) goals deserved. And probably my favourite of that period - Andy Gray. He was THE catalyst imho.

UTF84/85T

I think you answered your own question by referring to the likelihood of non disclosure.

If that’s not the case then why should he waste time on people who are still after him come what may.

Just look at some of the responses here. I think most in his position would say it was nice while it lasted but up yours