Anjishnu Roy 10/06/2025 16comments  |  Jump to last

Everton's former chief executive officer Keith Wyness expressed his concern about the club’s “recruitment team” ahead of a busy summer. Wyness was CEO for five years between 2004 and 2009 during David Moyes’ first reign at the club.

There have been several changes to the backroom staff following the Friedkin Group’s takeover of the club. Director of Football Kevin Thelwell and Dan Purdy have departed for Rangers in Scotland and will not be replaced like-for-like at Everton. Instead, Angus Kinnear has taken over as the chief executive officer from Leeds United.

“I’m still concerned about the recruitment team. We still haven’t got the whole team in place, and Thelwell and Purdy have moved on.

“But in a funny way, this will play right into Moyes’s hands. Having worked with him for so many years, I know he will relish the ability to have control over most of the signings and he does know what he’s doing,” Wyness told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.

David Moyes understands players: Keith Wyness

Moyes began his second spell in January and replaced Sean Dyche with Everton lagging dangerously close to the relegation zone. They finished 13th in the league with 48 points and are preparing for a squad overhaul.

Wyness, who worked closely with Moyes for half a decade in the 2000s, believes he’s the “hardest-working guy in football” and watches a lot of players.

“There’s no doubt about it, he understands players,” Wyness continued.

“But the thing is, with the demands of a modern-day manager, does he have the time he used to, to be able to go out and see those players? He loves to do it. And he was the hardest-working guy in football. He was always on the road, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Wherever he could see a game, he’d go and see it.

“But now, these days, it’s a little bit harder to do that with the way things are going and a new stadium to get into and all sorts of things to adjust for.”

The Blues have already confirmed the departures of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay who will leave the club when their current contracts expire at the end of the month.

They have offered new contracts to Idrissa Gana Gueye and Seamus Coleman and are in negotiations with the representatives of Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 10/06/2025 at 10:32:20
It must have been marvellous for Mrs Moyes that Dour Davey was out of the house Monday to Thursday, then at the game on a Saturday or Sunday.

She must have bleedin' dreaded those Fridays!

Ian Burns
2 Posted 10/06/2025 at 12:21:07
Nah Dave - he went out for a pint with his mates on a Friday!
Jimmy Hogan
3 Posted 10/06/2025 at 12:23:48
Harsh!
Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 10/06/2025 at 12:25:50
Ian (2),

I think you are wrong there — he never had any mates!

Tony Abrahams
5 Posted 10/06/2025 at 12:49:30
I think Keith Wyness has been nothing short of a revelation since he started giving his opinions about almost everything.

Destination Kirkby would have given Everton more footfall, said Keith, which was nearly as good as the shout he come up with when Bestway said they would give Everton their land to build a new stadium in the district of Everton, about a 10 minutes walk from Lime Street Station, and Keith ruled this out because they would have had to build a couple of bridges.

Bob Parrington
6 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:22:55
Well, hmmm! In my late 20s and my entire 30s, based in North-West England, I was dealing with the UK and European car manufacturers, early hours to often after midnight with lots of driving etc. But no millions of quids that the football managers get paid.

Moved to Australia and did pretty much the same through my 40s and 60s but not in the motor industry. Own business and you do what you have to do to survive and build. Well supported by my wife.

So I'm sure Davey's wife supports him! There are some really good times on the way!!

Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:31:26
Bob (6), Well that’s one way of looking at it and as long as you’re happy that’s the main thing.
Danny O'Neill
8 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:34:25
According to a BBC article at the time, Wyness resigned, but it sounds like it was forced.

Although not directly connected to the club, Green wielded influence over the board, having helped Bill Kenwright get Everton. And, according to the BBC reporter, Moyes had to go to him with his transfer plans.

Everton chief executive resigns

Bill Gall
9 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:35:26
I always wondered what they get paid those enormous amounts of money for…
Phil Roberts
10 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:51:22
As a friend of Moyes' room mate when they were at Cambridge United, I am assured that he has lots of mates and Pam is delighted when he is home.
Tony Abrahams
11 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:53:14
Going back to your other thread, that has been quickly shifted down the pecking order Danny, I don’t believe the board would have gotten away with half the stuff they did if we would have had an independent fan group that was respected by everyone?

It was never going to happen during the divide & conquer era, of that great Evertonian - Blue Bill, but maybe it’s time for you to get an independent fan group started yourself Danny!

Dave Abrahams
12 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:55:06
I think the story was that Green rushed to meet Wyness and he was paid a hush hush payment not to spill the beans on what had been going on at Goodison and Finch Farm.

If that is true then he still knows all the details.

I know Tony Kelly, RIP mate, a solid Everton fan harassed Wyness from The Echo office in Old Hall St. all the way down the street asking “ Go on tell the story let it all out” with a smile on his face, while Wyness keeping his mouth firmly shut before he finally cracked and shouted at Tony “ Will you fuck off and leave me alone” Tony did. But the story is still there.

Eugene Stalker
13 Posted 10/06/2025 at 13:56:22
Danny #8 that is true about Moyes having to go to Green to get his permission to release funds for transfers. One one occasion Moyes went to see Green with another Everton official about signing a player. Green had never heard of the player before and phoned his then (quite young) teenager son to ask if he had heard of the player on FIFA & if he was any good ! Not sure if we bought the player but that was how amateurish the club was being run back in the day.
Dave Abrahams
14 Posted 10/06/2025 at 14:03:52
Phil (10) That’s very reassuring — Pam eh? I thought her name was Moira but that was an Everton fans tales of when the family went on holiday together— it seemed very believable.
Andrew James
16 Posted 10/06/2025 at 18:51:41
This really isn't news is it? We'd all heard he was going the length and breadth of the country on scouting missions or to vet potential transfer targets.

It often paid off but, the first time around, I do think he could have worked more on the mental side of the game for the players which might have avoided some of the atrocious meltdowns at the hands of Arsenal, United or our neighbours.

He did get a reputation for being a control freak but hopefully the new set up will give him the support he requires.

Danny O'Neill
17 Posted 10/06/2025 at 20:44:28
Thanks Tony,

I could probably get the dog to sign up;!!

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