Everton fan group send owner Farhad Moshiri damning open letter demanding answers

Everton fan group ’27yearscampaign’ send owner Farhad Moshiri a damning open letter demanding answers over the club’s future.

They say ‘enough is enough’ after the billionaire owner insisted that he is not putting the Premier League club up for sale last night after being in talks with the Kaminski family – with former Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon leading their consortium and had hopes to agree a £500million takeover this month – but Moshiri has reiterated his stance despite growing unrest from supporters.

This has led to a backlash with many expressing their unhappiness with Moshiri after years of no clear direction, poor transfer business and last season’s relegation battle, however the owner is keen to fight on and told fans to judge their transfer dealings at the end of the window.

The fan group, which launched in 2022 by those concerned by the club’s on and off pitch performance to engage with Moshiri, are calling for answers to the key questions that concern them.

A social media statement read: ‘The open letter addressed to Farhad Moshiri calls for answers to the key questions that concern fans, the ownership, funding, leadership and the stadium.

‘The group believe that Moshiri’s statement last night offers little clarity and no detail and it does not provide any reassurance that the necessary changes to leadership are being made by the club. Nor does it address the issue of him listening, engaging and then acting on fan’s concerns.

‘His statement in no way reduces the validity of the concerns raised in the open letter and the group therefore call upon Moshiri to consider how he can more effectively Listen Engage and Act.

‘Most importantly we ask him to make the changes necessary at board and executive level.

The fan group had sent an open letter to Moshiri prior to the latest developments, which was embargoed until Friday morning.

The open letter read: ‘Dear Mr Moshiri, since December of last year, the 27 Campaign has respectfully requested that you Listen, Engage and Act with regards to many fans’ concerns as to the running of our club.

‘Along with all Evertonians, we recognised the need to support the club as the relegation threat increased last season.

‘As acknowledged extensively by the manager Frank Lampard and our team, yet only briefly by yourself in your open letter of the 8th June, the support and actions of the fans contributed enormously to our Premier League survival.

‘When news broke of a possible takeover, the 27 Campaign delayed sending a reply to your open letter in the belief that a takeover was the best outcome for you and the club.

‘However, we have to ask you to address the fans as to your plans regarding the ownership of the club, the management of the club and how it solves the obvious deficiencies of last season and recent years.

‘More importantly and specifically, the actions of Everton fans at the end of last season prove beyond doubt our role in helping determine the club’s future.

‘We have to be direct with you and say that your and your board’s response to the fans is inadequate and shows a lack of respect.

‘The 27 Campaign has publicly asked that you Listen, Engage and Act but has had no response or acknowledgement from you.

‘This cannot continue. Whilst all Evertonians will continue to back Frank Lampard and the team to the hill, we must demand more from you and we will highlight your lack of engagement and the continued poor management of the club in the run up to the new season.

‘Enough is enough Mr Moshiri, respond, explain the possible change of ownership, your plans for the club, the changes to the running of the club that is desperately needed.

‘Do not reject the pleas from those fans who wish for a better football club, one consistent with our club motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

‘Yours Sincerely, The 27 Campaign.’

In a statement released on Thursday night, Moshiri denied that he was looking to sell Everton – despite being in talks with the Kenyon-led consortium in recent weeks – and insisted that he remains fully committed to finishing the club’s new stadium.

‘Dear Evertonians,’ he wrote. ‘There has been much talk of investment in our football club recently – even takeovers – but I want to clarify that there is no ‘for sale’ sign currently hanging outside Everton Football Club.

‘It will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities and, as I have been transparent about, I am focused on completing the financing for our fantastic new stadium as well as strengthening the playing squad and that might include a minority investment. That will continue.

‘But I want to reassure all of you that Everton Football Club is not for sale.

‘My commitment to the Club remains strong and focused and Kevin Thelwell and the Chairman are currently working hard to bring in new players to improve Frank Lampard’s squad.

‘There will be new signings and I would ask supporters to judge us at the end of the transfer window – not now – and to listen to official club channels for information.’

Moshiri says that he planned to be more open and communicative with Everton fans after appointing an Everton Fan Advisory Board.

The club however have only signed James Tarkowski on a free transfer and are in discussions with the Premier League over how much they will be able to spend on new recruits, as they comply with profit and sustainability rules.

This week furious supporters continue to turn up at the stadium entrance, hanging up banners asking for Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright to leave the club, writing ‘Our motto is our standard’, ‘Moshiri sell up’ and ‘Bill and Co, time to go’.

Twitter users reacted as an Everton fan group send owner Farhad Moshiri a damning open letter demanding answers…

ON THE MOSHIRI STATEMENT

@alexroberts98: You’ve ruined my day now

@Owen1401: Ahahhahaha fuckin joke

@dylefcdavies: That’s not reassuring farhad mate it’s just sad

@ARose_12: That is the opposite of reassurance, thanks

@EvertonBlueArmy: I wish it was. You have been an embarrassingly bad owner of this football club alongside Bill Kenwright. Do one.

@Rosskewley8: Rather you sell us to be honest with you mate

@evanformby: Couldn’t get the deal done so acts like he’s got everything under control 🥴

@gflan02: Well get someone in then who knows how to run a football club.

@SThorndell1878: Get rid of the board then if you’re staying, the chairman isn’t wanted, he’s actually despised, the CEO is not wanted and yes men like Sharp aren’t wanted, employ proper people who can run a club in the modern day and we might actually go somewhere with you as owner.

@RC021878: Here we go, everyone asks for communication and then will slag this off for weeks when they finally do.

@tashmanefc: It’s good that we are getting communication it’s just not the information that most wanted. It’s fine to have an opinion isn’t it?

@b0wseytoffeetit: Rest assured that we’re not assured of your reassurance to assure us that reassurances the club is assured of a good future.

@MrGriffGaff: Kenwright and Co it’s time to go

@h_army360: Looks like the take-over really was on then at some stage, or there would be no point in reiterating that you’re not actively looking to sell the club 😣

@madmiyagi: I feel really reassured after buying a load of deadwood, hiring a manager who no one wanted and almost cost us PL status, running the club at a massive loss and then selling Richarlison to club who we should be competing against. Fantastic job 🙄

@stalinsear: Still not addressed our main concern that the people running the club dont seem to be very good at it.

@andylindsay1878:
1 – we arent open and transparent, we are as far from being open as you can get
2 – what investor in their right mind would put money into the club whilst we still have that board in place. Our Board is top 4 for salary and bottom 4 for performance and until they go nothing changes

@Andy_wxm: So you wouldn’t have minded if we had gone down last season after wasting a fair amount of money on flops and keeping on the most unsuccessful chairman in our history? Farhad is definitely like Bill now. The club needs fresh investment and ideas but it’s the fans that will suffer