Angry Everton fans have written an open letter to owner Farhad Moshiri demanding major changes – including the removal of chairman Bill Kenwright.
Moshiri maintained that he was committed to the Toffees even though talks with a consortium based in the United States broke down. It was led by Peter Kenyon, former chief executive of Chelsea and Manchester United, and Maciek Kaminski, a real estate tycoon.
Kaminski attempted to revive negotiations, but Moshiri refused to engage, and the club continues to struggle on the pitch. The 27 Campaign was formed 12 months ago to highlight how many years have passed since Everton won their last trophy.
Everton is now just one point above the bottom three after last season’s narrow escape of relegation in their penultimate match.
In addition to the club’s combined losses of more than £371million in the last three seasons, the 27 Campaign has questioned the role that chairman Bill Kenwright as well chief executive Denise Barrett -Baxendale played in this.
EXCLUSIVE: Everton fans demand removal of chairman Bill Kenwright in open letter to Farhad Moshiri | ✍️ @pbsportswriter https://t.co/WjayEhNXrp
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) December 6, 2022
OPEN LETTER
The 27 Campaign in open letter format, a year on from their initial walkout at Goodison, call for Farhad Moshiri, 94% shareholder of Everton Football Club to address the growing concerns of the Everton fanbase, not only with regards to on-field performance, but increasingly off-field in relation to Finances, Ownership, Leadership and Direction (FOLD).
We believe the uncertainties and questions around finances, ownership, leadership and direction directly impact performance on the pitch.
Open Letter to Farhad Moshiri
Wednesday 7th December 2022
Dear Mr Moshiri,
Change required
Since our open letter in July 2022, we respected your request to all Evertonians to “judge you at the end of the (summer) window”. We gave you the benefit of the doubt. We have continued to provide the manager, Frank Lampard, his team and the players, the very highest levels of support particularly on match days, home and away.
A year ago, the 27 Campaign was formed to highlight the time since our last trophy win. Our actions, alongside other fan groups, then and since are driven by concerns as to the financing, ownership, leadership and direction (#FOLD) of our great club. We believe that issues surrounding finances, ownership, leadership and direction directly relate to our performance on the pitch.
Regrettably, given the absence of communications and any degree of change in the running of the club, we have in an open letter format, to ask you the following questions:
Finances: Other than the minimum statutory requirements, the club provides no information on its finances. On the back of constructing a new stadium, having extensive, continued losses, and profitability & sustainability issues, it is reasonable for shareholders and fans to expect regular updates on our finances. Our finances directly relate to our ability to compete.
Ownership: Since the summer, messaging from the club has been confused. Is the club for sale? Are you seeking new investors to fund our working capital requirements? Other Premier League clubs seeking new investment or owners have appointed investment banks to handle their requirements. They have been clear with their communications. What is your intention, what are you doing and when will you communicate it clearly?
Leadership: In the near seven years since you acquired your initial shareholding you have persisted in retaining the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. There is nothing in the club’s governance, commercial, financial and indeed footballing performance, that suggests they warrant continued employment. As a result of huge losses and the squandering of resources, our competitive position declines on an annual basis in all respects. How can you justify their performance?
Direction: What are your ambitions (if any) for the club? The building of a new stadium, in isolation, will not cure the ills that have befallen Everton in recent years.So much more is required for us to be a competitive Premier League and ultimately European competitor once
more.
Change
We have short term, immediate requirements, namely survival in the Premier League. But if that is not to be the limit of our ambitions in years ahead we have to see change at the footballclub. Change in the leadership, change in the culture that exists. You, as the majority shareholder, are the only person who can bring about that change. Surely
you, with the financial commitment you have made, must recognise that change is necessary?
With respect, we ask you to directly answer the questions put to you. Tell us what changes are to be made to change the direction the club is heading.
Yours Sincerely,
The 27 Campaign
Thank you to all blues who were able to attend the protest today!
Media were present and the protest will be covered across a number of outlets.
The state of the club due to mismanagement is unacceptable.
It’s time for change! ✊🏼⚫️🟡 #TimeForChange #BackTheTeamSackTheBoard pic.twitter.com/gRu1S6RBnN— 27yearscampaign (@27yearsCampaign) July 23, 2022
This is how Twitter users reacted as unhappy Everton fans group demands answers with an open letter sent to Farhad Moshiri…
@GCP1989: The action that fans are asking questions is right for me and is required with our mismanagement. Though I have serious concerns over the esk and his obsessive hidden agenda, hopefully the decent lads can distance themselves from him.
@scousemanblue: The club shop and concourse contracts give the club an annual amount per annum from Kitbag & Sodexo. By not buying stuff online ir in shop or on match days doesn’t have that big an effect on the club
@RiddledBlues2: Legitimate questions being asked yet some will have some weird opposition. So so strange
@Armchaireverton: You’ll be able to change your name to 28 years in a few weeks
@_LisaSimmo: Any other business would have sacked him years ago, this should be no different
@PaulMorrissy: Wolves home 28th minute all stand up and sing time to go we want kenwright out? Just one minute demonstration then back the team
@Ste_EFC_: Some of the replies to this are pathetic. Sneering at fans wanting better while offering no alternative. Some seem more than happy with the abysmal running of the club.
@ElTelTheToffee: What you are asking for in my opinion is reasonable and fitting.
@mark1_1878: I’d ask all independent journalists to take a look at the letter indicated. Everton Football Club deserves far better than what we have. Bill Kenwright and Denise Barrett Baxendale need to be removed in my view. Culture change needed. At top.
@Armchaireverton: Stop going to Goodison until Kenwright leaves
@Smigggss: The replies to this 🤮 deserve everything we get! Half them would be moaning at Everton if we got to the final and couldn’t get a ticket tho two faced bastards well done lads / girls
@Bad_News_Jones: It would be good if people actually read the content over the usual moaning. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a better version of Everton. Any idiot can see the one we currently suffer is completely shite. #ledbydonkeys
@l4efc1: Well done @27yearsCampaign 👏👏
In the summer of 2022, the Everton fan group 27yearscampaign had sent owner Farhad Moshiri an open letter accusing the board of ‘poor management’ and a ‘lack of respect’, as they demand answers after he insisted the club is NOT for sale.
Moshiri was said to have been in talks with the Kaminski family – with former Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon leading their consortium and hoping to agree a £500m takeover – but Moshiri has reiterated his stance despite growing unrest from fans.
Supporters are unhappy with Moshiri after years of stagnation, poor transfer business and last season’s relegation battle, however the owner is determined to fight on and asked fans to judge their transfer dealings at the end of the summer window.
The fan group, which was created in 2022 by a group of fans concerned by the club’s on and off pitch performance to get some engagement with Moshiri, calling for answers to the key questions that concern them. Seems nothing as changed months later.
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.
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.
‘Belatedly football is waking up to the idea that fans are the true custodians of their clubs.
‘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.’
Moshiri denied he was looking to sell the club – despite being in talks with the Kenyon-led consortium – and insisted he remained fully committed to finishing the club’s new stadium, adding that he planned to be more open and communicative with the fanbase after appointing an Everton Fan Advisory Board.
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