Bill Kenwright is set for talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri in the next 48 hours as he decides whether to follow the lead of the rest of the Goodison Park board, who quit dramatically on Monday.
CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp all resigned after coming under intense pressure from supporters last season – and with the club on the brink of new investment.
None had attended an Everton home game since the turn of the year after what the club claimed was a “real and credible threat to their safety” and their seats were empty as the Toffees secured safety on the final day of the Premier League season. The situation had become increasingly toxic with even club legend Sharp the subject of protests.
The trio said they were “disappointed” to leave and defended their record in a statement released by Everton. The statement also said an announcement would be made on Kenwright, who has been on the board since 1989 but has faced the brunt of supporter disenchantment.
i understands that Kenwright will now meet Moshiri in the next couple of days before deciding whether to follow them out of the exit door and bring to an end a rancorous spell.
On another momentous day at Goodison Park it also emerged that the club is being sued by former manager Carlo Ancelotti in the High Court in London.
Ancelotti’s lawyers filed the claim on Friday, though details are scant and Everton have not responded to the claim. According to court records, it relates to “general commercial contracts and arrangements”.
The developments come with the club close to announcing investment from MSP Sports Capital, who will provide a loan to Moshiri to help finance the Bramley-Moore docks stadium development. The New York-based firm will get a 25 per cent stake and places on the board as part of the £150m loan.
Everton said they would announce “interim board members” by Wednesday. That move is likely because they need at least three board members under company law and they could be temporary custodians while the MSP Sports Capital investment goes through its final stages.
The company have an exclusivity agreement with Everton and talks are understood to be advanced.
An Everton statement said the outgoing directors had “worked tirelessly over recent months to assist with the preparation for a transition to a new board”, while Barrett-Baxendale, Sharp and Ingles said they had been “fully committed during our time here and are disappointed to have made the decision to leave Everton”, describing the last few years as “a challenging period”.
It is not yet clear if Kenwright will resign but it looks likely and will mark the end of an era at Everton. Moshiri bought 49.9 per cent of the club in 2016 after a long search for investment that was led by Kenwright but his critics argue that his continued involvement with Everton has held them back.
He was quoted on the club’s website giving praise to the directors who departed.
“This has been a great board who have all worked tirelessly for the club, no matter what the circumstances,” he said.
“My relationship with Denise has been known as one of the closest in football. I thank her for her many achievements, particularly her magnificent work in respect of our new stadium.”
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