Bill Kenwright Remains Everton Chairman as Owner Farhad Moshiri Joins Board

Bill Kenwright, the long-serving chairman of Everton, will continue in his role after receiving the support of owner Farhad Moshiri, who has joined the board. Despite facing protests from fans and calls for his resignation, Kenwright’s experience and knowledge were deemed essential for the club during this transitional period.

Kenwright has been a member of the club’s board of directors for 34 years, with a remarkable tenure that began in 1989. Over time, he became the deputy chairman and eventually took over as chairman in 2004, following Sir Phillip Carter. Under Kenwright’s leadership, Everton achieved notable success, including a qualification for the Champions League qualifiers in 2005 under manager David Moyes.

The arrival of Farhad Moshiri, a British-Iranian businessman, as majority shareholder in 2018 resulted in a decrease in Kenwright’s stake to 1.3%. However, Moshiri expressed his desire for Kenwright to remain as chairman, acknowledging his invaluable contributions to the club. In a statement, Moshiri emphasized the importance of Kenwright’s involvement in the club’s reset, securing external investment, and positioning Everton for a prosperous future.

While some Everton fans have expressed discontent and launched protests against Kenwright, citing concerns about the club’s performance and accusations of financial impropriety, Moshiri’s decision to retain him reflects the belief in his ability to navigate the club through challenging times. The announcement of Moshiri’s inclusion on the board, along with the appointment of John Spellman, an experienced chartered accountant and Everton supporter, signals the club’s commitment to strengthening its leadership.

During the previous season, Kenwright and other board members did not attend home games due to reported safety threats, including alleged death threats and intimidating communications directed at Kenwright and Denise Barrett-Baxendale, the chief executive. The hostile atmosphere and ongoing protests by supporters demanding Kenwright’s departure indicate the challenges facing the club’s leadership.

Despite the recent board changes, Everton is still awaiting news on potential sanctions resulting from an alleged breach of financial fair play rules, with the club stating their readiness to vigorously defend their position before an independent commission appointed by the Premier League.

The decision to retain Kenwright as chairman, while it may be a temporary arrangement, has stirred further unrest among some Everton fans who had anticipated his departure. The ongoing discontent among supporters underscores the need for the club’s leadership to address concerns and find ways to regain trust and appease disgruntled fans.

In conclusion, the recent developments at Everton’s board of directors aim to navigate the club through a period of transition, secure external investment, and lay the groundwork for future success. However, the decision to retain Bill Kenwright as chairman has not alleviated the growing discontent among some fans, highlighting the challenges faced by the club’s leadership in restoring harmony and confidence within the supporter base.

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• BBC Sport: Bill Kenwright: Everton chairman stays in role as owner Farhad Moshiri joins board
• Sky Sports: Bill Kenwright to remain Everton chairman despite fan protests
• The Guardian: Everton’s Bill Kenwright to stay on as chairman as Farhad Moshiri joins board
• Liverpool Echo: Bill Kenwright to remain Everton chairman as Farhad Moshiri joins board