This argument will run for a long time. In reality there is only Bill Gates left who could successfully take over the Blues and give us the financial clout needed to get amongst the "elite". Can you see him coming?

World Football has already started to go belly up. Financial restraints are already biting and eventually all these Foreign Investors, will take as much money as they can from their respective Clubs and run, leaving them up Sh£t Creek. At least we are not in to much debt and I greatly believe that the future is,investment in the Youth System and Bill Kenright and David Moyes have made great strides in this direction. We have one of the most successful Premier League set up at Finch Farm with many youth internationals coming through and this is definitely the way forward. Ed. Northwich.

World Football has already started to go belly up. Financial restraints are already biting and eventually all these Foreign Investors, will take as much money as they can from their respective Clubs and run, leaving them up Sh£t Creek. At least we are not in to much debt and I greatly believe that the future is,investment in the Youth System and Bill Kenright and David Moyes have made great strides in this direction. We have one of the most successful Premier League set up at Finch Farm with many youth internationals coming through and this is definitely the way forward. Ed. Northwich.

People say it's so important to be in the premier league, the richest in the world, yet we can just about break even being the best of the rest. The only people who benefit from the prems money are the players and the board, there is nothing extra for transfers.

Lee,Huyton, you need to look at the bigger picture. Were you around pre Bill K days when Johnson nearly ruined our club? If BK hadn't taken us from that red shite where would we be now? I don't think it would be in the top half of the premiership,probably relegated and struggling in the lower tiers of English football. This board delivered Moyes to us all,possibly the best signing we have had in many years. I can't argue with the lack of cash and transfer funds but,at the very least,we are a steady club which constantly finishes high up the table on a shoe string. So what can be done? Well if the fans really want us to be over stretched financially by buying players we can't afford then there will be only one person who will foot the bill. You,the fan. We have cheap seats compared to most in the league but the prices will increase if we go chasing the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. Wages will have to be met somehow and this is the obvious way to balance the books. Then there would be loads still moaning that BK has screwed them over will inflated match tickets!! I really don't think this guy can win either way,such a shame but that is the life of fickle football fans isn't it?

Lee Huyton you are wrong. You are in the Kenwright demon lot where John Wallasey was in the Kenwright angel lot. He doesn't get up front unless he's asked to by the media, which they do with every chairman at critical or successful points. Since Kenwright's been chairman the club have managed their best average league placings since the glory days of Kendall. The man has never spouted on about that or anything else. He's also said he's got no money and will sell the club but nobody has ever come up with the cash to buy it. Nobody has ever gone public with a bid so I believe him before I believe all the rumours and gossip. I think at his age he can't wait to sell up and get out of the business altogether but I could be wrong. Until there's evidence to the opposite in any of this then I won't go along with the Kenwright demon gang anymore than I'll go along with the Kenwright angel lot. Football is the worst stupid gossiping village of any business and I'm glad I'm not part of it.

Kenwright is quick to claim credit and hog the limelight when we do well so he should take the stick when times are hard. I see he's done his usual disappearing act as he does every summer,he'll probably reappear when we win a derby or a big club giving us the usual disasterous soundbites. I find it hilarious when some fans say they are glad he ain't sold us to some dodgy new owner......are they oblivious to the fact we've had one ourselves for the last 12 years? BK and his cronies in the boardroom simply have nothing to offer our club,they've proved time and time again they are out of their depth. Kenwright has spent the last 9 years hiding behind the hardwork of David Moyes,and i don't even care BK is a blue,that's NOT the only credential you need to run this club.

I get what Steve Turner is saying about the Dutch players but I could'nt really care less about 'promoting' the club. I would rather win nothing more than sell out. The kopites have been on their arse twice and been bailed out and they are still spending money on Adam £8m (Rangers reject, Blackpool hero) & so the story goes Downing. Sunderland have signed 9 players in the summer and I wouldn't want any of them. Football is the way it is because of Sky money and that breeds hangers on. If we have no money thats the way it is. As one said ealier we have a great spirit and have players who play their hearts out, Cahill ofcourse epitomises the spirit of EFC. Its a shame he hasn't won anything but he will be remembered in our hearts for his passion. Isn't what this is all about? When Heisel happened we were the best side in England, probably Europe but we didn't plan and put ourselves in a position to be the best 4 years down the line. We may be getting that same opportunity now. As everyone spends silly prices on average players just to get in the top 10 we are not so hopefully when the bubble bursts and the Kopites go bust (again) maybe we will have an opportunity. Hope so. God bless Blue Bill & Moysey. Jay, Warrington.

I think alot of people are forgetting how good our 1st 11 is. A fully fit everton first team is good enough to compete with any team in the league. The past couple of seasons we have just lacked consistency. If we'd converted around 4 of our draws into wins last season we would have been challenging for the top 4. I do believe a trophy isnt too far away for us, a bit of luck keeping everyone fit and healthy a couple of the kids coming through and showing the quality they've got and we'll be hard to beat. I know it can be frustrating when new faces arent coming in but when you look at all the money sunderland have spent and not one of their new players would get into our starting 11. I for one am quite optermistic about the new season, new signings or not. I do think a golden generation is about to happen at everton within the next few season with the likes or gueye, baxter, rodwell, barkley, coleman, vellios, duffy, wallace all expected for big things. the future is bright.. the future is royal blue!!!!

If Kenwright sold the club to some idiot who didnt have a clue what he was doing you all would be calling him a mercenary and giving him stick for that. The club is run well on what we have and do you really wanna buy players for 40m that aint even worth 10m? The heart of our club is british and thats how we should all want it!!

Kenwright has worked wonders for Everton, just keeping David Moyes for the lenght of time is a very good achievment. Until we get a new stadium or some kind of investment we need to trust Kenwright to keep us afloat and Moyes to keep us challenging for a European place on a limited budget. Buying all kinds of 10m + players isnt always the answer, how many clubs have been doing it over the last 10 years and got nowhere, we've got the foundation of young players and a mixture of experience with abit of luck with injuries next season there is no reason why we cant challenge for top 4 without signing anyone else

At last, a touch of perspective. Everton Football Club is operating within an economic madhouse. It is a business, and is not immune to any normal business pressure. Its outgoings are far too high for it's income, and most of those outgoings are on salaries. Let us assume we sell 20,000 season tickets at £500 (big assumption), that pays for only 3 players' salaries at £70 odd grand a week. Lunacy. Yet we shout for the club to spend more money that it doesn't have. We have a manager who is working wonders, the one we need to be in charge when the bubble bursts. Let's get behind him.

I believe there should be a salary cap and pay the extra the players crave out of performance bonuses, hopefully then they would stop their sub-par performances and learn to finish better with both passes and goals.

It wouldn't be pre-season if there was no Bill K bashing now would it? I'm sick to the back teeth of the snipers rounding on the man who has given everything to the cause,to his beloved club. He hasn't got billions in the bank,he is not able to stick his hand down the back of the couch and find the odd 20m for DM to spend. He probably has had offers for the club but he has always stated that he will only hand over the reigns to somebody with the clubs best interests at heart. That is more than understandable,would any of us want to be in a similar situation to the shites or to Portsmouth etc etc? Really want someone to blame? Then try the local council/government for knocking back the Kirkby project. It is a known fact that proper investors will not show us cash while we stay at Goodison Park,therefore condemning us to lower gate receipts than most in the league. I agree that players are sucking the blood out of the club but that is the norm across all teams,wages need to be curbed but I don't think that will happen any time soon. The more they earn,the less we can find to spend but there are not many you would ship out on wages alone. On the board we have a few wealthy people,why can't they dig deep and generate some cash? Surely it is in their best interests to do so? A certain Lord has been on the board for many years so get him to help out. What's the point in being a director of a Premier team if you do not help improve that club during your tenure? There are people with cash who seem to hide behind BK and let him take all the flak. Yes he is the top man but these people are just as culpable in the fight to secure meaningful investment. Get behind the blues,players and staff alike,this coming season. It was only 12 months ago that DM was saying how he had the best squad since his arrival,nothing much has changed player wise in that time frame so let's be a bit more optimistic. Whether we like it or not,we may have to carry on being cute with the youngsters at our disposal,maybe one or two of them could come through and give us something to shout about. COYB

John of Wallasey, a bit blue-tinted glasses there! Bill Kenwright is neither the demon or the angel. He's bought the club the way EVERY other owner has, by borrowing the money then paying it back from club revenues. He also fronted up the fee for Kevin Campbell and that kept us in the Premiership. When he and the other directors sell up they'll want to make a profit. So does every other director of every other club because that's the way it works. I agree that having a go at him is a waste of time because all it does is make some fans sound like a gang of moaners and it doesn't help the club at all and that's why they don't get much support, plus they never have any alternative and seem only to gloat when something goes wrong. I'll never give backing to any fans who behave like people with a grudge and nothing more.

Thank God for Bill Kenwright..you may think this to be a nonsensical comment but look at what might have happened if he had taken back the massive amount of money he has invested in the club by just off loading to any Tom Dick or Harry who was ready to give him his money back..Do you really believe he has never had an offer for the club? Of course he has, but he has chosen to stick with his desire to see Everton Football Club safe in the hands of someone who really does have the interests of the club and its supporters at heart and I for one am eternally grateful to the man

I totally agree.

Paul, true to a certain extent, but your post carried 3 points at least, none covered in detail and none concluded. Taking the player's salaries, mmm OK but going rate for the best, they too are businessmen - they go where they can make the most (a big part of the equation anyway); as they like we all would. Taking your point about blame etc. Kenwright like all "Business Leaders" shoulder the blame, the buck stops with them. I get to the major points of this bit at the end with lots of waffle in between. I agree with you regards the team spirit etc, few clubs are like us, few play with as much passion as us, or as a bonded team, week in and week out - BUT, these "bigger clubs" regards a bigger financial investment (or at least some financial investment - win all the bloody trophies that are up for grabs. Now one of the things winning does, is to attract young fans, who in turn splash their money on shirts - watching their new team on play for pay and so on and so on - bringing their kids up to support that team, waffling on about that team etc etc - a very good example of that is Chelsea. Not sure if I can swear here, but who the fuck were Chelsea before the Russian mob's investment - go back and search fan base - local outfit, small crowds and no international fan base per say. Money / winning = makes money, speculate to accumulate. We also had this "craze" in 80/90s - suddenly fan clubs - started by new fans supporting one of the most if not the most successful teams around popped up around the World. Football, was not the same then, so we shall give the then owners the benefit of the doubt, because they did fuck all to promote this - as stated football was not the same then, not a business per say, no stupid money from sky deals and no stupid transfer / wages for the players. OK back to now. When we hit Europe a few years back - what the fuck did we do - nothing, no investment, we lost that golden opportunity. When we have 2 of the most idiotic foreigners playing for us - Howard and Cahill - are we pushing marketing in US and Australia, what are we doing nothing, no investment, we lost that golden opportunity. (PS This was raised elsewhere in blogs, sites etc, but cannot remember source, but yes did copy this very valid point). Selling off assets and leasing back - shops grounds etc - you may think this is a good move, as it lowers interest payments; the board maybe happy, but investors will not be - we have no fixed assets on out books to fall back on, all we have now is the players which a) can get injured, b) can move on and c) all the other 100 negative points We finish between 6 and 10 in the league. Respectably, but please spend some time (I am getting too pissed off, so cannot be arsed now) to research; a) The prize money received between clubs finishing 1-4 tous. b) The TV money raised by these clubs, see how many times we are showed this year. c) The revenues raised by European football - either competition. d) The knock on effect is has to new fanbase, which as stated above, leads to money coming in (almost as a positive vicious circle). e) The attraction European football has on the mentality, for new GOOD players to come to Goodison. Just remember how many players have actually rejected our offers "not a big club etc". This would not be the case if we were there or there abouts every year. Going on from this, as true blues, we still believe we are the greatest, we lived through those days and will always remember them. We are disappointed and should be not in at least the top 4. Trouble is, everyone else, including my nippers (who have never seen us win) thing we are middle range punching above our weight - a remark made by all commentators. Sorry - going on..... Business is the same everywhere, you need your luck, but sometimes you can make your luck - we do fuck all and are not lucky so far, so that is out. You speculate to accumulate - we have fucked that up and always will, with this board. Maybe just maybe as BK is a true blue, he is to close to the emotions and has lost the business nouse to do his job properly. Throwing another jem I read in same blog I am nicking half the stuff from (half maximum, the rest is my unbridled shite) OK living in Holland, I get back to UK once in a while - wanted to get my kid all sorts of shite - went to how many sports shops and found sweet fuck all - OK I understand a massive fuck off Everton shop or stand in Manchester airport, the arndale and the trafford centre is unlikely, but I did expect something. Nope. Why, allegedly all of this now runs out of the Everton shops (leased no) due to the sponsorship deal we have with KIT BAG - yep, clever strategy on increasing fan base - fundamental fuck up. Again living in Holland, people know us now because of Van the man and Johnny - get a fucking Dutch guy in and then market to Holland, they are fanatical about the teams their country men play

You want our footballers to take less money so that we can buy a multimillion pound player (who will also be taking a pay cut to join our club) so that Everton can win something? Maybe in the back in the St. Domingo days, but not now. They're loyal, but they're not going round saying they have supported Everton their whole life. I support Everton, but I would undoubtedly jump ship if I got asked to take a pay cut even though other clubs were willing to pay me nearly double. Mentioning that we don't beat the mediocre teams isn't even worth typing, we hear about it every day. We should just pretend the transfer window never opened and work with what we've got.

We finished last season well but that is what is expected after the dreadful start to the campaign everyone could see the squad wasn't big enough now this summer we are told by Moyes he wants fresh faces in as soon as we are still waiting to sell Yakubu and Yobo sell to first offer we cannot afford to be haggling half the summer away and all this debt we hear about where has it come from because we don't seem to spend much money.

I agree 100%. Would you want to sell your soul like Liverpool have done. The very person they suppose to despise (Murdoch Sun owner) owns 11% of their club. If that's what we have to do to get some money in then I would rather continue with players who want to play for the club, youngsters, free transfers, lower league signings. That's the way it is I'm afraid.

Finally! Someone who is actually hitting home the point why we're skint, we're being fleeced by the players and their constant under performance makes it all the worse. Sure there are a few who play for the club and not the money but as soon as the wee Spaniard was threatening to leave we should have got shut of him. No player is bigger than the club and given last year's 'performances' it's fair to say that Mr Arteta isn't quite the hotshot that we all remember him to be. Perhaps he believed the hype a bit too much but he certainly seemed to lack that desire to be cracking again.

The issue of not having any cash all comes from the failure to move to a new stadium. Which realistically is something we should've done in the 90's, or at the very least double decked Stanley Park and included a decent Exec offering. Goodison simply cannot create the amount of turnover required for us to be able to expand our spending. To put it into context, Arsenal turnover approx £4m on a matchday. Everton turnover £800k...therein lies the answer. Unfortunately, nobody is going to invest in EFC until the stadium issue has been resolved. Kirkby was the only realistic, recent chance to get us out of our current predicament. Our finances are at a ceiling, and because the banks have now stopped lending us money, the only way we can bring in players, is to offload some. The trouble with being in this situation is that the likes of Stoke, Bolton etc etc are beginning to overtake us. Also, the core of the squad Moyes has built over the last 6-7 years is ageing, and players such as Cahill, Arteta, Neville, Hibbert, Saha, Distin will all need replacing soon. In addition to the 'added' quality and numbers the squad needs anyway. Sadly, we're at the start of falling backwards. There's only so long we can stay in an ageing stadium, and get away with good team spirit and togetherness in the absence of being able to afford new players.

No-body's 'to blame.' There's no money because of the way footie is organised and funded and we have a bank crisis if you noticed. If that's a 'crime' then almost all the people in the world are criminals. I wish people would grow up.

That's just football today.