The Shareholders Association Executive Committee –
Hang Your Heads In Shame?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. There are those that talk the talk and those try and do something” - school ground banter circa 60’s and 70’s.

This is a response to Michael Durkin’s well-penned view on the Shareholders Association Committee, on Bluekipper and Toffeeweb.
As you all know by now the Shareholders Association AGM is to be held on June 1st and apparently the existing SA committee are just as bad as the last lot in this somewhat responsible position.

Michael’s piece was brought to my attention by a lot of Blues and I was asked for my views on the subject - was I mad or hurt? I replied after reading the piece that I was neither hurt or hopping mad at the tone of the accusations as I know Michael very well, and respect him for his endeavours during our quest for that magical (now mythical) site called the King’s Waterfront project.

Michael was a general in guiding the Evertonians to the true picture of our bid - he was professional and articulate at every level of this quantum leap project for Everton. For my penny’s worth on this particular subject, I think we will never have had a better opportunity for location, price and spec of new a stadium for Everton. I believe it will follow us like an albatross around our necks till another gift horse looks us in the mouth.
Thing is why did it take over eighteen moths to shatter the dream that should have taken no more than three months to quantify our position. We either had the money or we didn’t. God, how much is the real estate worth now down that neck of the woods? It will seem sad that when we are driven to a shared stadium that then there will be three owners not the two on offer at the Dock, but I digress.

I cannot reply as eloquently, or skilfully, as Michael can write as it’s a fact of life I am not as intelligent as Michael with verse or academic reason - but I am an Evertonian with an opinion and very close to what happens to us and how we feel.

This is my own personal account of the present SA Executive Committee.

If I cast you back to the Echo’s infamous ‘Night of the Long Knives’, the meeting was about frustration and change of the status quo of the selected ‘Peoples Club’. In a nutshell, it seemed that the watchdog of the Club (that was the original calling of the SA in the 1930’s) had in fact become hush puppies. Many of the wider membership of the SA had no feedback from meetings, questions asked etc. It seemed a cosy relationship had developed, rightly or wrongly, with the powers that be at Goodison. Don’t rock the boat seemed to be the motto of the watchdog.
That night I was asked to go on the Executive Committee - at first the Wheeltappers and Shunters club came to mind. A committee, I thought, “hmm well I’m an elected member of the Independent Blues so why not?” If I can help I will.

I was subsequently elected but my thoughts that nights were of my Dad’s burial arrangements that day - not change or getting even. So yes I suppose I went with the flow of change that night. My Dad would have wanted me to speak up for fellow Blues that cannot be heard so maybe fate dealt me a hand that night.

I also knew that night, and for months afterwards, that the club was royally pissed off with the wholesale changes of the SA. I was told so.

Our cards were marked and any dialogue would be short and terse. So be it, I like thousands of others are in this for the long haul and my Dad always said be true to yourself son and let others who would hurt you fall by the wayside in time, as time finds people out. At the first Executive meeting it was a strange feeling, speaking through the Chairman - almost like royal protocol - but I kept along with the mechanics of such shareholders meetings fumbling along like a virgin on his first night.

All I wanted to do was give ideas to be championed by the Club and questions properly answered by the hierarchy not ignored or fobbed off as many non shareholder fans have in the past. I am primarily an Independent Blue in a Shareholders position where our voice can be heard.

But it was all fantasy in my mind, the new regime was not flavour of the month - never mind the full tenure, so any thoughts that we may have had to make inroads into giving the club a more professional approach to a whole spectrum of ideas to help /aide and explore fell at the draw bridge and moat. We were shunned except for a few very late letters or return calls.

But still we carried on every six weeks meeting at Goodison.

The infamous list of names Michael has set in stone in his article as the Executive Committee came from near and far to try and resolve this Club’s problems. We all knew that Everton could be/ should be better but how can you have an input if stonewalled? In hindsight we should have resigned en masse citing the reasons why we could not continue instead of losing friends along the way.

Many a time I went to a committee meeting and I thought I can’t really make it for pressure of work or family but then I would realise that members would be travelling from Leicester, Luton, Yorkshire, North Wales and even Ireland so how could I not come when only ten miles down the road! For those who came and those since departed I have the highest admiration - all their travel expenses were incurred by themselves. Driven by a hope that they could, if allowed, change Everton for the better giving expert help (in some cases) free of charge and without personal gain. This part of my story Michael did get me a bit mad when reading your self-righteous article.
Many meetings lasted nearly four hours and ex past Committee members would say theirs would last only twenty minutes without proper minutes given out to the wider Association. I may be too hard on past SA Committees but can only gather information of what I experienced or heard myself over the years. God I think I’ve just morphed into Mickey Blue Eyes junior criticising others and polarising people!

After a few months of crumbs of bread thrown from the table of Mr Dunford and Sir Philip, a meeting was allowed to discus matters. I never wanted to go to such meetings, as John Sinnott, our Chairman, was more articulate than I could ever hoped to be and aided by others. I thought they might defrost the club into listening to the SA main agendas, me being there was not a good idea, as the CEO did not like me.

The new SA Committee danced with and courted the hierarchy to prove that were no demons hell bent on destroying their regime but it was never going to become a marriage.

Just after Christmas a Heaven sent (for the hierarchy) clash of protocol within the Committee occurred. Mike Owen and Steve Allinson had gone on a mission to the papers to draw attention to the idea of bringing in badly needed new investment into the Club - via a share issue. It was front page news in the Echo and it seemed it embarrassed the hierarchy - why? Well you must come to your own conclusions.

John and a couple of others on the Committee were not happy that an article high on the Committee’s agenda was taken outside to the media without approval. John wanted to resign at the next meeting such was his stance on the matter. I sat there very sad and dismayed that this group could not continue as one anymore.

Fact was I could see every point of view, Mike’s frustration at not being heard enough about the matter (when he worked in the media) and seeing the Club’s desperate need for a capital injection without heavy charges and John’s thinking of conflict of interest with Steve Allinson who was selling shares to fans at a below market price.

I thought at the time it was a mountain being made out of a mole hill and would drift away but not to John or Rob Evans, who resigned on the strength of their arguments. These two people are great Evertonians and I too thought about jettisoning from the Committee as I did not want to take sides, how could I? I considered these people, as my friends not just concerned Evertonians.

So I kind of sat on the fence with splinters hurting me from time to time as I spoke to the main players in this fall out. We did meander along a bit to conclude our tenure making a final agenda of what we tried to accomplish and a vote for change in the Articles of Association which are dated and like a keep net in water when coming to interpretation.

Well you may ask what did you lot do then for the ten months or so? All I can show you is what I was involved in, which was briefly as follows.

Championing a change in midweek football league fixtures where no one travels more than a hundred miles. The Premier League and the club have been lobbied to carry out more common sense fixtures. At the beginning of last season no less than five Premiership league team’s fans had to make a four hundred miles plus round trip journey’s in one midweek fixture list - it’s dangerous to tired drivers and workers who have to think about their work place next day.

The David France Collection, making Blues aware around the world know it exists and its value. No club has such a historically defined documented collection. No club…

Setting up a ticketing party to help the fans and Club find the ideal marriage with allocations. No derby tickets were sold away at Anfield as part of a corporate dinner package as a result of this.

Minutes of every meeting sent to all SA members via email or Royal Mail, costly in time and effort for the secretary Nick Williams.

Documented literature between the Club and the SA.

A transparent detail of the SA’s accounts where monies have gone each meeting. I thank Mark Edwards for his time and recording the new members or those parting.

Asking for space on the Clubs website for the minutes and forum results to be shown - it was declined in the format we wanted.

Asking for space in the programme for SA comments and notifications, we were told we could have half a page if we paid!

Aiming for pre-season tours to have greater notification and hopefully in a condensed area in Europe - ideally so that families and fans in general can arrange holidays better and secure better deals for travel expenses. Up to now we are playing at the San Siro Hillsborough, at a time our profile could be sky high with Everton and England’s best hope Wayne Rooney. I hope the SA can push for opposition worthy of the brand name we want to re-invent.

A very successful annual dinner which was set around the 125 year celebration, the Club have not had their own. The board and hierarchy were invited but declined due to the ‘ShareGate’ affair, two own goals occurred on a memorable night by the Club.

One was snubbing every SA member, not just the accused; the other was the refusal of accepting a plaque that documented a list of ‘first’ achievements. Everton were a trail-blazing Club that set the standard for others to follow. The plaque has since been accepted and I’m happy about that, as Keith Wilson and myself put in many hours to get it right. Our names on the recent programme notes at the home game against Bolton where omitted, I know I’m perceived as a bad apple at the club but poor Keith just tries his best for the club. Another sad act. I hope they place it in the main reception of Goodison Road where visiting journalists etc. can see that we are not just another club - although recent history may suggest this. Blueblood, the ex players Foundation received a sizeable donation as a result of the 125 year celebration night.

A visit to Bellefield to see the players train and talk to the manager - promised for years but never allowed. Shareholders brought young family to see where our ‘heroes’ honed their talents for the weekend match. Pity it was on a freezing October day, with no hot refreshments, and surprising the manager and staff who knew nothing about the visit. May I suggest the next visit is conducted more professionally by our top admin and during the pre-season when it’s warmer and more children can attend without missing school?

Making a concerted effort to bring on board new SA members, a trickle has happened but hopefully more will come when more shares are made available and fans know that the SA will be listened to now hopefully.

A review of the SA constitution whereby everybody understands where we are with joining, voting, electing etc. I would have wished this had been installed before the AGM but apparently any new constitution has to be voted at an EGM or AGM. See I’m learning all the time.

Challenging the status of the shareholders regarding ticketing preference behind the new ‘A’ and ‘J’ clubs. It erodes our stature in the Club even more - fifteen hundred quid for a share in the club as opposed to £25 for the A&J clubs respectively. At a fans forum for the A&J clubs, both the manager and the Board attended but despite invitation even before ShareGate none of the hierarchy ever came to our forum meetings. It just endorsed to me that the feudal system of the Club never gave the SA Committee a chance from the off, but still they continued to meet, ostracised by the Club who are doing so well off the field they had no need to meet trouble makers. How sad our Club has become to treat fellow Blues like pariahs. This is the 21st century not medieval times although I could think of a few I’d like to put in the stocks! Only joking, as I know how touchy the hierarchy can be.

Director’s box tickets: Made available to all SA members on a lottery basis instead of just the Executive Committee. Sadly these two tickets that were always near the front row of the directors box were relegated to the back row near the press box. How petty a deed that was, eh? Summed up the childish behaviour by some who represented this club at a very high level. Michael (Durkin) - we never stood a chance with this lot from the off so think again with your stones and arrows aimed at fellow Blues mate. On a nicer note, with “this new lot” the Blueblood organisation received a donation of £640 from donations of the tickets received in the director’s box area. Many a young and old fan had a day to remember in this exclusive area, an experience that never would have happened under the previous regimes.

Exploration of a Fans Trust for the Club, I know Tom Cannons sterling original works was carried on in a manner I think he would have approved. It seems bizarre to me that such a topic would infuriate the Club even more. ‘ShareGate’ was a result of this wider implementation to the media as already covered. A letter from the Club Chairman said that any share initiative would be put on the back burner for now. So we were awash with money then? Yes I’m a divvy, still going on about our finances, but we tried to show the importance of a share issue to our ailing financially Club. Fan Trusts have done remarkable well in the lower leagues - in fact they are club savers on many occasion. We organised a Fans Trust forum whereby such eminent people as Sean Hamill (Celtic supporter and Chairman of the Government initiative fan shares schemes) came to discuss the mechanics and past experiences. Joe Beardwood, a football financial consultant came, a fellow Blue who knows exactly where we are in today’s financial world. It was hard to stomach when being told that Southampton was a bigger club financially than us now on turnover – a message conveyed so easily by Joe. And you wonder why we can’t compete in the transfer market? I would highly recommend Joe Beardwood to any new committee on Tuesday.

Sometimes you have to beat your own drum in public so that when others throw slings and shots you can see the side of both stories to make your own judgement. Michael is without doubt a good Evertonian and wants what’s best for the club and its loyal fans. I’ll still have a drink with Michael anytime because that’s the way it is, it’s the long haul, all about opinions - just do me a favour Michael take my place on the committee and do your best for everyone concerned. I’m tired of people falling out and polarising fans. I just want what’s best like everyone else. Maybe I’m misguided but I think we may have a chance with the new changes in the wind, to move on together.

That’s what I want for Evertonians now - to be together as a powerful force with a plan a vision to follow. If Paul Gregg wants to be our Fergus McCann then so be it – it’s got to be better than it is now.

On Tuesday night I don’t want our new CEO Trevor Birch sitting there thinking “have I just come into the local bag wash” - there’s so much back biting, waiting to pounce on fellow Blues who are trying to help the Club get on a better footing with no personal gain, except wanting a result of their efforts getting us a better team on the field to watch. Isn’t that what we all want?

Sure still endorse calling for an EGM of the Club as only Trevor coming to date has changed at the Club. The Club has eight weeks from then to get their act together. If the Club clearly shows that it is listening to the fans for change, has a plan and a vision then we can aim together. Too many times in the past we have accepted titbits of deeds to back off pressure on our Club, to get more professional at the top level. The sands of time are running out for our Club’s Premiership status - we got away with relegation last season yet again. How many wake up calls do we need before the trap door gets us? After the Manchester City humiliation the hurting fans have become angry fans. By the following Wednesday those fans gathered at the Blue House meeting were educated to the real state of our Club. The fans called for this meeting not Ian Mac. In hindsight a better venue should have been picked. However, the saddest thing Michael is that the Club should have held a clear the air meeting but I guess they were too frightened.
This is Everton, never should keeping our Premiership status be deemed as a success. We demand / hope for better than this. Michael take up the gauntlet and use your obvious skills to help the fans and club be positive again. Get away from the waiting Tiger to pounce in the wings - we need action now not words.

I’m sorry to have had to respond to your article but I know you are so wrong or ill informed by your stance on the existing Executive Committee. Is it any wonder that fans feel trepidation when putting their heads above the parapet? I suppose Michael you could dock our pay for our tenure but Michael we don’t get paid for our efforts.

Come on Mike have a pint with us - and give us input not criticism!

Let Tuesday be a real new dawn not the same old infighting, no wonder we are the way we are when fans are at each other’s throats. Let’s be the watchdogs and guide dogs of the Club finding a path together to climb back to where we aspire. This football Club’s Shareholders Association is the oldest in the league – let’s not be a historical fact yet again of Everton. Let us be part of the future of Everton.

Ian Macdonald. Shareholder and Independent Blue

Dear Mr. Durkin,
I’ll offer my apologies in advance for a lack of appropriate quotation. I’m afraid I didn’t swallow too many books in my youth. I had a paper round instead. However, inspiration flows from the mouth of babes – this, often sung by my two year old daughter, Eimear, as she watches her purple friend Barney, on television -
“Oh, the more we get together,
Together, together,
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be.

For your friends are my friends,
And my friends are your friends.
Oh, the more we get together,
The happier we'll be!”

Togetherness, Mr. Durkin, togetherness. The pen can indeed be mightier than the sword and there can be no doubt your pen flows often – too often though you select the wrong targets. You have penned a pretty strong character assassination of not only the current Acting Chairman but also the remaining members of the Executive Committee. Personally speaking, I can live with any criticisms of myself – and my minor contribution to matters concerning the SA this past year. However, I will contest your words that “the new lot” have “abrogated their responsibilities and made matters worse”. That is simply not true.
You dwell on one solitary issue, concerning Mr. Allinson’s ownership of shares, and demand intimate knowledge surrounding the purchase and subsequent sale of these shares. I most certainly do not consider it anyone’s business bar the man himself and it remains his prerogative to conduct his affairs in whatever manner he deems suitable. “The committee and its officers discussed it and did nothing more” you cry. The committee, uncomfortable as we were at the time with the fallout between then chairman, John Sinnott and Steve Allinson, chose to (democratically) support Mr. Allinson.
You cannot accept that. Did you yourself not purchase your solitary share from Mr. Allinson?
Despite the fact that the outgoing SA Executive Committee has failed in its aim to extract definitive action from the Club on various matters - ranging from the acquisition of the David France Collection to clarification on our position re. Ground share/ move – it is an insult to suggest that the people involved haven’t worked TOGETHER. You forget Mr. Durkin that we are not paid employees, all with a designated job to do. We make the commitment, by choice, to serve the SA in an agreed manner. I believe you were approached last year to stand for election yet declined the offer. Why? Why snipe at every opportunity at those who are at least trying to assist in making Everton Football Club a better place – and do so out of simple passion for the Club? Why gesticulate madly from behind a computer when your knowledge and passion for Everton FC can be better harnessed via a closer involvement in SA matters?
I know and accept that my own role this past year on the Executive Committee has been a minor one. I am not an Association Officer. I am one of those who make up the numbers (albeit with a voice). I have enjoyed the experience of being on the Committee – through both good and bad times. At all times I have but one thought – “how can I help improve Everton FC”.

That may or may not be good enough. If it is not good enough for you then I hope you will take up my call on Tuesday night when I nominate your good self for a place on the next Executive Committee. I shall gladly step aside to make way for the all-knowing MBE. This past season I have spent more time travelling up to Dublin on Monday afternoons to catch a flight to Liverpool, to attend meetings at the Club that evening and then dashing back to the airport to catch the last flight back to Ireland – and then getting in my car and driving down the east coast, arriving home at an ungodly hour. My wife says I’m mad – perhaps she’s right. Maybe next season I can return to the simplicity of watching some of the football I sacrificed (a blessing in disguise?) instead of saving my hard earned for flights to attend SA committee meetings.
Or perhaps I’ll remain seated behind a computer - solving every problem concerning our dearly beloved Everton Football Club from a comfortable distance.

Regards,
Colm Kavanagh