Your Everton morning headlines for Friday, April 1.
Everton remain bullish over commercial income
While their commercial income saw a significant reduction in 2020/21, Everton remain positive around the resilience of the club to generate income in challenging times.
The Toffees published their accounts for the 2020/21 financial year and showed a £120.9m loss, following on from the £139.9m pre-tax loss of 12 months previous, to take their total losses to £260.8m over the last two pandemic-affected years, with the club attributing £170m of that directly to the impact of COVID-19.
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Among the figures published, the commercial income for the club fell from a club record £63.7m in 2019/20, which saw the biggest percentage leap in Europe last year, to £35.5m for 2020/21. Such a steep reduction can be explained, however, with the club having benefited in the previous financial year from a one-off payment made by former sponsor USM Holdings for the option on the naming rights for Bramley Moore Dock stadium.
Dave Powell has the full story here.
Frank Lampard offered blunt reminder
The left-back position at Everton is one of the rare facets of the football club modern-day supporters have not had to worry about. In the main.
Leighton Baines' arrival in 2007 prompted 13 years of excellence in the role before his eventual retirement at an empty Goodison Park. His era on the left flank was punctured by marauding showings from Joleon Lescott in the position and brief sparkling appearances from Bryan Oviedo before serious injury struck.
Following Baines should have been difficult, but it wasn't for Lucas Digne. The Frenchman quickly usurped his rival upon arriving at Everton in 2018 and was named the club's player of the year at the end of a peerless debut campaign.
