After a lot of noise about a missed deadline, Everton’s hierarchy has, in effect, created a new one.
Whatever this tumultuous summer has in store, it needs to be resolved by the beginning of the new season. Everton cannot start the next campaign how it ended the last. The Blues may have survived a second consecutive relegation scare but it remained a club in crisis even after the final whistle blew to signal Abdoulaye Doucoure’s goal had been enough to overcome Bournemouth and, as a result, consign Southampton, Leeds United and Leicester City to the Championship.
At a sold out Goodison Park there were four empty seats in the most privileged position of all. Those spaces for the board of directors had been empty for four months by then, last filled for the sorry collapse to Brighton & Hove Albion that effectively ended Frank Lampard’s reign.
The rift between board and fanbase that opened against Southampton back in January was a chasm by late May. Change of some sort over the course of this summer was unavoidable. The first move was made last week with the announcement of the departures of chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance office Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp. At the time, an update was promised within 48 hours.
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READ MORE: Bill Kenwright to STAY as Everton chairman as Farhad Moshiri joins board
It instead took 257 to materialise - perhaps a surprise considering how familiar much of the new-look board is. But change of this magnitude is complex and takes time - even if Everton had once again created its own problem by starting an unnecessary countdown until its next announcement.
The news that ended the waiting game added more intrigue to Everton’s summer of intrigue. The first month of the close season has already made clear this is a club that does not do a summer break. Sean Dyche may be able to switch off at Glastonbury (deservedly so) but one of the most passionate and dedicated fanbases in football can only dream of a week of peace that is not invaded by movement at the club they love.
The headline decision amid the tranche of changes is the one that represents no change at all. Bill Kenwright remains as chairman, much to the delight of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. This is a decision that, predictably, has caused frustration and anger from some supporters - the campaign against the management of the club that has been so vocal in recent months has focused heavily on the role of Kenwright.
It was only weeks ago that the Everton Fan Advisory Board issued a vote of no confidence in the 77-year-old. The wounds of recent months are still raw. He remains a divisive figure and that remains a problem for efforts to move forward.
It is important to read between the lines of the statement issued by Everton though. It is clear the current changes are for the short-term. They are interim appointments designed to manage a period of transition. Change is underway and the board announcements may not even be the most significant of the day. The emergence of documents suggesting around £130m has been raised by those looking to invest in Everton is a key moment.
No-one can be naïve though and the longer the transition period that has now been entered goes on, the bigger the potential for problems to seep into the new season. Everton have enough issues on the pitch. The club cannot afford to begin a campaign under the shadow of a battle between the boardroom and the stands.
