Richard Keys bemused by Everton fans protesting Bill Kenwright
Richard Keys reacted to the fans who protested Everton chairman Bill Kenwright on Saturday by suggesting they were a waste of time.
Following the 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, fans staged a sit-in protest in the stands, and some were subsequently seen confronting Kenwright outside the ground to demand answers.
But the former Sky Sports presenter dismissed the protests, saying on beIN Sports, via the Liverpool Echo: “Again, they are after Bill. I really don’t understand that at all.
“Were he to quit tonight, Bill Kenwright, nothing’s going to change at all. Nothing.
“He has no influence really at the football club now.”
Unhappy situation
The defeat at Goodison in the Saturday lunchtime kick off saw Duncan Ferguson’s caretaker reign get off to a bad start, with Emi Buendia scoring the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time.
The result left the Toffees with their lowest points total at this stage of the season since 1997-98, according to The Guardian, where the club only avoided relegation on the last day of the season.
So despite the expected spike in commitment and energy provided by the temporary boss, the end result was much the same as it has been too often this season under Rafael Benitez.
There was plenty of upset as a result, and events at the ground suggested it was not necessarily being channelled productively.
A fan has reportedly been arrested (Guardian) for throwing a bottle which hit Matty Cash and ex-Toffee Lucas Digne during the celebrations following the goal, and the Chairman was the target of the fans’ ire after the final whistle.
Whether the departure of Kenwright would make a material difference to the club’s fortunes is debatable.
It used to be that the theatre producer’s financial muscle was seen as insufficient to take the club forward, but following the arrival of Farhad Moshiri that was no longer the issue.
Identifying the new owner as “the perfect partner” (BBC) back in 2017 should probably be considered his fault, but the finances did follow.
And Kenwright should share the blame for the decision-making in the past six years, but it is arguably Moshiri who is more responsible now.
But fans, understandably miserable with the direction of the club, were not willing to let the 76-year-old Kenwright off regardless of how much control he has personally.
In other Everton news, this Liverpool icon has given his view on the leadership at Goodison.