Farhad Moshiri absence ‘irrelevant’ as Everton board steer clear of Goodison Park again
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri’s absence from the win over Arsenal at Goodison Park was “irrelevant”, but those involved in the day-to-day running of the club should be attending, according to Sunday Mirror journalist Andy Dunn.
In what’s been a torrid campaign for the Toffees, the board members were advised not to attend Goodison Park for the clash with Southampton last month [14 January] due to security concerns.
The club then took extreme measures in classing their next home fixture against league leaders Arsenal as ‘high risk’, as the unrest surrounding the club intensified [Daily Mail, 16 January].
The protests did indeed continue before the contest against the Gunners but were rather put to rest following a deserved win under new manager Sean Dyche, thanks to James Tarkowski’s winner, recording their first Premier League win since October.
The club board were absent from the game, as expected but Dunn writing in his column for the Sunday Mirror [4 February, pg 78] said that Moshiri’s absence was “irrelevant” and that it is totally understandable for the club board staying away if they are indeed fearing for their safety, but those involved in the day-to-day running of Everton “should attend”.
He wrote: “Moshiri was not at the game and nor were the prominent board members. If Bill Kenwright and his colleagues genuinely feel scared, genuinely feel physically threatened, then their absence from Goodison Park is understandable.
“But it also makes their positions particularly difficult. Moshiri has not been to the grand old ground for an age so his non-appearance is irrelevant but those involved in the day-to-day running of the club should attend.”
Back their decision
The club board have put new manager Dyche at the helm for a reason, and that is clear: to steer the club away from trouble, and the win over high-flying Arsenal was a huge step in the right direction for the former Burnley boss and his players.
However, the club board members or those involved in the day-to-day running not attending the game really isn’t a good look. They failed to back Dyche with new recruits in January so the least they could do is show their support for him by attending games.
The 51-year-old simply cannot do his job without the support of those above him, and at a period where the club and their fans need to stick together, it’s massively important that the board members get involved by attending games at Goodison Park again.