Everton insiders react to Goodison Park scenes as private security firm hired
Everton are said to have hired a private security firm as part of preparations for the final home game of the season against Bournemouth on Sunday 28 May, according to a report from Mike Keegan for the Daily Mail [16 May, Page 66].
However, club sources are adamant that the extra measures are not due to the threat of relegation and instead, it is aimed at not falling foul of FA and Premier League directives on pitch encroachment.
The season comes to its conclusion over the next two weekends, with the Toffees currently above the drop zone by just one point.
Further detail was provided in the report by Keegan, in what appears to be a contradictory message from Goodison sources.
“Everton will deploy private security officers and a ring of steel for their final home match of the season but insist the measures are not down to the threat of relegation,” he said.
“Immediately after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City at Goodison Park, fans noticed large numbers of stewards forming a protective barrier around the tunnel and onto the playing surface, including some from private firm G4S.
“While that will again be the case for the visit of Bournemouth on May 28, insiders say they will not be in place to deal with the potential ramifications of Everton going down.
“Instead, they say they are reacting to the Premier League and FA’s sharp focus on pitch encroachment and want to avoid a repeat of the £300,000 fine dished out to the club following an invasion after the match against Crystal Palace last May, in which a spectacular comeback ensured Everton’s survival.”
Avoiding the obvious
The information above indicates that the club is saying that the stewarding measures are not due to the threat of relegation and a potential backlash from the fans after a period of instability and protests but are designed to prevent a pitch invasion from the stands in response to winning the battle against the drop to the Championship.
Make that make sense, please.
It appears to be some kind of PR line, but to be honest it is not one that stands up to scrutiny.
Of course, passions and feelings will run high over the course of the final two games and there will be an expected outpouring of emotion, either way for the Evertonians.
Extra stewards would be expected for the high-profile occasion but it seems that the club is just being very careful in what it is saying about the fans, which speaks volumes about the current climate around Goodison.