Bill Kenwright Everton exit predicted amid ‘forced out’ verdict as timeframe emerges
Bill Kenwright “won’t be there” at Everton at the beginning of next season ahead of a likely summer of change at Goodison Park, according to The Esk.
The Toffees chairman has become the prime target for fan protests which extend to various members of the club hierarchy amid back-to-back relegation battles, with chants of “sack the board” following the final-day escape against Bournemouth on Sunday (28 May) passionately backed by Ian Wright.
Investment from MSP Sports Capital is believed to be on the cards any day, with Farhad Moshiri reported to be attempting to keep agreement out of the spotlight until the season was concluded [i News, 23 May]. Boardroom change is expected if the American company complete a deal, and a Kenwright exit has now been strongly tipped.
Asked on Twitter if the Toffees chairman may be forced out if he decides against stepping down this summer, The Esk wrote: “As a director he can be “forced out” by shareholders (ie Moshiri). Given he is an employee the conditions would have to be consistent with his contract and UK employment law”
But in response to the suggestion that a resignation will never happen The Esk made a strong prediction, writing: “He won’t be there at the beginning of the season”.
Change ahead
The only people who know with any real certainty what Kenwright’s future at Everton looks like are the man himself or Moshiri.
The chairman has come under increasing pressure as the Toffees have struggled through two relegation battles, with three more managers cycled between and failure to land attacking targets in the transfer market.
Whether that means the situation is certainly coming to a head this summer will only become clear over the coming months, but it feels like his time at Goodison Park has probably run its course.
His much-vaunted love for the club is all well and good, but the direction of travel over the past few seasons has not been what anyone connected to Everton would have wanted.
And it cannot be overly enjoyable for him personally any longer, with regular protests calling for him to leave, and his dissatisfaction with the situation apparently evident in his open letter to the All Together Now group on 21 April.
Incoming changes to the boardroom are thought to be very close, and whether they are swiftly followed by corresponding exits only time will tell, but an unequivocal prediction has been made.