Everton: Sean Dyche and Richard Masters both present at event hosted by Kier Starmer
Richard Masters and Everton boss Sean Dyche were both present at a drinks even hosted by Sir Kier Starmer, according to The Times.
The outlet reported via their website on 1 March that the Labour leader invited a long list of guests from the sports administration and broadcasting worlds looking to gather ideas ahead of his potential election as Prime Minister.
Other guests from football included FA chief Mark Bullingham, commentator Clive Tyldesly, Sky Sports host Kelly Cates, former Toffee Peter Reid and ex-Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux.
Starmer reportedly said: “I am not asking for your votes or even your support — just your ideas.”
Everton manager and Premier League chief attend event amid takeover delay and points deduction controversies
It is not known whether there was any communication between Dyche and Masters, or between Reid and Masters for that matter, with the ongoing delay in the league office deciding to permit or deny 777 Partners’ takeover of the club just one lingering key issue that would surely have come up.
Perhaps more pertinent to the Toffees’ boss is the situation that has seen his side yo-yoing in the table due to the record 10 points deducted by an independent commission, which has just been reduced to six on appeal.
A much-improved season, which would have previously seen Everton sitting comfortably in mid-table, gave way to yet another relegation battle when the record punishment was first imposed, prior to Laurence Rabinowitz successfully arguing it down and getting the club lifted back up to 15th.
With a second hearing on the horizon for another profit and sustainability referral at the hands of Masters’ office it is expected that another sanction will still likely follow.
Dyche has therefore been having to try to motivate his players to lift their recent slumping form despite none of them properly knowing where they stand in the table.
The relationship between Everton and the league authorities is unsurprisingly far from the greatest at present, so any contact between the manager and Masters would likely have been frosty at best.
In other Everton news, alternative bidders lie in wait with 777 not wanting to provide the next loan the club will require.
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