Bill Kenwright has maintained his confidence that Everton have remained compliant with the Premier League’s financial rules despite the club being accused of an "alleged breach" over profit and sustainability.
The Blues' annual accounts for 2011/22 were published on Friday, detailing an operating loss of £44.7million for the financial year - an improvement on the previous year's £121million loss.
Everton chairman Kenwright used the report to address concerns about profit and sustainability in his foreword notes. He also seemingly doubled down on his message to fans back in January 2022 over "good times" at Everton despite a long spell without silverware.
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Kenwright wrote: "As the following accounts for 2021/22 were being prepared for publication, the club was disappointed to learn of the Premier League’s decision to refer it to an independent commission for an alleged Profit and Sustainability breach. I cannot comment ahead of that commission, other than to say that the club is confident it remains compliant with all of the Premier League’s financial rules and regulations and has always provided information to them in an open and transparent manner.
"That the club has always acted in good faith simply intensifies the disappointment experienced at last week’s news - but, as already stressed, we will robustly defend our position."
Evertonians have demonstrated their dissatisfaction with Kenwright, majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and the board, with regular protests before matches throughout this season. Furthermore there have been no board members in attendance at home matches since they were asked not to attend the 2-1 defeat to Southampton on January 14.
Despite failing to win any silverware during his tenure as chairman, Kenwright took the opportunity to defend his record.
He wrote: "I may have been castigated by some fans for sharing my opinion that I have enjoyed many times at Everton, and even though we have sadly been trophyless under my chairmanship, it is with no fear of further criticism when I say two league games from last season’s 38 will stay with me forever.
"Do I have to say more than that night against Crystal Palace? While the afternoon I stood alone in the stand at Leicester City after a monumental away win, listening to our outstanding travelling supporters sing passionately and enthusiastically - for a full 20 minutes after the game had ended!! - was inspiring, humbling and genuinely moving.
"Memories of occasions like these has made the recent instruction given to myself and my fellow board members not to attend Goodison Park all the more painful. That has hurt deeply.
"We have also been forced into making some painful changes at the club but, although we all dearly wanted manager Frank Lampard and his backroom team to succeed, ultimately a change became inevitable. We believe the start Sean Dyche has made to his time as our manager, nor forgetting his admirable allies Steve Stone and Ian Woan, has already justified that decision."
Kenwright signed off his forward with a call for unity amongst the Everton ranks, writing: "Looking forward we know we have challenges to overcome - the absolute priority is of course to secure our Premier League status for a 70th consecutive season - and we can all play a part in helping to secure that. As we proved in the run-in to last season, a unified Football Club is a stronger Football Club."
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