Bill Kenwright is to continue as Everton’s chairman despite a warning from fans that they would intensify protests against the club’s hierarchy if he were not removed.
Kenwright is understood to have been planning to step down after 19 years. When the departures of Denise Barrett-Baxendale as chief executive, Grant Ingles as chief finance officer and Graeme Sharp as a nonexecutive director were announced at the start of last week, Everton said a statement on “the future of the chairman” would follow “in the next 48 hours”.
Everton’s owner, Farhad Moshiri, said on Friday that Kenwright had accepted his request to stay.
“I wanted Bill to remain as our chairman during this important period of transition for the club and I am delighted that he has accepted my request to do so,” Moshiri said in a statement on the Everton website. “Bill’s knowledge and vast experience will be crucial for us as we look to reset, deliver on external investment and position Everton for a successful future.”
The recent board changes came in the wake of numerous supporter protests, with Kenwright the main target for fans’ anger. The supporters’ group #AllTogetherNow said last week: “The protests will not cease and will only further intensify if you [Moshiri] allow ‘Chairman Bill’ to stumble on, continuing to fail in his position, despite clear evidence for a need for change.”
Everton also announced the appointments of Colin Chong as interim chief executive and director, and James Maryniak as interim chief finance officer. Chong is the chief stadium development officer and has been focusing on the move to Bramley-Moore Dock, with Maryniak the club’s director of finance.
Moshiri will join the board as a nonexecutive director alongside John Spellman, an experienced chartered accountant and Everton supporter. The American investors MSP Capital are close to agreeing a deal to buy a stake in the club, possibly up to 25%.
