You can say you know it for a fact but the fact is I and many others don't believe it and we have good reasons not too. The main reason being, even ignoring all the circumstantial evidence stuff, is that he has a proven record of being a shameless liar in order to protect himself. FSF, King's Dock, Kirkby, Manchester bedsit, Arteta money, etc. No benefit of the doubt for him whatsoever, he doesn't deserve it.
As for the circumstantial evidence I spoke of, here are the examples. Stopped coming to games, didn't show up at an AGM, ceased all personal relationships he had with certain players (Hibbert, Osman, Distin), all this coinciding when things really started going bad under RM. Then the day Moshiri turns up he's back again, standing next to FM looking a picture of health and downright giddy. I thought you were badly sick and needed people to respect your space?
After that day he was back going to all the games (even one at Wembley he slapped some kid outside) and was available for everyone to interview again, TV or print. Up front and centre at Koeman's first press conference as well when he'd been nowhere to be seen whilst Martinez was getting slaughtered from all angles (I remember Southall was calling him out for that specifically). Back for the very next AGM in the autumn when only a year before he was totally absent with no official explanation (and importantly before FM cleared the debt).
He negotiated with Eddie Hearn directly for Bellew to have his world title fight at Goodison, Hearn confirmed that and said it was a long, hard process he wasn't sure they'd manage get over the line. That itself showed he was still very much involved with the day-to-day operations and not just sat in the corner reading through old programmes.
He reminds me of Charlie Bucket's decrepit grandad leaping out of bed to do a jig when he brought home the golden ticket. Man's an utter phony.
