Okay. I disagree, as I’ve articulated.
I think it should absolutely be a consideration as part of the mix.
I think it should absolutely be a consideration as part of the mix.
brieverton
Player Valuation: £50m
I would hazard a guess that most clubs have some directors that would describe themselves as fans. If they can bring particular expertise and experience then it makes sense for clubs to benefit from it. But not if they are mere placeholders. Although having a director that is a fan of another club doesn't necessarily mean that they cannot fulfill their duties well either.
It's different for the executive team. Those roles should be filled through open competition and getting the best available people. But the board appointments are different to at least some degree. It's harder to get people with both a qualification and interest in those roles that won't have a relationship in some form to either the ownership or the wider club. Football is very tribal.
It would objectively be hard to argue that Bell and/or Downing would not both be good additions to the board given their business interests and experience. They would not be mere fans on the board.
We can't overlook any Evertonians with the requisite capabilities. The legacy of Kenwright makes us all weary and skeptical. Rightly so to a degree but it should not come at the cost of cutting off our nose to spite our face.
It's different for the executive team. Those roles should be filled through open competition and getting the best available people. But the board appointments are different to at least some degree. It's harder to get people with both a qualification and interest in those roles that won't have a relationship in some form to either the ownership or the wider club. Football is very tribal.
It would objectively be hard to argue that Bell and/or Downing would not both be good additions to the board given their business interests and experience. They would not be mere fans on the board.
We can't overlook any Evertonians with the requisite capabilities. The legacy of Kenwright makes us all weary and skeptical. Rightly so to a degree but it should not come at the cost of cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Yes, there’s certainly an understandable instinct to over-correct away from any sort of Evertonian presence on the board.
But really, it doesn’t matter whether we think it’s a good or a bad idea. I’m pretty sure their chastening experience over at Roma means the Friedkins will want to be seen as listening from the beginning, and I think a marker of that will be an Evertonian or two on the board.
TFG wouldn't be scrambling around looking for exec appointments mate.
If they decide two local business men are the best bet for the board, then who am I to argue? Maybe they are. They're evidently more successful than I'll ever be.
But what I will say is are they genuinely their picks as the best people for the job?
And is it just a coincidence they're local/Evertonians?
If them being local/Evertonians is a factor, then I say that's nonsense.
We've endured too many years of lipservice and cronyism.
People in very senior positions because they were friends of others, connected with the club, or local.
Called Moshiri out for it in 2016 when he wasn't making the changes necessary. And I'd do likewise with TFG. No more of this nonsense;
brieverton
Player Valuation: £50m
I agree with what you've stated there but think the reality of what we'll see in a few weeks will just be different, that's all.
We would all opt for a complete meritocracy in the appointnents, right across the board but that's rare in all walks of business. Friedkins son is likely to have a significant role at the club for starters. He might be some soccer nerd but he won't be in on merit.
I can't speak to the personal merits of Bell and Downing but a board with them included on it *seems* to me to be a stronger board than one entirely composed of suits from TFG Group. To me there seems to be a greater danger of groupthink in a board composed entirely from the TFG pool than without. Both Downing / Bell have significant personal wealth so they don't have to do it and are not as beholden therefore as others may be.
I'm looking for a strong board with a strong oversight function that keeps all of the executive team in check and working to targets.
OnlyTheBestIsGoodEnough
Player Valuation: £2.5m
More like a Circus I think
Why do they hate us?
pfim
Player Valuation: £40m
It's been 30 years since the last trophy, if these guys are willing and able to steer drastic change then yes they should be considered. TFG need to drag us out of this period of mediocrity, to me that's the most important pre-requisite to sitting on the board.
Having said all of that, TFG will name the board they want and if they're not getting what they want out of the arrangement, they'll change the board.
billypatrick
Player Valuation: £225k
I don’t care personally whether the board is full of Evertonians or not. I just want the best people for the job. When Abu Dhabi took over City I don’t think being a City fan was a pre-requisite for them. Over time they got the best people they could including from Barcelona and their own people. Some maybe don’t work out (I recall someone from Nike as CEO there?) but they cut their losses and keep moving forward. I’d guess the Friedkins will want a presence first and foremost to keep an eye on their investment, driving the off field performance and leaving football matters to others, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Librarian
Player Valuation: £70m
Agree with this.
Hopefully they’re the right choice but I’m slightly uneasy with it.
Just wary about the Friedkin’s been given the misguided impression by some that they need to maintain a local connection and that this is somehow necessary at Everton.
It’s exactly the type of nonsense that the club likes to tell itself.
The art of self preservation is strong in the inner circle of EFC and having a barrier between themselves and accountability would be worrying to me.
Best off starting from a completely fresh perspective if you ask me.
Bob Elstone
Player Valuation: £35m
You hire the best people for the job. Couldn’t care less if they are blues.
Kenwright is the type who’d hire blues or jobs for the boys.
Kenwright is the type who’d hire blues or jobs for the boys.
TFG aren’t business men for nothing 
anyone think colin ching be given a different role or?
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