I am delighted to join you here today at Goodison Park for my first match as a shareholder in Everton Football Club. I also felt it was fitting that my first message was in the matchday programme, with Everton being the first ever club to regularly produce one for home games. Indeed, it is this strong sense of tradition which appealed to me as I discussed the opportunity with Bill Kenwright.
It is testament to the enduring quality and consistency of the Club that Everton has remained in the top flight of English football since 1954. In more recent times this has been achieved under the stewardship of Bill, Robert Elstone and all the team behind the scenes at the Club.
I am here to support them as required to ensure that the Club recaptures the glory days of the past and builds sustained success in the future.
I know a lot of you want to know what my plans are. There is much to be done and things for me to learn, but I can confirm that I have committed to providing additional funds for transfers and retaining our key players to ensure that we have a strong core to build on for the future.
We will also be looking at options in relation to our stadium. Goodison Park has served the Club extremely well but we need to make sure the Club has a suitable stage to perform on for the future. We will review the best options and how to finance, especially as it is likely to costs a little more than the �3,000 it apparently did back in 1892.
Finally, and most importantly, Everton is about great football and winning matches. Good luck to Roberto and the boys against Chelsea today.
Chill your beans. We've got wonga coming out of our ears.
Everyone wet themselves about us messing up signing Lukaku, then about Deulofeu. What happened then?
Despite what people may more increasingly think, we aren't run by incompetent apes.