Everton board stay away from Goodison after reports of assault and death threats
In an unprecedented move the Board were ordered to stay away from the match
Last updated 15th Jan 2023
Everton were forced into an unprecedented step of ordering all board members to stay away from their match with Southampton following reports of death threats and an assault.
It's believed death threats sent to Chairman Bill Kenwright and a reported assault on Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale forced the move.
Tensions are running high among the fanbase with the club facing a second successive relegation battle and, while supporters staged a sit-in protest after the 2-1 loss to Southampton.
The PA news agency understands Kenwright this week received death threats via email while Barrett-Baxendale was grabbed by a fan and placed in a headlock as she left the directors’ box after a recent game.
Chants of ‘Sack the board’ rang out around the ground after the loss yesterday afternoon.
It is understood after the recent Brighton game Barrett-Baxendale was spat at, subjected to sexist and misogynistic abuse and her car was targeted by fans as she drove away from the ground.
As a result Kenwright, Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp had to “reluctantly” stay away on the advice of security advisors.
“The board members received the instruction following malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression – at recent home matches,” said a club statement.
“This is an unprecedented decision for Everton Football Club – never before has our entire board of directors been ordered not to attend a match on safety grounds. It is a profoundly sad day for Everton and Evertonians.”
NSNOW, the group organising the protest, which is being backed by more than 67 fan and social media groups plus 21 official supporter clubs, have condemned the threats.
A statement read: “Everyone involved in our campaign and indeed every reasonable Evertonian utterly and completely condemn any threats to any Everton employee and/or officials and directors of the club.”
The group are protesting against what they claim is the failure and lack of leadership at board level.
Owner Farhad Moshiri, in an open letter this week, insisted his and the club’s ambitions were aligned with supporters but stressed manager Frank Lampard and the club’s board retained his complete faith.
“We are all agreed that our current league position must and will improve,” he said.
“The focus of myself, the club and the fans is aligned – a better Everton – and I am confident we can move forward in a constructive and positive manner.
“I welcome the plans for the Fan Advisory Board to host a series of sessions with fans to gather feedback, thoughts and concerns – of which the Forum is a part.”
Hundreds of fans with a number of banners stayed behind after the 2-1 defeat, the majority in the Gwladys Street End, singing ‘Sack the board’ and ‘You’re not fit to run the club’ before eventually departing half-an-hour after the final whistle.