Recently by Edward Bird

There have been several pieces in the paper and on the net about how Everton are ready for a more ambitious/dynamic (richer and more generous) chairman. These abound after a transfer window like the one we just had. And it's true that many Evertonians have become frustrated and angry at our recent tendency to do business at the end of the window.
It has been said that we should not be dependent on selling to pay for incoming players. People have been praying for a sugar Daddy. But I'm not so sure about that. A sugar Daddy is a rich man who enjoys the services of a mistress for money. Until she loses her allure...
Take a look at Manchester City. Do you think that the Abu Dhabi people are long-term City fans who felt impassioned to support their team with money? I think not. Maybe they bought the club to try to make it the biggest in the world because the (arguably) biggest club in the world is Manchester United, and they want to prove how success can indeed be bought. Once they are bored with the game, they will pull the plug and watch it drain. When sugar daddies get bored....
Besides, rich clubs are not guaranteed success. Look at the Manchester United of the early 1980's, the Tottenham Hotspur of the 70's and 80's. Even - dare I say it - look at Everton in the mid 70's. All clubs that had money, but won little with it.
And for all the success of the Big Four, who owes most debt in the Premiership? According to 2007-2008 figures, Chelsea owe £700 million; Manchester United £649 million; Arsenal £318million and Liverpool £300million. Roman Abramovich has written off most of the Chelsea debt. Most of Arsenal's debt (£250million) is to pay for the new Emirates stadium. And MUFC's and LFC's debt accrued mainly as a result of the buyers borrowing to purchase the clubs. With debts like theirs, the top four HAVE to stay in the top four, or they do a Leeds.
And what about Everton? We did well. We made a small profit last year. We do not have an owner who is a super-rich fan - unlike Chelsea. We are not dragged down by debts because of a new stadium - unlike Arsenal. But unlike Manchester United and Liverpool, we don't have owners who have shackled us with enough debt to buy a bank. Nor do we have the honour of calling ourselves the richest club in the world - unlike Manchester City. Instead we have Bill. A fan, to be sure. He could do with being a bit of a Roman and sticking his hand in his (or anyone else's) pocket and stumping up some stake money for Moyes. But he is Blue. Yes, he hogs the limelight; yes he is prone to exaggeration and more. But he is Blue. And for that reason, he is ours. So maybe the way Everton did business over the summer is the wise way. Maybe it's a message for all of us in these debt-phobic months - don't buy what you can't pay for.
And before they court the attentions of rich sugar daddies the world over, football clubs should remember the words of Honore de Balzac:
Behind every great fortune there is a crime.

Thesav

There have been several pieces in the paper and on the net about how Everton are ready for a more ambitious/dynamic (richer and more generous) chairman. These abound after a transfer window like the one we just had. And it's true that many Evertonians have become frustrated and angry at our recent tendency to do business at the end of the window.
It has been said that we should not be dependent on selling to pay for incoming players. People have been praying for a sugar Daddy. But I'm not so sure about that. A sugar Daddy is a rich man who enjoys the services of a mistress for money. Until she loses her allure...
Take a look at Manchester City. Do you think that the Abu Dhabi people are long-term City fans who felt impassioned to support their team with money? I think not. Maybe they bought the club to try to make it the biggest in the world because the (arguably) biggest club in the world is Manchester United, and they want to prove how success can indeed be bought. Once they are bored with the game, they will pull the plug and watch it drain. When sugar daddies get bored....
Besides, rich clubs are not guaranteed success. Look at the Manchester United of the early 1980's, the Tottenham Hotspur of the 70's and 80's. Even - dare I say it - look at Everton in the mid 70's. All clubs that had money, but won little with it.
And for all the success of the Big Four, who owes most debt in the Premiership? According to 2007-2008 figures, Chelsea owe £700 million; Manchester United £649 million; Arsenal £318million and Liverpool £300million. Roman Abramovich has written off most of the Chelsea debt. Most of Arsenal's debt (£250million) is to pay for the new Emirates stadium. And MUFC's and LFC's debt accrued mainly as a result of the buyers borrowing to purchase the clubs. With debts like theirs, the top four HAVE to stay in the top four, or they do a Leeds.
And what about Everton? We did well. We made a small profit last year. We do not have an owner who is a super-rich fan - unlike Chelsea. We are not dragged down by debts because of a new stadium - unlike Arsenal. But unlike Manchester United and Liverpool, we don't have owners who have shackled us with enough debt to buy a bank. Nor do we have the honour of calling ourselves the richest club in the world - unlike Manchester City. Instead we have Bill. A fan, to be sure. He could do with being a bit of a Roman and sticking his hand in his (or anyone else's) pocket and stumping up some stake money for Moyes. But he is Blue. Yes, he hogs the limelight; yes he is prone to exaggeration and more. But he is Blue. And for that reason, he is ours. So maybe the way Everton did business over the summer is the wise way. Maybe it's a message for all of us in these debt-phobic months - don't buy what you can't pay for.
And before they court the attentions of rich sugar daddies the world over, football clubs should remember the words of Honore de Balzac:
Behind every great fortune there is a crime.

There have been several pieces in the paper and on the net about how Everton are ready for a more ambitious/dynamic (richer and more generous) chairman. These abound after a transfer window like the one we just had. And it's true that many Evertonians have become frustrated and angry at our recent tendency to do business at the end of the window.
It has been said that we should not be dependent on selling to pay for incoming players. People have been praying for a sugar Daddy. But I'm not so sure about that. A sugar Daddy is a rich man who enjoys the services of a mistress for money. Until she loses her allure...
Take a look at Manchester City. Do you think that the Abu Dhabi people are long-term City fans who felt impassioned to support their team with money? I think not. Maybe they bought the club to try to make it the biggest in the world because the (arguably) biggest club in the world is Manchester United, and they want to prove how success can indeed be bought. Once they are bored with the game, they will pull the plug and watch it drain. When sugar daddies get bored....
Besides, rich clubs are not guaranteed success. Look at the Manchester United of the early 1980's, the Tottenham Hotspur of the 70's and 80's. Even - dare I say it - look at Everton in the mid 70's. All clubs that had money, but won little with it.
And for all the success of the Big Four, who owes most debt in the Premiership? According to 2007-2008 figures, Chelsea owe £700 million; Manchester United £649 million; Arsenal £318million and Liverpool £300million. Roman Abramovich has written off most of the Chelsea debt. Most of Arsenal's debt (£250million) is to pay for the new Emirates stadium. And MUFC's and LFC's debt accrued mainly as a result of the buyers borrowing to purchase the clubs. With debts like theirs, the top four HAVE to stay in the top four, or they do a Leeds.
And what about Everton? We did well. We made a small profit last year. We do not have an owner who is a super-rich fan - unlike Chelsea. We are not dragged down by debts because of a new stadium - unlike Arsenal. But unlike Manchester United and Liverpool, we don't have owners who have shackled us with enough debt to buy a bank. Nor do we have the honour of calling ourselves the richest club in the world - unlike Manchester City. Instead we have Bill. A fan, to be sure. He could do with being a bit of a Roman and sticking his hand in his (or anyone else's) pocket and stumping up some stake money for Moyes. But he is Blue. Yes, he hogs the limelight; yes he is prone to exaggeration and more. But he is Blue. And for that reason, he is ours. So maybe the way Everton did business over the summer is the wise way. Maybe it's a message for all of us in these debt-phobic months - don't buy what you can't pay for.
And before they court the attentions of rich sugar daddies the world over, football clubs should remember the words of Honore de Balzac:
Behind every great fortune there is a crime.