Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed it would be counter-productive to reshuffle the club’s board to include fans.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted there is already enough oversight at the executive level, with all focus needing to go on securing a takeover deal for the Merseysiders.
Some Everton fans have called for more independent involvement on the club’s board in the wake of the struggle to complete a takeover at the club.
The Toffees and owner Moshiri has seen both 777 Partners and The Friedkin Group pull out of a takeover deal in recent months.
Moshiri took a 49.9% stake at Everton in 2016 and increased his shareholding to 94% in 2022.
Everton should not re-shuffle board to include fans, says Wyness
With personal experience in putting supporters in the boardroom, Wyness claimed doing so at Everton could create “pariahs” in the fanbase.
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He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Moshiri has obviously not covered himself in glory with the 777 issue and the way the transaction happened.
“That has raised questions over whether he needs some help and assistance with the way things are going.
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“But it also raises the question over whether fans can play a role on the board – and that’s a bigger issue.
“Back in my days in Aberdeen, I put a fan on the board. I found the experience to be not as good as we thought it would be.
“In reality, they don’t have skin in the game financially. There’s also boardroom confidentiality, which means they can’t report back fully to the fans.
“It leaves them in a very difficult position.
“This fan, who had been a great bellwether – suddenly became a pariah.
“He couldn’t really tell them everything that was happening.
Everton
“I don’t think it would be the right thing for Moshiri, there is enough oversight as it is.
“The main thing should be focusing on getting this deal done.”
In other news, expected winner named in Everton & Aston Villa race for midfield target.
