Gregg names mystery backer
A furious Paul Gregg revealed Lord Grantchester as the mystery backer of his Everton takeover and criticised chairman Bill Kenwright’s conduct on a day that the future ownership of the ailing Premiership club was expected to be decided.
After Everton’s three-man board met on Monday and delayed a decision on Gregg’s proposals until today, the Goodison Park director had expected Kenwright to make an announcement on his own plans, as promised.
But, in growing frustration at a lack of activity, Gregg drove up from his Oxford home to Merseyside.
And, on the steps of Goodison Park, he officially revealed the name of Lord Grantchester, a member of the wealthy and influential Moores family, as the man who will bankroll much of the £15million that Gregg has vowed will be injected into the club.
Lord Grantchester is a former Everton director and Gregg challenged Kenwright to step down as chairman as he had demanded to allow a new board to take over at a club that is between £30million and £40million in debt.
An angry Gregg said: “There has been no decision made, I have heard nothing from Bill Kenwright, and frankly I am disappointed.”
Kenwright, believed to have been trying to put together a package of his own, had claimed that Gregg had not revealed the names and viability of his offer in a way that would satisfy the board.
But Gregg has launched a scathing attack on Kenwright. He said: “I have not received any alternative proposals from Bill on the future funding of the club.
“I don’t understand why. One of our partners has already been announced and it is quite obvious we can provide the funds.
“We have made a proposal, it is genuine. The funds are available and at 5pm today we had no notice of any alternative proposal, therefore the future of the club at this moment is a question mark.
“We have agreed with Lord Grantchester that he would help me form a new board. His family already has a 10% stake in the club and there would be more money.
“I have not submitted in writing, that was not part of our proposal, but surely he can see that the money is there.
“I do not know what the position is now. I just think it is an incredibly sad day for Everton, its fans, its management, its staff and the people who work here that we have no sense of direction. People will feel let down.”
He added: “It is a consideration that I would invest more money, but it is amazing that we have a lot of people contacting us and wanting to invest in the club. Lord Grantchester will have a considerable involvement.
“I am disappointed. Bill is a passionate Evertonian, but this is a problem for us at the moment because the club has no sense of direction.
“Until a decision is made on the way forward, and people can understand that the club is more important, things are very difficult for us.
“I will now think about things over the weekend. Bill hasn’t got any money at the moment, this is a problem we have been dealing with for some while, it hasn’t just arrived.
“It was made very clear to him that the new money would be available only if the existing board stood down.
“Our lawyers have given him confirmation of the new money, that should be absolutely adequate.
“We have not received any alternative proposals from Bill. Now it is a matter of urgency that we should have a decision on how the club is run in the future. Too many people are standing by waiting for that direction.”
While the future of the club is uncertain, it is now clear Kenwright cannot stay as chairman and work with Gregg and his backers.
Gregg said: “There are people who will invest but they want a change in the board. This club needs three new players before the season and we will handle that, there is money that can be found for that.
“There is no truth in what I keep hearing that the manager is under threat. That has not come from me.”
And, in a hint at his future plans, Gregg added: “Legal action is a consideration. We will think over the weekend what is right for Everton.
“Lord Grantchester is as true blue as Bill Kenwright. He has been a director of the club in the past and he and his family have supported the club. You can’t get more true blue than him.
“People just don’t write out cheques, they want to know how it is going to be spent.
“Lord Grantchester will become a director and help find people who will contribute to the future of the club.
“My message to Bill is to think that Everton is the number one. I do not know what is in his mind.
“I do not want to walk away now, I have put my head above the parapet and said what is wrong with the club and now I want to try to find a way to give the club a long-term future.
“Everyone wants Everton to be the best, it is what myself and my wife wanted four years ago when we invested in the club. We haven’t got there.”
