With the recent reporting seeking to cement Everton’s relegation this season, it would be easy to forget that Tuesday marked one of the saddest days in the club’s recent history, losing a key and ever-present figure over the last two decades.
Bill Kenwright’s passing, regardless of how his tenure divided opinions, was a moment that has allowed Evertonians to come together and pay tribute to someone who very clearly loved the club, but at times was misguided in his pursuit of success.
All those who played under him have only nice words to say, with it quickly becoming clear that the 78-year-old did far more for his club and community than he was given credit for.
Obviously an affable and well-liked man, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordon sought to detail the many characteristics that made the Chairman so revered, whilst also pulling back the curtain on some of the difficulties he faced while working alongside Farhad Moshiri.
The former Crystal Palace owner would start by claiming: ‘I think there’s a lot of things that Bill did for Everton that were unrewarded, uncherished at times. I think his commitment to Everton was unequivocal.’
He would continue to speak of his sadness following the news, but did offer the following piece of information perhaps in an effort to justify the tougher past few years: ‘I think, more importantly, if you look at the legacy of his time at Everton, if you look at the decisions he made on the whole, with the exception of the last few years with Moshiri which I think was a very difficult relationship.
‘I can remember Bill talking about it earlier on in the year and saying ‘How have you let this situation develop with Moshiri and what’s going on at Everton?’ He said ‘Well you try telling a billionaire what to do.
‘You try telling him that the best manager is this manager, and walking in a room and finding Rafa Benitez sitting across the table from you, and you’re gobsmacked that even the consideration would be there’.’
How long was Bill Kenwright at Everton?
Having made his money in the theatre industry, earning widespread acclaim for his work on numerous different productions, the Liverpool-born businessman sought to take his fortune to invest in his boyhood club, the dream of any football fan.
Whilst he enjoyed a lengthy spell as Chairman, his relationship with Everton actually started long before, earning a seat on the board in 1989, before increasing his stake to become the second-largest shareholder in 1999.
He would reach full control in 2004, during which he earned the title he would maintain until his death, therefore spending a total of 24 years associated with the Toffees.
His 19 years as Chairman stands as an impressive feat too, although it was expected that his influence would begin waning in the coming years anyway were Moshiri to see his proposed sale to 777 Partners ratified.
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