I'M ALL for reasoned debate, rare as it is, over our proposed move to Kirkby.
For someone who is essentially for remaining in the city of Liverpool, sometimes I'm as mistrusting of the 'Kirkby is Hell' naysayers as I am of the club's constant spin.
But I was disappointed to see that the club's PR machine has shifted onto unedifying and unoriginal critical tours of Goodison Park with acting CEO Robert Elstone.
Now, I'm inclined to like Elstone. He comes across as a nice, forward-thinking bloke who has tried to encourage more openness between the club and all of its fans.
But he has done himself no favours with his recent comments.
During one pithy whistle-stop tour of the Old Lady, Elstone labours the accepted moot point that obstructed views are a pain in the neck.
He follows that up with the old corporate hospitality chestnut, which once again, nobody has ever disagreed with. We all know our current corporate set-up isn't good enough.
It's the next two points which really rankled with me though.
First Elstone bemoans our lack of financial muscle and a billionaire Sugar Daddy. This is an issue which the club should be as consumed with remedying as the stadium.
It is their responsibility to scour the planet for investment and bring in the best people to do it. Whether that's Keith Harris, a man who publicly undermined our potential last week, is now in doubt.
The next bit really irked me though.
'Then he takes me into the away team changing rooms. Cramped and poorly lit, they are as basic as a Conference side's facilities.
'He simply spreads his arms: "Can you imagine Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo all crammed in here when Manchester United come to play? This is just not the standard you would expect of a club in the Premier League."'
Who cares what our away team changing rooms are like? It's not as if opposition clubs can opt not to play us because we don't give them warmed towels and a manicurist room next to the tanning salon with Gucci wallpaper.
I don't give a flying..ahem..what Tevez, Rooney (ha!) and Ronaldo think of where they've got to get changed before a Goodison clash. How is that even relevant?
Many clubs deliberately proffer a Spartan space for away sides as part of the psychological set-up of Home Rule.
Following that a random kitchen from one of the suites is compared to a primary school canteen, along with the verdict that "There's nothing like this in any other club in the league.".
Really? Has Mr Elstone inspected every food prep area at every other ground in the Premier League?
Are we to believe that Craven Cottage, Villa Park, and White Hart Lane don't have any slightly dated elements?
The club was always going to crank up the anti-Goodison agenda as the inquiry into Kirkby begins, but they've made a pitiful start with this.
There is a sadness about the ham-fisted way which Mr Elstone has chosen to labour his points.
Especially at a time when there remains so many legitimate questions over just how perfect a move to Kirkby would be.
We can only hope the club have invested as much time into resolving issues over transport, brand-weakening and the cheapo generic appearance of Destination Kirkby as they have to putting the boot into our cherished home.
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Simon Paul wrote...
Am I the only one who is utterly embarrassed by the whole panning of Goodison?
There is probably a 50/50 chance that the inquiry will find that the Kirkby move is inappropiate and that the plans will be scrapped (until Tesco go to the High Courts of course) and Everton will be priced out of the move. What do these people who slag off Goodison do then? When Goodison is our only option?
Will Elstone and company all walk out in disgust at being forced to work in such empoverished conditions? We can only hope eh?
Oh, and a point about the visitors changies - some clubs make them rubbish on purpose to gain a psychological edge on their opponents, even in new-build stadia. I would hope Everton would do the same, no matter where we end up - I don't particularly want Ronaldo and his mates to feel at home and comfortable when they get ready to play us, the same as I don't want them to feel at home and comfortable on the pitch.
Elstone may seem like he's more "fan friendly" than Mr Wyness was, but even Keith offered a "fans council" when he was first in post as CEO and held open meetings with fan groups....
Posted by: Simon Paul | November 17, 2008 11:24 AM