Dear Evertonians,
On behalf of everyone at Everton, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy New Year.
There is no doubt that 2021 presented us with a great many challenges. And the pandemic that has hit so many households so hard continues to cast a shadow over our everyday lives - with the latest Omicron variant presenting new hurdles for us all to deal with.
Our postponed fixtures against Leicester City, Burnley and Newcastle United are a reflection of the impact the variant is having across society. The qualities of patience and understanding which fans have shown in abundance during the pandemic are needed now more than ever as we battle this new, more transmissible variant. As has been the case throughout the past two years, the health and safety of fans, players and staff is our most important consideration.
Navigating the latest challenges posed by increased safety measures, revised entry requirements on matchday and fixture postponements have been our priority in recent weeks. That is why, whilst we had originally intended to finalise our plans for the 2022/23 Season Ticket renewal process in order to communicate those details before the end of December, we will now do so when we have greater clarity over the likely impact on our current season of this latest COVID variant.
We enter 2022 in the lower half of the table and with several fixtures to reschedule. There is no denying results in the past two months have not matched the expectations of anybody at the Club. But that does not diminish our determination or focus on ensuring we are stronger as we move forward. And we can also reflect on two rousing performances in December - the hard-fought draw at Chelsea and the thrilling victory over Arsenal in our last home game - which have provided a glimpse of the gutsy, hearts-on-the-sleeve football which is part of our Club’s rich DNA.
As our manager has made clear in recent weeks, the second half of this campaign will be brighter, with key players back fit, new additions welcomed and the blueprint of those unified, spirited and relentless performances to build upon. The passionate support of Evertonians is always appreciated and never taken for granted - and is a vital ingredient in ensuring we deliver on that objective for the remainder of the season.
We are a family club. And whilst families can sometimes hurt - we all want the same thing.
We are determined to deliver success on the field and, following the departure of Marcel Brands as our Director of Football, the strategic football review we have initiated is progressing well. All structural levels of the football operation, including coaching, performance analysis, recruitment, sports science and medical services form the basis of the review. It is crucial that we are thorough and considered in this process - and I look forward to sharing updates on further progress in this area with you in due course.
A key focus for our future is our new stadium, which is progressing at pace. Bramley-Moore Dock is now in-filled, the enabling works are approaching a conclusion and the construction phase will advance further in 2022, with the first section of the concrete super-structure already in place.
The pandemic has halted so many huge building projects across Europe - and it has been a mammoth task to keep ours on track and on course. Indeed, the unique issues presented by our Bramley-Moore Dock site make the progress made on the project in the past 12 months all the more significant - and something we should all be proud of.
I was pleased to meet last month with representatives from a coalition of independent fan groups to discuss a roadmap to further embed tangible and impactful fan governance at the Club. Figures from the Everton Disabled Supporters’ Association, Everton Fans’ Forum, Everton Shareholders’ Association, Everton Supporters’ Club Committee, Everton Heritage Society, international fan groups from Asia, North America and Europe, and Football Supporters’ Association members including the Everton Women’s Supporters’ Association and Rainbow Toffees were represented and presented to me and senior colleagues from the Club proposals related to fan representation at Board level. The coalition of fan groups - or the Everton Stakeholder Steering Group - has clearly worked intensely on this project and it is something I and my fellow board members welcome.
The proposal shared was the culmination of a six-month project - but the start of a journey. And it is a journey I am pleased we can advance, with work now under way on the creation of a Fan Advisory Board, fan representation at board level and wider initiatives focused on making it easier than ever for supporters to shape our future.
As I have made clear throughout the past 12 months, the voice of fans is crucial to the future of our game. And at Everton, that voice is always heard - and will always be heard.
Throughout 2022, in addition to my regular emails, I will be providing a regular column on our official Club website and in every home matchday programme. It is part of an even greater level of communication and dialogue from the Club as we strive to drive Everton on together.
Warmest wishes,
Denise
