Director of Football Kevin Thelwell answered questions on the January transfer window and presented details of the strategic framework he has implemented at Everton when he met with the Club's Fan Advisory Board (FAB).
Thelwell, who had given the FAB an overview of the four key pillars at the centre of his planning at a meeting in October, took questions from FAB members about the January window and provided context to the Club's decision-making around outgoing players and potential targets. Everton’s Director of Football also illustrated how enhanced use of data is supporting Sean Dyche and his backroom team and helping him to track progress against the strategic framework.
While giving FAB members an insight into the wider football strategy, Thelwell explained the key initiatives and projects that have been put in place to underpin the framework and ensure all the departments under his remit are aligned in working towards clearly defined objectives.
Those objectives include creating a clear culture, identity, and style of play - a principle-based game model - that is consistent across all Everton’s teams, and ensuring the Club supports its players and staff with the best people, practice, and provision.
Thelwell explained how the revised strategy has been devised in consultation with heads of department from across Everton's football operation and discussed some of the key appointments that have strengthened his teams, particularly in the areas of player development and player identification and recruitment.
Kevin Thelwell attended his second FAB meeting of the season and was accompanied by Everton’s Chief Commercial and Communications Officer, Director of Communications and Engagement, Director of Governance and Senior representatives from the legal and communications team.
Richard Kenyon, Everton's Chief Commercial and Communications Officer, gave an overview of the Blues’ 2021/22 accounts, which were made public on the same evening.
He also explained the Club’s drive for sustainable commercial growth and the increases in values generated for the Club’s main partnership assets including, a Club-record Main Partner agreement with Stake.com. He outlined record revenues from Official Memberships, and several new and enhanced partnership agreements secured in the last 12 months.
Kenyon also confirmed that the Club is making positive progress in discussions with new partners for Everton Stadium and has already secured some exciting deals which will be announced soon.
To support Thelwell's presentation, the FAB were given an overview of Everton's vision and strategy document and how it identifies key objectives for staff across all Club departments. Areas of focus within the document include listening to and engaging with fans through structured dialogue, the transition to and supporter experience at Everton Stadium, maximising commercial opportunities, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and delivery of the Goodison Legacy Project.
Ensuring the Finch Farm training ground remains state-of-the-art, that Everton Stadium is a 365-day-a-year venue, and that the new stadium is future-proofed in terms of its digital and technological offering are also included within the plan.
In response to a question from the FAB, the Club reiterated its stance that it was "disappointed" to hear of the Premier League’s decision to refer an allegation of a breach of Profit & Sustainability regulations to an independent commission for review but that it would not be making any further comment at this time.
A summary of the findings of the latest Premier League Fan Survey was also given, with results indicating significant improvements in Everton's Fan Zone, matchday atmosphere, fan engagement, communications and overall matchday experience. The results of the fan survey will be released in the coming weeks.
To read the full committee summary please click here
The next meeting between the Club and the Fan Advisory Board will take place in May.
