Everton CEO wants to thanks fans for ‘unstinting support’

With World Cup 2018 going on it’s easy to forget that Everton as a club continues to function normally in preparation for the 2018-19 season.

Speaking to evertonfc.com, new CEO of the Toffees Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale shed some light on what has been going on especially as the leadership team has just undergone a pretty major restructuring after she took over from the departed Robert Elstone in June 2018, eight years after she joined the Club in 2010.

“We have to make sure we thank our fans. The loyalty they have shown in terms of record tickets sales and selling out hospitality at Goodison Park sums up their unstinting support.

“I’m really looking forward to a positive season. We are doing a lot of work in the background on their behalf, whether that’s the preparation of the training ground at USM Finch Farm, preparation of Goodison Park, or relocating to the Royal Liver Building. We are looking forward to that first whistle going and the first game of the new season.

“Evertonians are amazing. I think it’s really important to thank our fans because last season was difficult for everybody – our staff, our players and our fans. But when you look at the record Season Ticket sales for the season ahead, that says everything about the loyalty of Evertonians because they continue to support us. We have sold every available Season Ticket for the 2018/19 campaign, as well as our hospitality packages, and there is a waiting list, too. That speaks volumes about our fans and what this Club means to them.

“It’s important for myself and our Senior Team to understand the sacrifices people make to be able to afford those Season Tickets and come to our games, and I cannot say thank you enough because it shows their spirit, commitment and love of our Football Club. Together, we look forward to a positive season.”

The Blues added a new Director of Football (Marcel Brands) and manager (Marco Silva) this summer and Barrett-Baxendale is thrilled for them to start working.

“I am delighted how Marcel and Marco have approached their new roles at Everton. They are very committed, they have both settled in quickly, and they have a great understanding of the expectations of the fans and what a privilege it is to work at Everton Football Club.

“My major priority was to make sure they settled in at the Club and had the structure and resources to help them be as efficient and effective as possible. After that, I focused on my Leadership Team to ensure everything is in place to deliver what we require, which is to strive to be the best club and best business.

”We restructured our Leadership Team, adding talented staff to senior positions and having real clarity with fans about their responsibilities as they are the people who work on their behalf every day.

“The priority for me is about leadership, direction and strategy, making sure we are clear on who we are, where we are going and what we need to be successful.”