Editing Bill Kenwright (section)

==Everton Football Club==
Kenwright was the chairman of Everton Football Club. He succeeded [[Littlewoods]] director [[Philip Carter]] in the role. Kenwright remained on the Everton board since 23 October 1989 and up until his death in 2023. He became the second largest shareholder in 1999, when [[Peter Johnson (businessman)|Peter Johnson]] sold his shareholding after [[the Football Association]] told him to sell his interests in either [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] or Everton.<ref name="tfb">{{cite book|last=Conn|first=David|title=The Football Business|publisher=Mainstream Sport|page=[https://archive.org/details/footballbusiness0000conn/page/91 91]|year=1998|isbn=978-1-84018-101-2|url=https://archive.org/details/footballbusiness0000conn/page/91}}</ref> He became the largest stakeholder in the club in 2004.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

Scottish international forward [[Andy Gray (footballer born 1955)|Andy Gray]] reported in his autobiography that the Everton board were ready to offer Gray the job as manager in August 1997, but Kenwright, then director, had wanted to appoint [[Howard Kendall]] as manager for a third time.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gray|first=Andy|title=Gray matters : my autobiography|year=2004|publisher=Macmillan|location=London|isbn=978-1-4050-4624-4|page=240}}</ref> Gray would decide not to become Everton manager and Kendall was appointed.

===1994 buyout proposal===
Kenwright became involved in a consortium to buy Everton in 1994, as his consortium rivalled [[Birkenhead]]-based Peter Johnson. Kenwright's consortium had assurances from the Everton owner's family head [[Lady Grantchester]] that the Moores family would sell their stake in the club. Kenwright's proposal was dismissed as the "Manchester Consortium" in the ''[[Liverpool Echo]]'',<ref name="tfb" /> as the rivalry between [[Liverpool]] and [[Manchester]] was enough to deter supporters' support. Kenwright's consortium included Manchester-based Tom Cannon, Tony Tighe (who later went on to create the [[David France Collection|Everton Collection]]) and Mike Dyble, whilst building magnate Arthur Abercromby was Cheshire-based.<ref name="tfb" /> Abercromby offered a £2&nbsp;million interest-free loan to the club for the purchase of players.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-van-basten-out-of-world-cup-untimely-diagnosis-for-dutch-international-striker-1426969.html|title=Van basten out of World Cup|last=Shaw|first=Phil|date=4 March 1994|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=17 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

Kenwright, who had been a director at Everton for ten years, had an opportunity to sway the board members to accept his bid but chose not to because he did not want a public relations battle with the more affluent Johnson. Tighe, in an interview with a journalist [[David Conn]], said: "Bill didn't want a public row, that's why he didn't go to press much. He wanted the board to be unanimous. As he saw it, he didn't want Everton's name to be dragged through controversy."<ref name="tfb" /> Peter Johnson's bid was accepted by the Everton board. Johnson installed Kenwright (the half Belgian half English theatre impresario) as vice-chairman and Sir Philip Carter was re-instated as chairman.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

===1999 buyout proposal and True Blue Holdings===
Kenwright's consortium bought 68% of Everton F.C. from Peter Johnson for £20&nbsp;million in 1999. A holding company called '''True Blue (Holdings) Ltd''' was formed in January 2000. The stakeholders in True Blue Holdings included [[Paul Gregg]], [[Jimmy Mulville]], [[Jon Woods (programmer)|Jon Woods]] and [[Willy Russell]] before it was dissolved in 2004.<ref name="tfb" /> [[Mihir Bose]] reported that Anita Gregg lent up to £7&nbsp;million to Kenwright.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2383344/Directors-wife-holds-the-purse-strings-at-Goodison.html|title=Directors wife holds the purse strings at Goodison|last=Bose|first=Mihir|date=22 June 2004|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 September 2009 | location=London}}</ref> Upon completion of the deal, Kenwright said: "Acquiring Peter Johnson's shares is only the first step to restoring a great club to where it belongs – to where it should be. If you are going to run a successful football club you need two qualities: you need to be realistic and you need a plan. I'm realistic and I have a plan."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jan/26/newsstory.sport|title=Dream script for Kenwright|date=26 January 2000|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Ross|first=Ian | location=London | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

In 2003, he attempted to move Everton to the Kings Dock on the [[River Mersey|riverside]] but after a public feud with director Paul Gregg over the proposal's finances and the sale of [[Wayne Rooney]], the move fell through. Gregg had wanted to keep Rooney at the club and Kenwright reluctantly felt it was best he be sold to ease the club's financial burden.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/kenwright-on-the-brink-as-rival-turns-up-heat-554387.html|title=Kenwright on the brink|last=Burt|first=Jason|date=25 July 2004|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=31 May 2009 | location=London}}</ref> Paul and Anita Gregg later sold their shares to Florida-based businessman [[Robert Earl (businessman)|Robert Earl]]. Kenwright's close friend [[Philip Green]] is believed to have helped him secure the club after being approached for help.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/kenwright-turns-to-the-man-who-was-not-wanted-by-mamps-553738.html|title=Kenwright turns to the man who was not wanted by Marks and Spencers|newspaper=The Independent | location=London | first=Alan | last=Nixon | date=20 July 2004 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2891553/Green-comes-to-the-rescue-of-Evertons-chairman.html|title=Green comes to the rescue of Everton's chairman |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Robert | last=Peston | date=1 August 2004 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

===Chairmanship===
On 1 June 2004, Kenwright became chairman of Everton Football Club. On the same day, [[Trevor Birch]] was appointed chief executive officer to replace the outgoing [[Michael Dunford (football executive)|Michael Dunford]]. Kenwright said that Birch would be his "sounding board" and that the new CEO should "dictate the policy of the football club". Kenwright stated that Birch had not been brought in to sell the club, but that a new investor can have his shares as long as they "have money to run the club".<ref>{{cite news|last=Prentice|first=David|title='I want to be Trevor's sounding board'|newspaper=Liverpool Echo<!--|access-date=13 July 2011-->|date=2 June 2004}}</ref> Birch resigned six weeks later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/3901225.stm|title=Everton chief Birch resigns|last=McNultty|first=Phil|date=16 July 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 November 2009}}</ref> He resigned after a meeting with True Blue Holding (Kenwright, Woods, Gregg and Abercromby) where the board opted not to sell the club. Gregg claimed there was a refusal to relinquish control by other directors and that it was preventing progress at the club.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunter|first=Andy|title=BIRCH QUITS; Birch resigns after Blues board refuse to sell club|newspaper=Liverpool Echo<!--|access-date=13 July 2011-->|date=14 July 2004}}</ref>

====Fortress Sports Fund====
In August 2004, it was reported that a [[Brunei]]-based fund '''Fortess Sports Fund''' (FSF) were interested in buying a stake in Everton. Following the public fall-out with director [[Paul Gregg]], it was anticipated that Gregg's shares in addition to others would be sold to the fund. Kenwright and Everton director [[Jon Woods (programmer)|Jon Woods]] were in favour of accepting the investment whilst Paul Gregg was sceptical and refused to endorse it.<ref>{{cite news|last=Prentice|first=David|title=Fortress saga is dragging on; Board split signals further hold-ups<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|date=2 April 2005}}</ref> Gregg believed that the fund under-valued his investment, it was reported that the fund's bid was £12.8&nbsp;million for 29.9% of the club.<ref name="mcnulty-2005-1-13">{{cite news|last=McNulty|first=Phil|title=Fortress may be crumbling|newspaper=Liverpool Echo<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|date=13 January 2005}}</ref>

In February 2005, [[Keith Wyness]] stated that the club had begun to look for other potential investors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blues' new investors|newspaper=Liverpool Echo<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|date=3 February 2005}}</ref> In April 2005, Samuelson stated that "the Fund is completed and registered" but Everton director Paul Gregg publicly questioned the FSF: "As a director I have not received any proof of funds – or that they even exist."<ref name="gregg-fund">{{cite news|last=Prentice|first=David|title=Gregg: I'm not the issue in Fund farce; Gregg's fund blast<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|date=5 April 2004}}</ref> The ''Liverpool Echo'' described the FSF situation as a "farce". Paul Gregg stated that he had been "led down the garden path and that the whole exercise has embarrassed the club."<ref name="gregg-fund"/> Samuelson re-iterated that funds were ready; "The fund is approved and ready to go. I have not received the actual certificate of incorporation of the fund but that is a technicality." He stated that an EGM was necessary to confirm the FSF fund. "As far as I'm concerned it's a fait accompli – subject to the approval of an EGM of shareholders."<ref>{{cite news|last=Prior|first=David|title=Boardroom battle may resurface at Goodison; Gregg lining up rival investment as Fortress deal still not settled<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|date=5 April 2004}}</ref> An EGM was never called and the question of investment into Everton from the FSF fell away from the public eye.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

In November 2005, at the following AGM. Kenwright said that Samuelson "was someone who I believed could have come up with the money, he had his credentials and thought he could come up with a deal that was good for the club&nbsp;... but he didn't, like many many other people, come up with the goods."<ref name="prior-2005-11-25">{{cite news|last=Prior|first=David|title=Search for investment goes on as Fortress fails; Kenwright tells AGM of '24 hours a day' finance quest<!--|access-date=11 July 2011-->|newspaper=Liverpool Echo|date=25 November 2005}}</ref> He added: "I am spending 24 hours a day trying to raise finance for this club. I had a meeting today, three yesterday, all involving money that would dilute my shareholding – but I'm not interested in that."<ref name="prior-2005-11-25"/>

====2004 Extraordinary General Meeting====
By September 2004, concerns amongst fans had grown about the future of the club.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} An [[Extraordinary General Meeting]] was called by shareholders; "''The shareholders of the Company express their deep concern at the current state of affairs in the Company''". It called for the board of directors to resign if they did not address previous motions to the satisfaction of shareholders{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} Kenwright is considered approachable by fans and prior to the EGM he contacted a fan website before the press regarding the meeting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsno.co.uk/comment.php?comment.news.262|title=Bill Kenwright|date=27 September 2004|publisher=Nsno.co.uk|access-date=31 May 2009}}</ref>

====2008 Extraordinary General Meeting====
In 2007, Kenwright said in an interview on ITV that Goodison Park would soon fail to obtain a ground safety certificate and announced that he would like to move the club to [[Kirkby, Merseyside|Kirkby]] as part of a proposal known as [[Everton Kirkby Project|Destination Kirkby]] which included a [[Tesco]] supermarket and a [[retail park]]. The pursuit of this project led to minor shareholders of the club calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting in 2008. After it was confirmed that the EGM would go ahead, [[Keith Wyness]] resigned and was replaced by [[Robert Elstone]] who was promoted to the position from within.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/7542638.stm|title=Kenwright open to 'right' offers|date=6 August 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>

At this meeting, Kenwright revealed that he took business advice from retail industry leaders [[Sir Philip Green]] and [[Sir Terry Leahy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/egm-date-confirmed.html|title=EGM Date Confirmed|date=7 August 2008|publisher=Everton F.C.|access-date=31 May 2009}}</ref> The minority shareholders determined that the club should not pursue the project due to a growing number of concerns. However, Kenwright and the other majority shareholders, using one share one vote forced the resolution to be defeated and the project to proceed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/egm-resolution-defeated.html |title=EGM Resolution Defeated – The Official Website of Everton Football Club |publisher=Everton F.C. |date=3 September 2008 |access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> The project was called in by the Secretary for State and a public inquiry determined that the project should not proceed after hearing evidence from groups who opposed the scheme such as Keep Everton In Our City (KEIOC).

In April 2008, he agreed to produce ''Dixie: The People's Legend'', a documentary on Everton legend [[Dixie Dean]] produced by Liverpool-based company Tabacula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tabacula.blogspot.com/2008/04/notes-from-director-1.html|title=Notes from the Director 1|date=23 April 2008|publisher=Tabacula|access-date=19 November 2009}}</ref>