An Everton supporters' group have responded to an open letter from Bill Kenwright - claiming the response from the Blues' chairman is an "insult to Evertonians."
On Friday, Kenwright responded to an open letter from a group of Evertonian campaigners, under the banner of ‘All Together Now', who had voiced their concern for the health of the 77-year-old and his ability to oversee duties at Goodison Park.
But while Kenwright expressed his gratitude for the worries about his condition, the Everton chairman criticised Blues supporters for the nature of the recent protests towards the board, especially chief financial officer Grant Ingles and Graeme Sharp.
READ MORE: Bill Kenwright releases Everton statement responding to claims about his health
However, the Everton Fans' Forum have tonight issued an emphatic response to the letter, writing: "We've got seven games left to retain our Premier League status. Seven cup finals.
"Evertonians have always done and continue to do everything they can to get behind the manager and the team. Thousands will be up at Goodison Park at the crack of dawn tomorrow to go again. And they'll be back at Goodison next Thursday.
"The tone, content and timing of the chairman's statement tonight is an insult to our great club and Evertonians."
It has been a turbulent few years at Goodison Park under the stewardship of Kenwright, with Everton finding themselves embroiled in back-to-back fights to retain their ever-present Premier League status, while off-the-field the club recently become the subject of an independent commission after the Premier League raised issues around their financial conduct.
In addition to such glaring issues, members of the Blues' board have not attended Goodison Park since the defeat to Brighton in January, such unrest has seen large sections of the Everton fanbase voice their disapproval of the board before each home fixture at Goodison Park.
In his address, Kenwright hit back at claims he was unfit to conduct his role as chairman by insisting "the chairman does not run the football club" and CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale does that and is "amongst the best of the best."
Kenwright added: "The truth is she has to be to deal with what every other Premier League club copes with in a hugely competitive environment in addition to the problems that the world has thrown at us over the last three years and, closer to home, in the last year or so.
"You may think it is not a massive challenge to relentlessly push forward the new stadium currently taking shape on the waterfront. I promise you it is! Financiers amongst your group will tell you why.
"You write that “The rumours tell you from ‘well placed and trustworthy sources’ that investment is imminent.” Right now, that could be half right, a quarter right…etc. But that has been the situation for some time now. Again, those of you that know about raising hundreds of millions in investment will tell you it’s a relentless journey where hopes are built and squashed in a heartbeat…
"But it’s a quest that we undertake relentlessly and we will succeed. We are succeeding. Farhad and myself are on it hourly … along with the Board and its advisors.
"For what you believe to be the best interests of the Club you are committed to the removal of this Board. As you’ve shown.
"For me, the horror of seeing Grant Ingles, our Chief Financial Officer, and Graeme Sharp being attacked is more than difficult to comprehend. Putting your chairman on a bed sheet in a distasteful way is something that, although it hurts, I have to get used to but…Grant and Sharpy?!?! On banners?!?!
"The short window you refer to will, you infer, be helped by the removal of your Board. Have you ever pondered whether your manager and players would agree with that? Whether Frank would have rubbed his hands with glee last year at the thought, rather than rushing to the Directors’ Box to acknowledge where his biggest support had come from? And what about other clubs around us? Are they thinking “the Everton Board has gone… it’s going to be easier for us now!!!”? I’m confident of the answer to each of those questions.
"Finally, there is one indisputable fact. Your Board cares. It’s not nice going through what we have gone through but it hasn’t stopped the workrate, the desire to grow and improve and the loyalty to this Club and to Evertonians.
"I’ve often said that I would never deny the right of protest to any football fan, especially Evertonians. I know, inevitably, your day will of course come. Just as I knew that I would find you a billionaire when the loud and long protests claimed I wasn’t even looking.
"In the meantime, I thank you again for worrying about my health problems. In truth, a week off would be great…but I can’t see it happening…as it hasn’t for many years…
"I wish you what I have wished every Evertonian since I joined the Blue Family nearly seven decades ago…a happy weekend…the season end we all hope for…and a return to better days thereafter.
"Chairman Bill".
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