An Everton fans' group has announced plans to stage a protest at the club's home match against Arsenal.
Organisers are calling on Blues to support their campaign against how the club is run. Calls for a peaceful 'sit-in' after the Arsenal match follow an open letter to majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri that was published last month and which urged him to address their concerns.
The protest is being led by the NSNOW group, formerly known as the 27 Campaign. The group led calls for a walkout of Goodison Park against the same opponents in December 2021.
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A spokesperson for the group, the name of which is a play on Everton's motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, said: "We recognise asking supporters to protest when the team need all the support that Blues can offer is sensitive for some. Thus we are wanting a peaceful protest immediately after the lunch time Arsenal game on February 4. We are asking for the widest possible participation. It's important that the owner and the board realise that for many Blues, how the club has been run for years on and off the pitch, is not good enough. Despite the £100s of millions thrown at the club our competitive position declines year after year. Only Farhad Moshiri can arrest this decline by making the necessary changes at board and executive level. Failure to do so will, in our opinion, continue and accelerate the decline of our great club."
The group said it had not received a response to its open letter of last month and therefore felt a peaceful protest was the only "course of action". It added NSNOW remained in support of the players and Everton manager Frank Lampard. The open letter, released one year on from the first protest, expressed concern at the club's performance over recent seasons and called for changes to be made, including the exits of chairman Bill Kenwright and chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale. While acknowledging the financial commitment of Mr Moshiri, it added: "Not only do we call for engagement and communication, but more importantly action. Action that will reverse the continued decline of our great football club."
During those 12 months Everton have changed manager and sporting director, narrowly avoiding a fall to the Championship under Lampard. Everton's board point to a strategic review into the club's football operation as having sparked a cultural reset that included the appointments, and work since, of Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell. More than 20 new appointments have been made and the system at Finch Farm overhauled as part of changes those at the top of the club hope will help a drive towards sustainable progress. Mr Moshiri released two of his own open letters in the summer. The first reflected on his time at the club and included the line: "Mistakes have been made and for that I want to apologise to all of you. It has not been good enough and we need to do better." A second addressed speculation surrounding his ownership, which he responded to by insisting Everton was not for sale.
The announcement of a fresh protest comes with Everton facing an important January both in the league and in the transfer window. Lampard is clear in his belief progress is being made on the pitch, acknowledging there will be difficult times but that he is working to take the club forward on the pitch. Everton spent the World Cup break perched just one place and one position above the relegation zone and defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day created additional concern of another battle for survival.
A draw at Premier League champions Manchester City on New Year's Eve provided Lampard and his team with a platform to build on in 2023, however, and the team begins the year still one point above the bottom three but also just two points off thirteenth-placed Leicester City. They face Brighton and Hove Albion next in a game that will be crucial to setting the tone for the coming weeks.
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