Andros Townsend said he hopes Bill Kenwright gets “the credit he deserves” should he leave his role as chairman of Everton.
The 31-year-old spoke of Kenwright’s passion and love for the club - though he also acknowledged he has “probably made mistakes”. Townsend also praised former chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale as having been “amazing”.
The attacker, who is set to leave the club this summer, made clear he could only speak from the perspective he had gathered from two years as a Blues player.
Barrett-Baxendale’s departure was announced last week while uncertainty remains over the position of Kenwright, with a club announcement on his future having initially been scheduled for release last week.
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Townsend was speaking to Talksport when he gave his opinion on senior figures at Everton. Following a second consecutive relegation battle, during which there were fan protests surrounding the running of the club, the departure of three of the four figures on the board of directors was announced last week.
They included Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp. Everton said the position of the remaining director, Kenwright, would be clarified alongside details of interim board appointments. That update has not yet been released.
Speaking on Monday, Townsend said of Barrett-Baxendale and Kenwright: “I have only been there a couple of years but I can only speak from my experience. Denise was amazing, she was so dedicated at her job. Bill, I know he has had his stick as well, the fans want him out but again, the dealings I have had with him. Such a passionate man.
"He came in and did a talk at the end of the first season and really just poured his heart out saying how much he loved the club, how much he wanted us to survive, how much it has been in his blood for the last however many years. He is really passionate, yes he has probably made mistakes but that guy cares about Everton Football Club and I hope the fans, yes they want him out, they want new ownership, they want new people in but that man is Everton through and through so I hope once all is said and done he does get the credit he deserves from the fanbase.”
