Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Moshiri: 'I bought into a great club'

The Toffees' new majority shareholder was joined by a typically effusive Chairman Bill Kenwright in front of the camera after the stirring 2-0 win over the reigning Premier League Champions where he gave his first interview since buying a 49.9% stake in the club.
"I bought into a great club. I felt it today," the 60-year-old said as Kenwright beamed alongside him. "Let's enjoy the day and let's hope we can energise the club.
"I think you can never take over a club," he concluded. "You become part of a club and I hope to become part of the club. I bought into a new family. That's what special for me and I give them whatever I have."
Kenwright, back at the Grand Old Lady after an extended, illness-related absence, lauded Romelu Lukaku for two excellent goals that won the tie for Everton and then paid tribute to his manager Roberto Martinez who has come in for mounting criticism in recent weeks as inconsistent results in the Premier League have kept the Blues in the bottom half of the table.
"I think we have got to acknowledge Rom's goal because it was an unbelievable goal, wasn't it?" the Chairman said. "I thought his second goal was great, too. I thought they were all great today, I thought they were fantastic.
"You know what I thought today, though? What a manager. You can't hide the fact that there's been all kinds of criticism this week [but] he's stood firm and just beaten Chelsea with some to spare."
» Watch the full interview at evertonfc.com
Quotes sourced from evertontv
Reader Comments (89)
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3 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:35:44
After praising Martinez yesterday I'm going for the double by saying fair play to Bill.
if we murder him when he gets it wrong, we have to acknowledge when he gets it right.
4 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:35:54
On the verge of tears.
Farhad sounds a very level headed business man.
You don't get £1.2 Billion by being gullible.
5 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:36:20
As for BK, recommend him a nice retirement home in Monaco, please.
7 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:43:08
If we can win the cup this year this will give us and the new owner a lot of belief. COYB
8 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:44:11
9 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:44:17
10 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:49:13
Time, patience etc......... but let's be positive!
11 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:50:12
Most people in his place, after 10 seconds, would have narkily moved their shoulder and shouted 'would you get your sweaty fucking sausage fingers off me neck, lad, I'm not your bezzie!'
14 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:54:22
Looks like he could mean business though. Good, good.
16 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:55:23
18 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:02:31
19 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:09:33
20 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:12:00
21 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:16:19
"I think you can never take over a club," he concluded. "You become part of a club and I hope to become part of the club. I bought into a new family. That's what special for me and I give them whatever I have."
Future looks bright indeed.
22 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:19:33
23 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:19:34
Bill loves the club and has its best interest at heart but he should be backing off now. Mr Moshiri is the main man, he doesn't need Bill to speak for him! I would love an interview without Bill hanging off his neck.
24 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:20:55
25 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:32:26
He's in it to make money because that's what he does, and I hope that means two things: he won't be falling for Bill's emotional incontinence, and he will put a priority on the team winning football matches, especially in the Premier League where the big money lives.
27 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:47:40
28 Posted 13/03/2016 at 21:52:30
29 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:00:00
30 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:09:00
Perhaps the most relevant part of the interview with Mosh and Bill was when Mosh said something to the effect: "I think we just enjoy the day and see if we can energise the club". Sound words from a wise person!!??
31 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:10:10
Sometimes I'm very critical of Bill Kenwright, whether that's justified or not I'm not sure. But one thing I don't doubt is his love for Everton. I don't care what anyone says, the man bleeds blue.
32 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:11:17
Get well soon Bill.
33 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:12:52
If that's true, then that's just horrific news. But I pray this is not the case. Life is more important than football.
I pray for an upswing in his health. God bless him and his family.
34 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:14:01
35 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:14:46
36 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:18:13
There is no doubt that Moshri is an astute businessman, he will no doubt, if not already become very attached to Everton and in time there will be no doubt that some will call for his head.
In the Six Day War, there was a leader, another Moshe who had a black patch over one eye. He became a great leader of his people even with his one eye. Our Moshiri has gone into this deal with his eyes wide open, he is not blinkered and to my mind will no doubt deliver all that we expect of him and become a great leader and Evertonian.
Of that there is no doubt.
37 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:18:22
Following Everton, it is easy for well placed skepticism to turn into cynicism, given some of the recent history. But it has to be said that the new man hasn't put a foot wrong yet. And a 100% victory record per attendance as well.
39 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:20:36
40 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:26:43
God bless Bill get well soon!
41 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:28:19
As an Evertonian for over 15 years (a newbie), I'll give him the benefit.
42 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:45:07
Then there is the new owner. He is not a luvvie, he is essentially an asset less accountant who has done very well.
If we are very lucky he will not only bring a sophisticated financial approach to Goodison, he will bring an understanding that a balance sheet is not about assets, but literally a balance between assets and liabilities and so defence (whatever that may mean) is just as important as attack.
This Luvvie-Beancounter alliance just might be the football version of
Moneyball.
43 Posted 13/03/2016 at 22:52:47
Mr Moshiri said all the right things and seemed a sound bloke. Either they're really good pals or he'd left a tenner on his shoulder.
Roberto gets a reprieve and is here for the foreseeable. The majority will be understandably annoyed by this one or two of us can stomach it if he learns from his mistakes. If ....
Good luck, Bill.
45 Posted 13/03/2016 at 23:09:45
Your family departed Iran under difficult circumstances and many of your Blue Family have similar family history as we were drawn, inexorably to "Gods Acre".
Perhaps it was never truly apparent to you before that Everton was home.
Perhaps you hadn't been "touched by Everton".
Now you have. So PLEASE, just consider this............
"Evertonians are born, not manufactured.
We do not choose,
We are chosen.
Those who understand need no explanation,
Those who do not understand, don't matter."
Welcome home Farhad..... your journey has been long and arduous...........
ALL Evertonians accept that our journeys are long and arduous, and that is why we treasure our arrival at "God's Acre"..........
47 Posted 13/03/2016 at 23:36:25
48 Posted 13/03/2016 at 23:42:58
I missed those last few words when I read it first time around.
*rubs hands together*
49 Posted 13/03/2016 at 23:49:26
50 Posted 14/03/2016 at 00:17:39
He has taken his time, and with good reason. In Mr Moshiri he appears to have found the right person to take us forward. Heaven knows what hard work behind the scenes that Bill has done to achieve this, and during a time of suspected severe illness too.
He is to be commended, and hopefully the rumours of his demise are unfounded.
Get well soon Bill, God bless and thanks!!
51 Posted 14/03/2016 at 00:21:54
Together with his tenure, his contribution given the sums of money involved in his take-over and cash-out, makes the naming of any re-establishment of a boys' pen a shoe-in as the "BK.... Didn't I Do Well Luvvie Pen".
Hopefully under Mr Moshiri we'll all know what it feels like to be doing well.
52 Posted 14/03/2016 at 00:27:42
Awful game, ruined partly by Chelsea tactics but also ruined by our negative formation.
Chelsea were poor, we were poor but had Rom, that was the game in a nut shell.
54 Posted 14/03/2016 at 01:12:03
55 Posted 14/03/2016 at 01:19:24
56 Posted 14/03/2016 at 01:19:57
59 Posted 14/03/2016 at 01:58:23
I hope he does what he says but lets not celebrate until he does it.
60 Posted 14/03/2016 at 02:27:49
There's still fans that believe this nonsense!!!!
61 Posted 14/03/2016 at 02:45:55
He has also stuck by Martinez despite some obvious and justifiable frustrations from the fan base; personally, I think this is still the right decision, but time will tell. Those that chop and change their managers seem to do far worse than us (on a similar budget).
His crime has been to stand in the way of someone richer to take the club forward but maybe he has now dealt with that too... we have to wait and see how Moshiri turns out.
62 Posted 14/03/2016 at 03:19:19
BUT FFS there can't be one single time that anything gets written about Bill Kenwright without me having to read repetitive vile bollox. Actually sick and tired of it. Hopefully I will get a Frankie Howard style screenplay response, love them too.
63 Posted 14/03/2016 at 03:26:48
64 Posted 14/03/2016 at 05:05:14
'I'm also in no doubt that he is no liar.'
Whether you are pro-BK, anti-BK or somewhere in the middle, you absolutely cannot deny that Bill Kenwright is a liar. I'm afraid the evidence is well against you on that matter.
66 Posted 14/03/2016 at 05:26:56
I hate to say this but that win at the weekend has made everyone forget how poor we have been in the League this year & how our Manager just cannot defend. I for one am not fooled so easily, we need to be consistently top 4 and are never going to do it with this clown. This was another year to do it and he blew it (again).
Believe me I will not be singing his name at Wembley except if someone starts a Martinez out chant. Anyone who doesn't understand that, accepts mediocrity & is happy with the fact that we've let in more goals at home than Villa!
Of course winning a cup is always nice but it's the League position is the one that matters most in my opinion. Consistently 12th isn't good enough! Strangely I've been a strong supporter of Bill but I just don't understand his stance over Martinez.
67 Posted 14/03/2016 at 06:23:06
"I bought into a great club. I felt it today,"
"I bought into a new family. That's what special for me and I give them whatever I have."
As the saying goes "When Everton has touched you..."
68 Posted 14/03/2016 at 06:32:40
Even Mr Moshiri must see through that one. I'm sure he's done his homework and already knows how useless RM is in terms of him being our future manager. To think one good result immediately cancels out all the poor form we've shown all season is naive in the least.
Let's hope our new director has a bit more about him than to fall for that one!
69 Posted 14/03/2016 at 07:28:14
I'll judge Bill's chairmanship as having overseen a number of missed opportunities.
I'm not ready to judge Bill as a person or an Evertonian just yet, though I reckon he's done far more than I have to justify the tag. But he's certainly lied to us on more than one occasion.
71 Posted 14/03/2016 at 08:53:57
I pray that is a rumour and BK fully recovers from whatever illness has been inflicted upon him.
Great interview, heartwarming and for all of BK's natural effusiveness, he bleeds blue; without him Mr Moshiri wouldn't be here and I for one welcome the new shareholder to the EFC family and hope BK is around for a long time yet to show him the ropes.
It looks like RM has at least another season to look forward to, damn it. Well who knows, Saturday might have been the turning point in RM's football education. We hired an apprentice instead of a master craftsman, maybe it's time for him take his final exams and to start repaying that outlay by climbing the league and winning the Cup.
72 Posted 14/03/2016 at 08:57:13
As Cardiff, Blackburn, Villa and, recently, Chelsea fans will remind you, it's MANAGERS and PLAYERS who bring success however much you spend on them. Directors are only enablers.
So is Bill's 'What a manager' the guy to fulfil our dreams? I've always thought not but he's got a super bunch of players together and Saturday showed what they are capable of. I just pray it wasn't a one-off!
73 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:12:54
I can only see this being good for the club,in the long run. I'm also glad we got the result, and the performance on the day (well, second half).
I wonder if we would have all been so buoyant, if we had done what we have several times this season, at home, either played crap, or squandered a lead with minutes to go!
Hopefully, all that is now behind us.
74 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:18:10
Where did I say that?
I demand you point to the specific post!
75 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:26:02
If you've known Mr Kenwright for over 18 months, then you will be able to see right through him.
76 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:43:39
Better late than never, although it's still far too early to be totally convinced. The signs are looking good.
77 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:45:05
78 Posted 14/03/2016 at 09:50:27
So far you seem to be doing and saying all the right things. But introductory words and smiles at winning matches are the easy part. We will have a much better idea of how you intend to treat your new family this Summer. I hope your actions live up to your words in the way that is often rare with new owners.
80 Posted 14/03/2016 at 10:57:01
He appears (so far) very intelligent (hence the size of his wallet), measured and thoughtful. He certainly didn't strike me as a bullsh*ting piss and wind caricature.
I liked' 'energise', 'family' and that he wanted to be 'part of the club' where others might have used more grandiose terminology.
His face was half impassive half amused when Bill was waxing lyrical about 'what a manager'.
I can only believe his final comment about 'giving them whatever I have' was the excitement of the day getting to him.
I think it bodes well that he and Bill have had an eighteen month engagement before jumping between the sheets. Mr M will have had time to make a considered decision and to make plans and (to me) Bill will have looked at Mr M's motives, character, ambition and worthiness. More cynical heads will think differently.
All in all I was impressed by his comments. A long way to go and a lot to prove but a promising introduction.
81 Posted 14/03/2016 at 10:59:27
Before Lukaku scored, he had Deulofeu off the bench, and ready to come on. After we scored, he changed tactics, and what a difference a week makes? Down to 10 men, he replaced Lennon with Stones!!! Maybe he is learning.
82 Posted 14/03/2016 at 11:26:42
However, it was Moshiri's first visit so the cynic in me hopes that the players weren't looking for contract improvements or wage increases.
Hopefully I'm wrong, because when they play like that what's not to like? I still have huge doubts about the future with Martinez and would be surprised if he's there next season.
85 Posted 14/03/2016 at 12:13:41
It's easy to get carried along with emotion, because goodison really was a special place on Saturday night. Let's hope he thought so too, and he even looks at ways to see if we can redevelop it.
86 Posted 14/03/2016 at 12:50:13
87 Posted 14/03/2016 at 12:59:19
Bill has held the club back for over 15 years while he enjoyed his train set moment and sadly now that he is seriously ill he has decided to sell up.
Good luck to him but he is no hero.
88 Posted 14/03/2016 at 13:31:52
Judging by the very few comments it attracted, I'm guessing quite a few on TW missed this very good article from The Telegraph by Chris Bascombe which gives more detail and history of the deal than I've seen elsewhere.
Health warning! He was close to buying into the dark side 10 years ago before Gillet and Hicks took over there...
Everton learn from Liverpool error by pinning faith on Farhad Moshiri
The editors did put the link up here on TW, but not very prominently and on Saturday's match day, so it got lost in the euphoria of the cup win.
I found the piece reassuring and encouraging. And whilst we await the more detailed breakdown of who received what for how many shares and at what cost, and what is the current make up and share distribution of the board and major shareholders, BK may well be due some serious Kudos for brokering this deal.
I remain intrigued to know the back story of this deal in the 18 month time frame mentioned and if the American interest was used by Bill to finally flush out Moshri into claiming a stake in the club.
Any capable TWers out there who know how to source the share dealing and price and percentage holdings of the main players in this deal, rather than the 'guestimates' being offered when the deal was first announced?
89 Posted 14/03/2016 at 13:45:54
....the absolute shite Bill has come out with...
90 Posted 14/03/2016 at 13:52:04
91 Posted 14/03/2016 at 14:04:51
92 Posted 14/03/2016 at 14:11:33
93 Posted 14/03/2016 at 14:28:09
It is the deal BK dreamt of but frankly few of us, self included, thought would ever come about. Bill has got his cake and eaten it. Good luck to him and I hope he recovers well from any illness still has. He deserves too enjoy a resurgent Everton as we all do.
In all good conscience I cannot forgive or forget his actions of the past but we have to go forward because we were going nowhere before, commercially or playing wise.
Whilst none of us have the details of any deal, nor the implications of such, we have to embrace and hope that Mr Moshiri gets the measure of what is required, communicates with the fans, has a vision for the club and a desire to succeed.
BK may well try to railroad him into doing things his way aka the interview, but it would be interesting to hear his views alone.
For now we are sleeping a little easier.....
94 Posted 14/03/2016 at 14:30:52
Perhaps, just perhaps, in years to come, it will be seen in the same light as that Oxford game so many years ago. Surely Bobby and his boys can't revert to type when Arsenal come to town, can they?
That would be just toying with our emotions and there could be no forgiveness, Cup or no bloody Cup, I promise you!
95 Posted 14/03/2016 at 14:59:24
96 Posted 14/03/2016 at 17:31:05
I was in the States during the 1994 World Cup and these bloody yanks were behaving like nothing is happening.
And you expect these type of people to run a football club!?!
They'd run Everton into the ground... just like what they did with their banks.
97 Posted 14/03/2016 at 17:53:26
Having been as critical an anyone over the years, I want to look back in a year and say, "It was worth waiting for a decent new owner, Martinez has learned a great deal and the team is starting to show consistent excellent form."
I am more than happy to put the last 20 years behind us and look forward to a decade of domination of English and European football by Everton.
We'll still be last on MotD, of course.
98 Posted 14/03/2016 at 18:00:05
99 Posted 14/03/2016 at 19:10:35
Think about it!! If we let go of Hibbert, Gibson, McGeady, Kone, Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar next season and bring in the likes of Yarmolenko, Slimani and Januzaj (for example), we are going to potentially have the most lethal front 6 in the Premier League when you add Barkley, Lukaku and Deulofeu to this. It wont matter if we concede 2 goals per game as we would always have the potential to score 3-4+ goals.
Maybe this is the eventual "unbelievable" "special" "phenomenal" team Martinez has been striving for?
102 Posted 15/03/2016 at 05:12:17
I hold my head in hands... that's how you play football.
104 Posted 15/03/2016 at 07:55:24
You wouldn't let it lie!!
105 Posted 15/03/2016 at 08:22:18
I struggled to keep my step daughter still during the first half, she was a budding Evertonian at the time, now fully fledged one, but desperate for some silverware.
At the interval BK motioned to me and offered me and my family a drink. He proceeded to spend the rest of the interval answering any questions we had about the club and talked to my wife about the theatre.
Individual personalities are not always widely accepted, we aren't always privy to the ins and outs of various business deals but one thing is certain in my opinion and it's that Bill Kenwright is a kind hearted individual with a real passion for Everton Football club.
Mr Moshiri will do well to take a pinch of the softer side of our chairman on board during his tenure at Everton Football Club.
I wish them both well.
COYB
106 Posted 15/03/2016 at 10:37:07
What really galls me these last few days is the bizarre thread of logic from the anti-Bill and anti-Roberto brigades that because Everton have had an excellent result; Mr Moshiri has appeared and said some very positive things; and all of us have had a cracking weekend – we who are pro-Bill and /or pro-Roberto should keep quiet and not express any positive opinions about either because such comments are spoiling their weekend!
107 Posted 15/03/2016 at 17:19:04
I wouldn't describe myself as pro-Bill or pro-Roberto really. I think we could be a lot worse off without either of them.
RM does have a lot to answer for for this years Premier League results I would give him the opportunity to do so, next season.
108 Posted 16/03/2016 at 01:45:41
I kind of admire Roberto. He's got some balls.
109 Posted 16/03/2016 at 17:47:47
Last Saturday's game was 13 minutes from a replay before Rom's wonder goal and all of a sudden some fans are tending to forgive and forget what has gone on all season.
I am sure RM will be still be in the hot seat come the start of next season no matter what happens in the rest of this one and given the chance to spend some of the new investment. However, I am also sure that Mr Moshiri will bring pressure to bear very quickly if nothing improves after a few months.
110 Posted 16/03/2016 at 23:00:18
This song has a fine pedigree, a strong message and EFC Rhesus positive blood:
Link
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1 Posted 13/03/2016 at 20:33:14