Chris Matheson MP being gagged by Elstone, EFC shareholders meeting moved to the Winslow pub

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If he does I'm embarrassed at the way some of the weapons on here talk about him being a fraud etc.

As a side note, well done to the Echo (for a change) for publishing the story. It's the sort of thing we've accused them of covering up in the past.

Agree with everyone else though. Hoped these sort of episodes were in the past. The sooner we get rid of the old guard the better.
As a smart businessman I'm sure he'll have dealt with his fair share of bells on the way to the top, though I do hope his 'readers' understand our humour during the transfer windows and such!
 
Correct me if I'm wrong - but is the assumption here that Everton have banned a fan, a season-ticket holder from the stadium because he dared to query/investigate football governance?

Perhaps there's more to it than we know?

From what I've read/heard, the club objected to Matheson speaking at the Shareholders Association (EFSA) meeting, and this objection is seemingly based on his previous well-publicised comments about Philip Green involvement at Everton. I'm not sure about a 'ban' per se. There doesn't seem to be any indication that he's had his season ticket rescinded, nor should there be - he's a well respected local MP, who just happens to be a passionate Blue and who used Green as an example during a Parliamentary debate. The club not allowing EFCSA to hold their meeting at Goodison also smacks of additional censorship. EFCSA are releasing a statement on their website later today, so we'll probably know more then.

Elstone has always disliked the EFCSA, if you think back to their infamous 41 questions for the club to answer in relation to how it was run, back in November 2015, and which Elstone refused to answer at the AGM. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...n-fc-shareholders-assocation-release-10483967 and the fallout here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...shareholders-association-appeal-bill-10827696
 
More is coming out now: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...everton-supporting-mp-chris-matheson-12642075

Everton-supporting MP Chris Matheson reveals dismay at Goodison snub
The season-ticket holder says he was upset at suggestions he is 'anti-Everton'


MP Chris Matheson has spoken of his dismay at being prevented from speaking at an Everton Shareholders Association event at Goodison Park.

The Chester MP, who is a Blues season-ticket holder, was scheduled to appear at the forum tomorrow evening , until shareholders were informed that his presence meant the club would no longer host the event.

Mr Matheson says he decided to withdraw to spare the club and shareholders further "embarrassment" but said he was unhappy at suggestions he has an 'anti-Everton' agenda.

Last October Mr Matheson accused controversial retail tycoon Sir Philip Green of once being a shadow director of Everton.

He made the allegation during a Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the governance of football.

Earlier today the Shareholders Association issued a statement explaining why tomorrow's forum had been switched to the Winslow Hotel pub.

It said that the decision came after a conversation between Mr Matheson and Blues chief executive Robert Elstone.

Mr Matheson told the ECHO that he was upset at the circumstances surrounding the late objection, and had intended to discuss issues around disability in stadiums and homophobia in football, as well as football governance.

He added that he still hopes to resolve the matter with Mr Elstone.

He said: "Obviously I was disappointed that the invitation was withdrawn and I felt it it was the right thing to withdraw myself and save further embarrassment for the shareholders and the club.

"I take particular exception to allegations that I am 'anti-Everton' though, considering that I am a fourth generation Evertonian on both sides of my family and attended my first game at the age of three in 1971.

"I had been planning to talk about some of the work carried out by the select committee; particularly on football governance and the FA structures in place. I also wanted to talk about the reports about homophobia in sport and especially disability access to stadiums, bearing in mind discussion about a possible new stadium for the Blues in the future.

"I was grateful that the chief executive returned my call to discuss his reservations and although we disagreed, I hope to meet with him soon to get to know each other better."

The forum will go ahead tomorrow from 7pm, with Alan Myers, journalist and former Head of Communications at Everton, as guest speaker.

The Shareholders’ Association holds a number of free forums for its members throughout the year.

Although the forums are free to attend for members, they also welcome anyone to attend who has an interest. There is no entrance fee but attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for the Foodbank.

-----------------------------------------------
Been saying this for years, for many reasons, but Robert Elstone has got to go. An embarrassment to our great club.
 
Chris Matheson, Labour MP for Chester and an EFC season ticket holder, stood up in Parliament last October and during a debate, used parliamentary privilege (the ability to say stuff within the confines of parliament without being sued for slander) to state that Philip Green had been a shadow director of Everton: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/philip-green-was-everton-shadow-12036635

Fast forward to last week. The Everton Shareholders Association announced that their latest meeting tomorrow would be held (as per usual) at Goodison Park, and that Matheson would be a guest speaker.

Robert Elstone wasn't having any of that and put the kibosh on it. And told the Shareholders Association that they'd have to hold their meeting elsewhere too. And after Matheson had talks with Elstone, he's dropped out of speaking completely now, basically to keep the peace. The Shareholders Association meeting is now taking place at the Winslow pub instead.

What exactly does Elstone and the club want to hide? Why object to someone - a local MP and a season ticket holder of the club too - speaking? Embarrassing stuff from Elstone and the club.

Story on it here:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-issue-chris-matheson-mp-12640976

I thought we'd moved past all this silliness with the arrival of Moshiri but it seems not. Seems like the relics of the past don't want the past discussed.

Massive joke.
No transparency from the club, hope they would have moved past this under Mosh's stewardship

I think this is perfectly understandable from Elstone...wrong, but understandable...and I dont think he'd make the decision on it either.

I really doubt the club under whatever regime are chuffed that a Parliamentary sub-committee was broadcast discussing club business on shadow directors. And Moshiri wont want to be seen to be taking a neutral stance on it, because his dealings might get the same treatment in years to come and he wont want his successor allowing it to happen.

Bottom line: we dont have any friends in the boardroom. None.
 

I think this is perfectly understandable from Elstone...wrong, but understandable...and I dont think he'd make the decision on it either.

I really doubt the club under whatever regime are chuffed that a Parliamentary sub-committee was broadcast discussing club business on shadow directors. And Moshiri wont want to be seen to be taking a neutral stance on it, because his dealings might get the same treatment in years to come and he wont want his successor allowing it to happen.

Bottom line: we dont have any friends in the boardroom. None.

the sooner there is fan representation on the board the better.
 
Elstone is the biggest threat to the integrity of Everton FC, moreso than Kenwright, always has been and always will be, we need shot of him as early as possible, should have happened a long time since..

He's the prefect employee and I doubt he'll go anywhere anytime soon. He manages to draw the fire from fans when absolutely anything does not go to plan from catering to ticket office to transfers. For an organisation in the public eye having one scapegoat for absolutely everything is priceless and is probably partially why he's paid so much, no other senior accountant with a track record like his (which is quite impressive pre-Everton) would accept being such a laughing stock.

I'm not defending him by the way, I just think it's not an accident that he gets credit for every unpopular decision made by the club.
 
He's the prefect employee and I doubt he'll go anywhere anytime soon. He manages to draw the fire from fans when absolutely anything does not go to plan from catering to ticket office to transfers. For an organisation in the public eye having one scapegoat for absolutely everything is priceless and is probably partially why he's paid so much, no other senior accountant with a track record like his (which is quite impressive pre-Everton) would accept being such a laughing stock.

I'm not defending him by the way, I just think it's not an accident that he gets credit for every unpopular decision made by the club.
This.

He's part of the Deloitte cosa nostra too - alma mater of Moshiri. These lads have each other's backs.
 

He's the prefect employee and I doubt he'll go anywhere anytime soon. He manages to draw the fire from fans when absolutely anything does not go to plan from catering to ticket office to transfers. For an organisation in the public eye having one scapegoat for absolutely everything is priceless and is probably partially why he's paid so much, no other senior accountant with a track record like his (which is quite impressive pre-Everton) would accept being such a laughing stock.

I'm not defending him by the way, I just think it's not an accident that he gets credit for every unpopular decision made by the club.

There's something to this, in the sense that he is a very convenient shield for those above him in the chain of command (i.e. Kenwright, and I suppose Moshiri now).

However, Elstone IS the CEO. He is in charge of a lot of the day to day running of the club. It's been his decision to keep the Kitbag deal in place and to keep the Chang sponsorship in place. There's been enough leaked emails over the years to show the type of CEO he is.

He's quite clearly vindictive. He's been very uncooperative with EFCSA for years now (see links above) and he clearly didn't like Matheson's comments last year about Green and didn't want to give him the platform to say them again.

Personally, I think it's this - if a few vocal fans groups make the Green claims, he can brush them off as 'know-nothing fans', engaging in conspiracy theories. But a well respected MP saying it - in a high profile, national manner.... well, that's not so easy to sweep under the carpet. Hence him trying to suppress it in this manner. Why the club can't just be honest and up front about things - things which many of us believe are in the past (or are they?), when we've got a new largest shareholder in place, is something that continues to baffle.
 
There's something to this, in the sense that he is a very convenient shield for those above him in the chain of command (i.e. Kenwright, and I suppose Moshiri now).

However, Elstone IS the CEO. He is in charge of a lot of the day to day running of the club. It's been his decision to keep the Kitbag deal in place and to keep the Chang sponsorship in place. There's been enough leaked emails over the years to show the type of CEO he is.

He's quite clearly vindictive. He's been very uncooperative with EFCSA for years now (see links above) and he clearly didn't like Matheson's comments last year about Green and didn't want to give him the platform to say them again.

Personally, I think it's this - if a few vocal fans groups make the Green claims, he can brush them off as 'know-nothing fans', engaging in conspiracy theories. But a well respected MP saying it - in a high profile, national manner.... well, that's not so easy to sweep under the carpet. Hence him trying to suppress it in this manner. Why the club can't just be honest and up front about things - things which many of us believe are in the past (or are they?), when we've got a new largest shareholder in place, is something that continues to baffle.
Ha Ha.

Yep, that was very careless of you.
 
There's something to this, in the sense that he is a very convenient shield for those above him in the chain of command (i.e. Kenwright, and I suppose Moshiri now).

However, Elstone IS the CEO. He is in charge of a lot of the day to day running of the club. It's been his decision to keep the Kitbag deal in place and to keep the Chang sponsorship in place. There's been enough leaked emails over the years to show the type of CEO he is.

He's quite clearly vindictive. He's been very uncooperative with EFCSA for years now (see links above) and he clearly didn't like Matheson's comments last year about Green and didn't want to give him the platform to say them again.

Personally, I think it's this - if a few vocal fans groups make the Green claims, he can brush them off as 'know-nothing fans', engaging in conspiracy theories. But a well respected MP saying it - in a high profile, national manner.... well, that's not so easy to sweep under the carpet. Hence him trying to suppress it in this manner.

I just don't buy that at all. Was it his choice to bring in USM as sponsor of Finch Farm? I suspect it was Moshiri, and if that's the case how can you say with certainty that Elstone brokered all previous deals and not the previous owner? Or some other interested party?

In my opinion he rubs people up the wrong way but he acts on instruction and takes the resulting flak as if it were all his own idea so that he can keep his job, unlike his predecessor who had enough and stopped toeing the line.
 

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