‘With Everton’s off-field problems showing few signs of being resolved, David Moyes, the manager, has expressed his fear that the uncertainty surrounding the ownership and direction of the club has deflected from the task of securing Wayne Rooney’s future at Goodison Park.
‘Amid the infighting, Rooney, the club’s greatest asset, has yet to respond formally to an offer of a vastly improved five-year contract worth in excess of £12.5 million and Moyes is concerned that the 18-year-old’s situation is slipping down the boardroom’s list of priorities.
‘“It’s important that we get Wayne’s contract sorted out and I think what has been happening with the board has interfered a little bit with that and we have lost focus and direction,” Moyes said. “That has hopefully been to get some new players and to prepare the team for the Premiership. One of the other things is to see if we can get Wayne Rooney to stay at Everton.”’
The excellent Mihir Bose in the Telegraph reports that things have got so bad that Barclays Bank have become involved:
‘Barclays Bank have called for an urgent meeting with Everton today to discuss the financial situation at the club. With directors in dispute, the bank is increasingly worried about the growing financial crisis at Goodison Park.
‘The club has an overdraft of £5 million (in addition to a long-term debt of £30 million), but are likely to exceed their overdraft limit imminently and the bank needs to know where new money is coming from.’