Everton’s board of directors stay away from Goodison Park for Arsenal game

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri and the club’s board will once again stay away from Goodison Park for Saturday lunchtime’s fixture with Arsenal on security grounds.

With fan dissent growing as the club fights relegation from the Premier League, Sky Sports reported the club’s hierarchy are not expected to be present for the game.

Supporters staged another protest against Moshiri and the club’s ownership in the streets around Goodison Park ahead of the match. 

One banner depicted majority shareholder Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright and director Denise Barrett-Baxendale as clowns. 

BT Sport requested an interview with a member of the Everton hierarchy to discuss the ongoing problems at the club but were told nobody was available. 

A banner depicts Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, chairman Bill Kenwright and director Denise Barrett-Baxendale as clown as further protests were held ahead of the Arsenal game

The club’s hierarchy have stayed away from Saturday’s game on safety grounds 

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri (left) and chairman Bill Kenwright (right) will stay away from Saturday’s match against Arsenal amid security concerns

Sean Dyche will take charge of his first game as Everton manager against the league leaders, with the Toffees second bottom of the Premier League table and two points from safety. 

The Everton ownership also stayed away from their last home fixture against Southampton, which ended in a 2-1 defeat, because of security concerns. 

Fan anger has only grown with the £40million sale of star asset Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United during the January transfer window. 

Meanwhile, no players were brought in during the month to help new manager Dyche, who replaced Frank Lampard, in the fight against relegation. 

The tema’s last win came back on October 22 and they have lost eight of their last nine matches, crashing out of both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup in the process. 

Supporters descended on the club’s Finch Farm training ground in the week after the club failed to sign a new striker in the closing hours of deadline day. 

Owner Farhad Moshiri had promised in a video recorded on January 19 that Everton would ‘sign a striker’.

But despite looking at a number of options, there was still no sign of the new face they so desperately need arriving. 

Banners reading ‘sack the board’ are held up outside Goodison as supporters again protest

Supporter anger has grown amid a lack of investment and another relegation fight for the club

Everton will face a severe test against league leaders Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime

New manager Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, the club’s Director of Football, were still at the facility at 9.20pm.

The pair were hoping to find a solution for a team that has only scored two goals or more twice in the 20 Premier League games they have played this season.

To that end, Everton made a late attempt to sign French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from Palace.

Mateta, 25, has been generally out of favour at Selhurst Park this season, only scoring once in 19 appearances in all competitions and only starting three Premier League games. 

Angry Everton supporters protested at their Finch Farm training base on Tuesday evening

Owner Farhad Moshiri had promised that the club would sign a striker, but they failed to do so 

Despite the problems off the field, Dyche said he is relishing the opportunity to take charge of Everton and try and save them from relegation. 

‘I will have that game-day anxiety — are the players going to deliver what we have been working on — but there will be excitement,’ said Dyche, whose new club are battling relegation for the second season in a row. 

‘It’s Everton. I know the history. I am proud to be here. Imagine the chance I have to play my part. It is a hard situation but I’m still excited.’ 

Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche has taken over as boss after Frank Lampard was sacked