Echo sports editor responds to fans’ concerns

Liverpool Echo sports editor John Thompson has defended the current stance of the Trinity Mirror publication with regards to the issues that continue to blight Everton Football Club.

The below response from John to a concerned Evertonian was posted on the popular Everton fans messageboard The People’s Forum.

‘The comments you refer to from David Moyes are carried extremely prominently on the back page of the Liverpool Echo and also the Daily Post today. The matter is therefore hardly ignored or being down played by us. In fact I’d contend that we have given it more prominence – quite rightly – than any other newspaper or media outlet thus far.

David Moyes’ comments would to some degree at least seem to be at variance with what we printed in September, and which we apologised for after extremely strong representations from the club’s hierarchy who were keen to stress Arteta’s sale had not been forced to fulfill immediate demands of any banking institution. And that we had erred.

As you might expect, I am dealing with that issue now given the turn of events to clarify just what the truth of these matters is.

As for the Chairman’s proclamation that some money will be available for transfers – again a story we published and covered in the Echo – while I understand the grave concerns Everton fans have over available transfer cash, it is with respect still mid January and therefore there is still technically time in the January window for that pledge to be fulfilled.
We shall see.

With regards to the incident when fans questioned the chairman upon his arrival at Goodison last week, that footage, with some introductory words, was carried prominently on the Echo’s website over the weekend. And is still there to be viewed. Again therefore, we’ve hardly ignored it.

Finally, you suggest we ‘owe’ the current regime – presumably a reference to the leaked email exchanges late last year involving a senior executive of the club who has now left EFC’s employ.

As I have stressed to others before, just because someone in any organisation suggests that the Liverpool Echo ‘owes them’ something, it absolutely does not mean that that assertion is true or we accept that is the case for one single moment. And you and others are wholly wrong as such to conclude our compliance and agreement with such a statement.

I know we have our critics at times and we listen to them all with regard and respect. But rest assured we remain firmly committed to addressing the issues which concern ordinary fans of our local clubs. We are constantly asking robust and pertinent questions to provide readers with a full as picture as possible on all matters EFC. But obviously, sometimes we are more successful than at other times in receiving the answers we would like.

We will continue doing our level best to update supporters on matters of genuine and understandable concern. And analyse and comment without fear or favour, as we see fit.

I hope that helps answer your points Martin.

Regards,

John’