Thursday, January 1, 2009

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright transfer talk

Everton's role in the transfer market appears to be a peculiar mix of trying to hold onto Joleon Lescott and Mikel Arteta or finding a striker on-loan such as Lokomotiv Moscow's Nigerian capped Peter Odemwingie.

In discussing the transfer season, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said:

"Hopefully we will be able to do some good deals in the January window.

"Nothing makes the transfer window easier. The only thing that makes it easier is the knowledge that you are as one. You can’t be 'got at' if you have total trust between chairman, board and manager."

"David can’t say it often enough, he says it all the time, ‘I know if Bill Kenwright had it, I would have it’. The club has already had my house up and down so many years, and we know exactly where we are at and as long as we are in it together. I don’t think we have ever failed each other on that respect. We know what we need, and we will be working 24/7, just as we were through the summer."

"People forget what was achieved this summer. Because we loaned Pienaar last summer people forget that we bought him this summer. We extended the most important contract of all, which was David’s, and we brought in a remarkable young player (Marouane Fellaini).

"(There were) Several loan signings, which cost a few bob, and I do think that is beginning to bed in.

"We have been blessed over the years when we have made decisions early-on over the summer. This year it was just not possible. It was 24/7, non-stop, but the fact that it was deadline minute on deadline minute doesn’t negate the fact that we made some really good strategic moves in the summer."