Bill Kenwright reveals how Wayne Rooney tearfully begged to leave Everton

Jan 21 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON owner Bill Kenwright has revealed how Wayne Rooney made a tearful plea to be allowed to leave the club.

The teenager eventually left Goodison Park in a £25million deal to join Manchester United – but only after Kenwright and manager David Moyes had tried to persuade him to stay.

However the talented youngster was determined to leave the city.

Kenwright explained: “I had phone calls and death threats and people saying that Rooney didn’t want to leave the club.

“At the same time I’ve got Rooney – who is a smashing lad – on the phone to me crying and saying: ‘Please, I’ve got to leave Liverpool’. People were claiming I was lying but David Moyes and I had 15 meetings to try and keep Rooney. I’ve worked 15, 16 hours a day and I’ve never understood this thing called breakdown – but you can when you get in some of these situations.

“I was never in a position where I couldn’t take it but it did get close.”

Looking ahead to the Carling Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Wednesday – when attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit, the 62 years-old said: “If we beat Chelsea and get to the Carling Cup final at Wembley, it will be the biggest thing ever in my life. Bigger than any award, bigger than any first night.

“If I am sitting in that box at Wembley on February 24, my heart will be bursting out of my chest. I am scared stiff just thinking about it.”

Lifelong Evertonian Kenwright has seen some dark times during his time at Goodison, but believes Moyes is steering the club in the right direction.

Reflecting on his decision to take over ownership from Peter Johnson in 1999, Kenwright added: “I bought into it because I thought it was a football club that needed help. It needed a sort of spiritual help.

“We went through bad times – we had a police cordon around the directors’ box and I was told I could come to the game in an armoured car.”

Moyes, who has been at Everton for six years, is out of contract at the end of next season, but talks are already underway over a new deal. And Kenwright is keen to see the dynasty continue.

He explained: “People talk about stability but it’s not that – it’s the fact that David Moyes is the best.

“The thing about David is he is a winner. When he sat on my sofa when we first met at 1am, he mentioned the word ‘win’ 17 times in 50 seconds.

“And I knew within three minutes that he was our man. I wouldn’t be surprised if he creates an Alex Ferguson-type dynasty.

“I know two things about him. I know he is totally committed to Everton and I know he wants to win and he doesn’t feel he has done that yet. But what he has done is extraordinary.”

But while the team is thriving on the pitch – and controversial plans for a move to a new stadium in Kirkby continue apace off it – the club remains in the market for some serious investment as has been enjoyed by some of their rivals. Kenwright has previously stated he would stand aside if the right investor could be found, but the supporter in him would love to continue to play a part in the club’s future.

He says: “I don’t think I’ve been a bad chairman. But have I thought about whether I can get through another season? Yes.

“But then how would I live without it? This club is a needle in my arm – I’m an Everton junkie.”