Bill Kenwright pledges millions to spend - if Everton make the Champions League

Feb 18 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Bill Kenwright, Everton FC chairman _320

BILL KENWRIGHT has promised David Moyes further “millions” to spend should Everton qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The Goodison outfit lead the race to finish in fourth place and earn a crack at securing a berth among Europe’s elite clubs, standing three points ahead of neighbours Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Kenwright and the Everton board has offered Moyes significant financial backing in recent seasons, with the £11.25m arrival of Yakubu in August the third time the club transfer record has been broken in as many years.

Moyes has already suggested the only way Everton can consistently compete at the top level is by spending big money.

And Everton chairman Kenwright has revealed the manager will be given the means to continue building his squad this summer.

“Of course, that is where we all want to be, playing the big clubs,” said Kenwright of the Champions League. “If David gets us into the Champions League I will be crying tears of joy . . .

“And at the back of my head I’ll be thinking money, money – millions. Why? To give it to David to spend.

“We haven’t got the same resources. Spurs spent £16m in just one day last month.

“What we’ve always done, and David would be the first to say this, is try to give him what he wants each close season – by pulling at least one rabbit out of the hat.”

Meanwhile, one of Everton’s 1966 FA Cup-winning heroes, Brian Harris, has passed away aged 72.

Harris, who made 358 appearances for Everton and scored 29 goals, died peacefully in Chepstow yesterday after a short illness.

Bebington-born Harris was a winger when he joined Everton from Port Sunlight in January 1954 for a £10 signing-on fee, but such was his skill and versatility that he would go on to play in every position except goalkeeper for the Everton first team.

Perhaps best remembered as a defensive wing-half, he played 24 times in the 1962-63 championship-winning team and was a member of the team that beat Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley three years later.

Five years afterwards, Brian left Goodison to join Cardiff City and went on to play for, and then manage, Newport County. In total he made 544 league appearances during his career.

At the specific request of his family, Brian’s funeral service will take place at the St Luke’s church adjacent to Goodison Park on a date yet to be decided.