Keith Wyness admits: Europe is ‘crucial’ for Everton

Apr 30 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON chief executive Keith Wyness has admitted that it is “crucial” for David Moyes’s side to qualify for Europe against next season.

Victory over fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Sunday would have virtually guaranteed Everton’s place in continental competition for the second successive season but after twice relinquishing their lead – the second time less than 30 seconds after going back in front – the 2-2 draw means Moyes’s team could still miss out despite occupying a top-five position for most of the campaign.

However, Everton now face a nervous final fortnight, realising that they may have to take points off Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday if they’re to prevent Martin O’Neill’s in-form challengers from leapfrogging them and Wyness reveals that participating in European competition is vital to how the club is viewed on a global scale.

He said: “We’ve had a record points haul this season but it’s a crucial point in the season, everyone is so excited with the finish that we’re going to have and hopefully we can pull it through – it has been a season with a lot of activity and there’s a lot of talking points which is great.

“It has been the most exciting season since I’ve been here, which is the last five seasons, so it’s great.

“But (European qualification) is crucial in terms of raising the profile of the club because you get talked about in the media if you’re in a certain bracket of clubs and I think that this season we have cemented our position within that group of clubs and I think that we now have that respect.”

The Goodison chief executive, speaking to evertonTV, has already noted the difference the new perception of Everton has had on a business level.

He said: “Certainly around the world we have attracted attention. Every time the name of Everton is mentioned overseas and in the media and on television it helps us. It is now up to us to capitalise on that success and move forward as a club.

“We are doing some great deals just now and we’ve got to push them through but of course success on the pitch is the most important thing.

“In many departments our club is seen as best practice now. And I think that the management team that we have put together now is one of the youngest and brightest in the Premier League and it just bodes well for the future.”

Meanwhile, Ayegbeni Yakubu believes he can become the first Everton striker to score 20 goals in a season since the formation of the Premier League – and fire his side back into Europe.

Everton’s record £11.25million signing is currently stuck on 19 having failed to net in his last five outings.

Defenders Phil Neville and Joseph Yobo found the net against Villa but Yakubu said: “I still believe before the end of the season us strikers can score goals in the last two games.

“We strikers are under pressure when we don’t score but I am used to being under pressure but keep working and I still believe I can score goals.

“For me I still believe I will score 20 goals.

“The back four this season have been doing a great job, a fantastic job and so have the midfield. We have to just keep doing the job and it is thanks to the defenders that we are scoring goals.”