Everton FC chief executive Keith Wyness quits club

Jul 29 2008 By Ian Doyle

Keith Wyness

EVERTON FC chief executive Keith Wyness has sensationally quit his job at Goodison, it was revealed late last night.

A terse one-sentence statement posted on the club’s official website said simply: “Everton Football Club wishes to announce that Keith Wyness has resigned his position as Chief Executive Officer and director of the club.”

The Daily Post understands the resignation – tendered by email late on Sunday night – took the board completely by surprise.

The timing of Mr Wyness’s departure could hardly have come at worse time for the club, coming as it does on the cusp of a new season and with plans for a move to Kirkby at a delicate stage.

However, the resignation followed days of intense speculation over the future of Mr Wyness, who took over as chief executive in September 2004.

The timing comes amid continuing uncertainty over Everton’s controversial proposed move to a new 50,000- seat stadium in Kirkby, a scheme with which Mr Wyness has been most closely associated.

Although it has received planning consent, Mr Wyness had gone on record as saying that any decision to “call in” the application by the Government for a public inquiry could jeopardise the scheme.

One theory as to why Mr Wyness has decided to leave now is that his close friend, Paul Davidson, who has just taken over ownership of Real Mallorca, wants to offer Mr Wyness a job with the Spanish La Liga side.

Are you sad to see Keith Wyness leave? Where does this leave the club now? Have your say on this breaking story at Everton Banter