EXCLUSIVE: Friend to Hollywood stars joins EFC board

Jul 29 2007 EXCLUSIVE: by Jessica Shaughnessy, Liverpool Daily Post

PLANET Hollywood magnate and friend to the stars Robert Earl was last night revealed as the newest addition to Everton’s board of directors.

Robert Earl has already brought a touch of tinseltown to Goodison Park since he bought out former directors Paul and Anita Gregg last year.

Mr Earl’s business partner, Sylvester Stallone, was his special guest to a game earlier this year and it is thought Mr Earl’s other A-list friends, such as Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, will also come to Merseyside.

But fans hope he will bring more than glitz and glamour to the table following his appointment to the board.

With his connections and millions, supporters are already calling on the North London-born businessman to make a huge investment in the club.

The Hendon-born fan first became involved in the club in October last year after he bought 23% of the club’s shares from Mr Gregg.

At the time, it was understood the deal could result in naming rights for the club’s stadium.

Mr Earl became involved in Everton primarily to help Mr Kenwright take a firmer grip on the club after a two-year boardroom war.

Mr Kenwright, who brokered the deal, which is rumoured to be worth £9m, insisted his friend would be a passive investor and described him as “a visionary”.

He said: “His focus on branding and marketing is second to none. That is where he believes, and we hope, he will figure.”

Mr Earl will sit on the board at Goodison Park alongside deputy chairman Jon Woods, chief executive Keith Wyness and chairman Bill Kenwright, who he was holidaying with this week

Founder of supporters group Blue Watch Keith Wilson welcomed the club’s “new blood”. He said: “Fans are so disenchanted with the board at the moment.

“Everton used to be the pioneers of football. Twenty years ago, it had the best stadium. We had the first floodlights, the first matchday programme.

“But now we have arguably the worst stadium in the Premier League. We are desperate for investment and desperation is not a state-of-mind that Evertonians like to be in.

“The board has let things slide in a bad way. We welcome any new addition with open arms. We just hope he puts some serious investment in.”

Mr Earl, who is based in Florida and owns BCR Sports, joined the board a month ago, but the club only officially announced his appointment last night.

In a statement, the club said: “At the board meeting of June 18, it was resolved to appoint Robert Earl to the board.

“All registration with Companies House and the Premier League is now complete and Mr Earl has now joined the board.”

jessicashaughnessy