Not to break confidences from the people I have got to know over the last 30 years but I think it is fair to say that there is merit to the views of those people who have formed an impression that Everton has been less prepared, less urgent and less clearly focused than many other clubs.

There are reasons and mitigations but there are always circumstances and challenges. Excuses don’t really fly in senior corporate roles and I don’t think they should apply here. When they review post window for root causes all of TFG timing of appointments/loss of key people pre window, performance of the committee (individually and collectively) and external market forces will come in for attention.

Before starting that process they need to improve on a clearly sub optimal situation before the window shuts.