Graeme Sharp dismisses Everton return chances in blunt interview after board exit
In an interview with The Scotsman, Graeme Sharp has suggested it is unlikely he will end the absence that started amid peaceful supporter protests against the Everton board he sat on
Graeme Sharp has played down the chances of a return to Goodison Park. The 64-year-old, an Everton legend who this weekend, 40 years ago, scored a stunning volley in a Merseyside derby win at Anfield, has not attended the Grand Old Lady for more than 18 months.
Asked whether he would end that absence, which started amid protests against the club board he sat on at the time, he said: “I just think too much has gone on. It’s not the same.”
In an interview with The Scotsman, Everton’s greatest living goalscorer pointed to the crisis of January 2023 as the reason he had stayed away. At the time, the club was engulfed in turmoil as a terrible run of form looked set to carry the Blues into a second desperate relegation battle.
Concerns over how the club had been run during the Farhad Moshiri era, and before that, led to peaceful protests against the board. This was before the extent of the problems were laid bare by further years of huge losses and two unprecedented points deductions.
Sharp had been a non-executive director for 12 months at the time and was the subject of criticism for the state of the club alongside fellow board members, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chairman Bill Kenwright and finance chief Grant Ingles.
Those board members were said by the club to have been advised not to attend a game against Southampton during that January, due to what were alleged to be “credible” concerns over their safety. Merseyside Police later confirmed the force had not been made aware of any “threats or incidents” at the time.
Since then, Sharp has remained absent. “I just think the way things happened … it’s a difficult one. To be treated the way we were, was awful,” he told The Scotsman. “People don’t know what went on but they were quick to make a judgement and could not be further from the truth. I just think the stick that I got was totally undeserved, and I thought – nah, I don’t need it.”
Sharp, who along with Barrett-Baxendale and Ingles formally left their roles the following summer, gave an interview with the Mirror at the time, in which he praised the work of Barrett-Baxendale and said it was “unfair” for her to be “targeted”.
He added: “I don’t want to miss games, Everton is in my blood. Of course, fans can have their say and I can understand the frustrations, but some of the protests have gone over the top.”
This week, he said he had been invited back by friends and still has season tickets “but I don’t see myself going back”.
His comments come with Goodison in the midst of celebrations to mark its final season hosting football before Everton move to their new waterfront home, and with the looming anniversary of the achievements of the great 1984/85 side he helped lead to the league title and the Cup Winners Cup.
Of the potential for any official reunion at the Grand Old Lady, he said: “It will be interesting, because no doubt this 40-year celebration, the lads will all be back out for the last game of the season. But not for me, I don’t think. Not for me.”
Sharp said he had turned down invitations to go to Finch Farm from current manager Sean Dyche and concluded: “There might be one day when I wake up, and go, you know what, I am going to do it. But I can’t see me (doing that). I appreciate everyone trying to get me there. I just think too much has gone on. It’s not the same.”