Three senior Everton directors have left the club after a season of turmoil on and off the pitch.
Chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale and fellow board members Graeme Sharp and Grant Ingles have all departed with immediate effect ahead of what is expected to be a summer of change at Goodison Park.
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Everton say all three resigned from their positions.
The club’s board, including chairman Bill Kenwright, have not attended a game at Goodison since January, with officials citing apparent safety concerns. Kenwright’s fate is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Disgruntled fans have protested about the running of the club in recent months, with the Altogether Now group among those to regularly demand change.
In the meantime, majority owner Farhad Moshiri has pressed ahead with his search for fresh investment into the club.
Keen to plug a shortfall in the financing of the club’s £760million stadium development, Moshiri last month entered into an exclusivity agreement with US-based MSP Sports Capital, who are interested in a potential minority stake.
As The Athletic has previously reported, MSP are expected to take a number of seats on Everton’s new-look board.
An announcement on interim board appointments and the future of Kenwright is expected later this week.
“We have all been fully committed during our time here and are disappointed to have made the decision to leave Everton,” a statement from Barrett-Baxendale, Sharp and Ingles said.
“We have worked tirelessly alongside our chairman in what has been a challenging period to deliver some of the most significant projects in Everton’s history – projects that will safeguard and sustain the commercial future of the club for generations to come.
“We are proud of the commercial growth projects progressed during our time on the board, including the construction of the club’s new waterfront stadium. This construction project — the largest currently on site in the UK — is progressing at pace.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as directors. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us during our time here. We wish the club we have loved to serve every success in the future.”
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Meanwhile Kenwright, whose own future remains shrouded in doubt, paid tribute to Barrett-Baxendale’s work during her time at the club.
“This has been a great board who have all worked tirelessly for the club, no matter what the circumstances,” he wrote.
“My relationship with Denise has been known as one of the closest in football. I thank her for her many achievements, particularly her magnificent work in respect of our new stadium.”
Everton finished the Premier League season in 17th, securing safety on the final day thanks to a 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
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