Earl unlikely to get place on Everton board

Everton have played down the financial involvement of new shareholder Robert Earl, the Florida-based friend of chairman Bill Kenwright who has bought a 23% stake in the club.

Earl, Hendon-born and a Tottenham fan, has become involved in Everton primarily to help Kenwright take a firmer grip on the Merseyside club after a two-year boardroom war with former director Paul Gregg.

Kenwright has brokered the deal which sees Earl buying Gregg - and wife Anita's - stake in the club, but it is nowhere near the £15 (€22.4m) which has been suggested.

Earl is believed to have paid around £9m (€13.4m) for the shares, and is not expected to take a seat on the board.

The shares have been bought by a holding company, BC Sports, owned by Earl - who has made his money in the leisure and casino business.

He helped found the Planet Hollywood chain and the Hard Rock Cafe brand.

Sources at Goodison insist that Earl's arrival will not mean big funds for boss David Moyes in the transfer market or is linked in any way with the club's search for a new stadium.

Earl is believed to have become involved as an investment to aid theatre entrepreneur Kenwright unseat Gregg from the board and to allow him to seek further outside investment.

Previously no such money could come into the club without the agreement of Kenwright, fellow director John Woods and Gregg. The boardroom animosity had halted such moves.

An Everton source insisted: "Bill has persuaded a showbiz friend to become involved, there is no further investment planned from that source."