BIG TWO MISS BLUES’ D-DAY

BY

EVERTON’S disastrous season will come to a conclusion today – with their chairman banished to his home watching the TV and a legendary player entertaining his grandkids.

Both would normally be occupying seats in the directors’ box.

But, after protests reached fever pitch following the 4-1 home defeat against Brighton on January 3, the club were advised to tell chairman Bill Kenwright, former striker Graeme Sharp, owner Farhad Moshiri and other executives to stay away.

Moshiri was never a regular at home games, but, for Kenwright and Sharp (above right), it was like chopping off their right arms.

Now, Kenwright has to watch home games on the matchday TV feed, courtesy of the BBC, in his living room.

Sharp – bemused and deflated by the criticism which has come his way when he does not have the final say in the boardroom decisions – will often content himself by playing with his grandchildren.

Sharp’s legacy is there for all to see in the huge portrait of him in his pomp on the back of one of the stands.

It registers the fact that, from 1980 until 1991, then-boss Howard Kendall’s all-conquering side snapped up silverware, including two titles, and that in 446 appearances Sharp scored 159 goals.

His bonhomie and humility in his role as a club ambassador and life president have been badly missed on match days at Goodison, along with Kenwright’s largesse.

There is a chance that neither will ever return to their spiritual home following the hurt of the past five months, which has forcibly turned them into outcasts.

While Moshiri will sell up at the first viable opportunity and move on to pastures new, the bond between club, Sharp and Kenwright has been strained – but not broken.

It is why relegation would hurt them just as much as any rabid Gwladys Street fan.

It is just that no one – apart from their close family – will witness it.

Two empty seats will testify to that.