Points Deducted, Dreams Destroyed The Everton Meltdown"
In this timely and meticulously researched account, Richard Buxton delivers a compelling autopsy of one of English football's most dramatic corporate failures. The publication of Buxton's book coincides with the conclusion of Farhad Moshiri's turbulent tenure at Everton, marked by the Friedkin Group's takeover in December 2024. The author's fifteen years of experience covering Everton prove invaluable as he unravels the complex web of mismanagement that brought one of English football's most storied clubs to its knees. Drawing from his extensive connections within the sport and experience writing for prestigious outlets like FourFourTwo and Sports Illustrated, Buxton provides unprecedented access to the inner workings of a club in crisis. The narrative traces Moshiri's tenure from his hopeful arrival in 2016 through to its bitter end, during which he invested approximately £750 million with remarkably little to show for it. Buxton masterfully details how the British-Iranian billionaire's grand ambitions—including expensive transfer sprees and plans for a new stadium—devolved into a cautionary tale of mismanagement and hubris. Particularly compelling is Buxton's analysis of the financial decisions that led to Everton's unprecedented ten-point deduction and subsequent struggles. The timing of the book's release adds extra weight to these sections, as the club faced additional point deductions and financial scrutiny well into 2025. The author doesn't just focus on boardroom drama; he skillfully weaves in the human impact of these decisions, from the managers who came and went to the passionate fanbase whose faith was tested repeatedly. The title, borrowed from Jamie Carragher's scathing Sky Sports assessment, serves as both an attention-grabbing headline and a sadly accurate description of events. What sets this book apart is Buxton's ability to make complex financial and administrative matters accessible without dumbing them down. His previous work on "Fine Margins," exploring the Liverpool-Manchester City rivalry, demonstrated his talent for bringing boardroom stories to life, and he applies that same skill here to even greater effect. The book serves as both a gripping chronicle of Everton's recent history and a broader commentary on the perils of modern football ownership. It's a must-read not just for Everton supporters but for anyone interested in the business of football and how even the most established institutions can falter under poor stewardship. While the story Buxton tells is often bleak, it's also timely and necessary. With new ownership now in place and the club facing fresh challenges, this book serves as both a historical document and a warning for the future. The Worst-Run Club in the Country is an essential addition to any football literature collection, offering a thorough, engaging, and sometimes painful examination of how not to run a football club. Buxton's journalistic background shines through in his attention to detail and ability to make complex financial matters accessible to all readers. ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Published: February 17, 2025 Price: £13.99 Paperback: 416 pages ISBN-10 : 1801509093 ISBN-13 : 9781801509091 Dimensions: 216 x 138 (mm)
