- John Blain, Chairman of the Everton Football Club Shareholders Association
- Rodger Armstrong, host of The Blue Half podcast
- and myself!
Starting in May 2017, the podcast has become a strong favourite with many Blues, renowned for its straight talking and critical but objective analysis of our beloved club off the field. Paul, John and Rodger are life long blues, as passionate as you can get, yet through their professional and business careers can offer a unique insight into the off-field activities of Everton Football Club.

All our podcasts are available on Spotify, iTunes and many other podcast apps.
Everton Business Matters, Series 4 Episode 10, Changes, independent regulation, governance & fan representation
Everton Business Matters, Super League Special
Everton Business Matters podcast Series 4 Episode 8, planning approval for Bramley-Moore, a point called start
Everton Business Matters podcast Series 4 Episode 7 Five years of Farhad
Everton Business Matters Podcast, Series 4 Episode 6, Homeward bound………
Everton Business Matters Podcast Series 4 Episode 5, the January 2021 annual general meeting
Everton Business Matters Podcast, Series 4 Episode 4 a football special looking back on a year with Carlo
Everton Business Matters Season 4 Episode 3: Everton’s finances 2019/20 and Moshiri’s continued commitment to the club
Everton Business Matters Podcast S4 Episode 2 the land of make believe
Everton Business Matters – Series 4, Episode 1 Getting the band back together
Everton Business Matters Podcast – Series 3 Episode 14 – I need a Dollar
Everton Business Matters – Series 3 Episode 13….. Of Meis and men….
Everton Business Matters Podcast Series 3 Episode 12, Cash flow, wage deferral, Cazoo & sponsorship
Everton Business Matters podcast – 3rd birthday special! Project Restart, finances & 3 year report on the Moshiri years
Everton Business Matters, Series 3 Episode 10 – with John and Tom……
Everton Business Matters, Series 3 Episode 9, UEFA, the Premier League, furloughing, football finance & Bramley-Moore
Everton Business Matters Series 3 Episode 8 – Covid-19, the “one club” strategy & Bramley-Moore reminder
Everton Business Matters, Series 3 Episode 7 – Sportpesa, FFP & the planning app for Bramley-Moore
Everton Business Matters – Series 3 Episode 6: General meeting special
Everton Business Matters Podcast Series 3 Episode 5
Everton Business Matters Series 3 Episode 3
The boys talk through our organisational structure and the impact that it’s having on the business. Tom lights the blue touch-paper and backs off as John and Paul go head-to-head on some fundamentals. The structure of the Board and what’s at the heart of our commercial under performance is at the heart of the debate.
Everton Business Matters Series 3 Episode 2
John, Paul and Tom debate the financial impacts of our recent transfer activity in the context of what were Brands’ objectives for the summer and did he achieve them?
They also review the recent Consultation Period, did we achieve our objectives, what could have been done better and what is the timetable looking forward?
Everton Business Matters Series 3 Episode 1
With Tom unable to host as he’s lost his voice John and Paul start Series 3 with an upbeat podcast around the huge potential our football club still has despite the issues of the last few years.
With an imminent proof-point for the new stadium they disagree about what’s likely to happen in the remainder of the transfer window but with both recognising our proximity to regulatory barriers.
Our main sponsor and their current challenges are brought in to focus as they debate what’s going on and how it may or may not impact our strategy.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 12
With Tom absent for a very good reason John and Paul are trusted for the very first time ever to do a podcast on their own.
They return to the subject of Bramley-Moore and with new insight question the project and if the promised deadline for the stadium to be ready for season 2023-2024 can still be achieved.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 11
John, Paul and Tom spend an hour scratching the surface of the safe-standing debate. They’re not in total agreement about this but that doesn’t stop them exploring the legislation and considering if it needs to be changed.
They also consider what might happen going forward not just for Bramley-Moore but at existing Premier League Grounds as Singing Sections, such as the one we will have in GT8 next season, become more prevalent.
Finally, what experiences can we take from the rail-seating installations at Celtic Park and the Tottenham Stadium and should fan-groups become more aware of the risks and opportunities the subject presents and consider getting more involved?
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 10
Paul and John return with Tom for an episode of Everton Business Matters that focusses on the direction of the club under the leadership of Prof. Barrett-Baxendale and the challenges facing our club as we strive to avoid the spectre of the Financial Fair Play regulations.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 9
Tom chats to John and Paul on SportPesa and it’s relationship with EiTC about which he has firm views, what they thought about the CEO’s trip to Cannes and what she said about Bramley Moore plus their take on the proposed singing section in the Gwladys Street.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 8
John, Paul and Tom return for an upbeat Business Matters talking about the key principles of Bramley Moore, specifically the first one about Our Fortress.
They urge the club to engage meaningfully and consider how best to extract life-time value from the fan-base.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 7
John and Paul, refereed and provoked by Tom discuss the first three years of Farhad Moshiri at Everton and observe if we’re worse or better off than before his arrival.
During a heated debate they eventually address the leaked stadium document and comment on if it was deliberate or not.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 6
Can we really afford to hire-and-fire coaching staff with the regularity we’ve experienced over the last 3-years ?
Will the pressure increase on the off-field management if commercial performance doesn’t improve and we get critical decisions wrong ?
John and Paul, man-marked by Tom, get zonal around the materiality of our expensive managerial mistakes and question if we have the right people in-post to drive commercial innovation.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 5
John and Paul continue with another guest host in Tom Martin.
Tom, a season ticket in the Lower Gwladys, probes the guys about the transfer window and are we being prudent or are we skint ?
With the public consultation results due to be announced in February the boys debate Safe-Standing and what that might mean for ticket prices and the real capacity at Bramley-Moore.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 4
Everton Business Matters returns with a new line-up after the departure of Rodger Armstrong. John and Paul discuss last night’s AGM and for one-time only this episode will be hosted by Dave Downie of the Blue Room. Last night’s meeting was the first under the leadership of Prof. Denise Barrett-Baxendale and the boys talk about the improved format, the contributions of all but one Director and what can be gleaned by reading between the lines of what was said.
Exclusive Sasha Ryazantsev Interview
In an exclusive interview Everton Business Matters meets the man behind Everton’s finances, Sasha Ryazantsev. We look at the 2017/18 Accounts published on Tuesday 18th December 2018 and have a wide ranging conversation including the stadium financing and our future commercial prospects.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 3
The Fun Boy 3, after a period in the Caravan of Love, have emerged full of confidence for the weekend and beyond.
How can we best spread the love and what global markets should we target are also on the agenda.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 2
Everton Business Matters marks the start of the Public Consultation with an Exclusive interview with Everton’s Director of Marketing, Communications and Community. Richard Kenyon talks about the People’s Project including images, the timetable and the stadium capacity. The Fun Boy three share their views of the Consultation Survey, how does the project compare with that of Spurs and what can we learn from their mistakes.
Everton Business Matters Series 2 Episode 1
The Fun Boy Three return from their summer recess with their views about the stadium progress with John and Paul disagreeing and Rodger refereeing!
They have views on the approach taken and where the money is likely to come from to support the ever increasing project cost.
Everton Business Matters Episode 30
Everton Business Matters Episode 29
John, Paul and Ringo, whoops no, Rodger as the Fun Boy Three debate the quest for the impossible dream and question if it is possible for Everton to exploit the window of opportunity. Player upgrades and Bramley-Moore are inevitably front of mind as they debate where’s the money? Is Moshiri still up for it? and is the senior management team strong enough? Whilst some question if the sleeping giant of Everton is in a coma or just drowsy others observe that progress has been underwhelming.
Everton Business Matters Episode 28
Everton Business Matters Episode 27
Everton Business Matters Episode 26
John, Paul and Rodger expose the true cost of the mistakes that have been made over the last two years at our great football club.
They look forward though with optimism to a re-engineered business capable of driving the revenues to fuel on-field success.
Out with the old and in with the new is definitely on the agenda for the journey to Blue Heaven.
Everton Business Matters Episode 25
The Fun Boy Three speak from the heart again as they review the announcements of recent days and expose what’s really happened. Have the challenges facing the new Board got easier or harder in the last few days? Many know what needs to be done, the hard part is how and when?
Everton Business Matters Episode 24
Everton Business Matters Episode 23
The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson joins John, Paul and Rodger to discuss the financing of Everton’s new stadium on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey. The Mayor speaks at length about the background to the Everton deal, explains in detail the terms of the finance and the benefits to the City of Liverpool of his ‘invest-to-earn’ strategy. Finally, Joe offers his view of what the capacity should be for the new stadium.
Everton Business Matters Episode 22
It’s that time again when Rodger Armstrong joins John and Paul on the receiving end of the questioning. Dave Downie jumps into the hot seat and works his way through questions raised by the EBM audience. The stadium, finance and of course the board are the focus of his interrogation. The boys also come clean on who their favourite players are!
Everton Business Matters Episode 21
Rodger has his hands full this week with John and Paul as all three review the first two years of the Farhad Moshiri era at our great football club.
They reflect upon what their individual and collective expectations were two years ago and how many, if any, of them have been realised.
With John and Paul having to agree to disagree and Rodger asking thought provoking questions, it remains to be heard if they’ve effectively captured the mood of the listeners or are out on a limb.
Everton Business Matters Episode 20
In Episode XX of Everton Business Matters the boys talk about fans, or is that customers, or are we both? and how well are we being served by EFC?
John, Paul and Rodger question how should the club treat us to maximise value and inevitably have to confront the holy grail of ticket prices … are they too low ?
Everton Business Matters Episode 19
Episode XIX of Everton Business Matters is full of passion, strong words and constructive views.
The Fun Boy Three of John, Paul and Rodger talk in depth about the principles of our new stadium and the start of the fan consultation process.
Everton Business Matters Episode 18
In this Episode of Everton Business Matters, the boys speak with passion about how our club as the senior club in the city can continue to make a positive difference to the citizens of the great city of Liverpool and how the emerging partnership with the city council is a force for good for both the city and Everton FC.
Football at a world, national and local level is an increasingly political environment, so John, Paul and Rodger confront the issues this might bring and the massive transformational opportunity it gives to a committed Everton FC.
Everton Business Matters Episode 17
In this episode of Everton Business Matters the Fun Boy Three of John, Paul and Rodger review the club General Meeting that took place at the Philharmonic Hall on January 9th 2018.
The guys explain the proposed new funding arrangements for the Bramley Moore stadium, the fantastic partnership with Liverpool City Council and the financial performance of the business now and going forward.
Everton Business Matters Episode 16
It’s a new year but it’s the same old Fun Boy Three as they start 2018 with a review of Everton’s Annual Report & Accounts and comment on the food for thought they provide. Additionally they look forward to what should be an exciting Annual General Meeting when they anticipate more good news.
Everton Business Matters Episode 15
In Everton Business Matters Episode 15 the fun boy three discuss the period of transformation that our Club is embarking upon, and not just off the field as John, Paul & Rodger discuss the hands-on behaviour of Farhad Moshiri and what it means in the short and medium term.
They also discuss the huge benefit that will flow from the Club putting the Fans at the heart of everything we do and the criticality of delivering effective and regular communications. In an up-beat episode the guys enthuse about their confidence in the positive future we should all look forward to enjoying.
Everton Business Matters Episode 14
In Everton Business Matters Episode 14 the fun boy three debate the huge potential that is available to our great football Club. We have a billionaire shareholder, we are aiming to exploit the window of opportunity that’s open to us and sometime soon we will announce perhaps the most exciting stadium project in Europe.
These are critical and exciting times and John, Paul & Rodger confront the challenges around the stadium project and the difficult decisions facing the board with the most immediate of those being the appointment of our new manager.
Everton Business Matters Episode 13
If you don’t mind me saying so, our best podcast to date.
For this episode they’re joined by Dave Downie, who for one night only hosts the programme and will be asking the questions and seeking to put the Fun Boy Three on the spot. More than ever the off-field activities are top of the page at our great club with everything from management decisions to the Paradise Papers being debated.
Everton Business Matters Episode 12
Six months have elapsed since the very first edition of Everton Business Matters was published on The Blue Room and in this episode the Fun Boy Three of Rodger, John and The Esk review how much off-field progress has been made at the Club. Additionally, and with major contracts rumoured to be changing they debate what our future might bring, what needs to improve and just who is going to pick our new manager.
Everton Business Matters Episode 11
In episode 11, John, Paul & Rodger explain the dramatic improvements Everton must make in commercial revenue generation in order to compete and win at the highest level.
This is a must listen, in order to comprehend the scale of the commercial challenges facing Everton Football Club
Everton Business Matters Episode 10
In this podcast John, Rodger and Paul are joined by two globally recognised commentators Gabriele Marcotti and Daniel Geey to discuss in detail UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.
During a fascinating hour, our listeners will hear what FFP is all about, whether it is working as intended and why Everton could be one of the few clubs able to exploit the rules in a way that is done with the blessing of UEFA and takes our great club to the next level.
Everton Business Matters Episode 9
In this edition of Everton Business Matters the Fun Boy Three that are Rodger Armstrong, John Blain and The Esk explore off the field Leadership.
They confront the challenges facing our great football Club and give their views on how the Board should be structured, what skills and attributes it needs and how it should behave.
Everton Business Matters Episode 8
In the latest episode of Everton Business Matters, the Fun Boy Three (Rodger Armstrong, John Blain and The Esk) give us an update on financing options including Everton’s deal with the world’s largest bank. They also discuss the club’s trip to Tanzania and whether or not we’re getting the best global return from current merchandising opportunities.
Everton Business Matters Episode 7
Rodger Armstrong, The Esk and John Blain return for a special edition of Everton Business Matters to discuss the arrival of Wayne Rooney at Everton from a non-playing perspective.
Everton Business Matters Episode 6
In this Everton Business Matters podcast, we return to discuss Everton’s communications in detail. We identify key stakeholder groups, define a strategy and structure whilst calling for a greater engagement from the club’s hierarchy.
Everton Business Matters Episode 5
In Episode 5 of Everton Business Matters, Rodger Armstrong, John Blain and The Esk discuss the value of branding at Everton both as a part of its history and important it is now and in the future.
Everton Business Matters Episode 4
In Episode 4 of Everton Business Matters, we return to talk about the financial importance of European football and the incremental value of good branding. We also discuss how much income can really be generated from the Europa League and the cumulative impact of regular European competition
Everton Business Matters Episode 3
In Episode 3 of our Everton Business Matters podcast, Rodger Armstrong, John Blain and The Esk discuss and debate Everton’s off-field talking points in two parts:
- Will regulations restrict how much Everton can spend and does it impact the transfer window?
- Non-broadcast revenues, their importance and how to increase them.
Everton Business Matters Episode 2
In Episode 2 of Everton Business Matters podcasts, The Esk, John Blain and Rodger Armstrong address a number of the club’s current affairs including:
- Ross Barkley’s contract
- Alisher Usmanov’s next move
- SportPesa kit sponsorship
- Financial Fair Play and the impact on summer recruitment
Everton Business Matters Episode 1
In the 1st episode of Everton Business Matters, The Esk, Rodger Armstrong and Chairman of the Shareholders’ Association, John Blain, debate all of Everton’s off-field business including:
- Farhad Moshiri – what’s next?
- Transfer strategy and prospective spend
- The role of the academy
- Bramley Moore
- Commercial development
- Board composition
- View of the shareholders
- Bridging the gap to the ‘big 6’