Football: Record losses temper optimism at Goodison

EVERTON'S CELEBRATION of Monday's Merseyside derby victory was yesterday tempered by the news that the Goodison Park club lost pounds 10.7m in the financial year to May 1999.

The figure represents a record loss for the club - but it does not take account of the summer sales of Marco Materazzi, Olivier Dacourt and Ibrahima Bakayoko for a total of pounds 14m. That clear-out makes Walter Smith's recent achievement in taking Everton to sixth place in the Premiership even more praiseworthy.

Everton had made a profit of pounds 2.29m in the previous financial year. The loss was worsened by the club having to make pay-outs to players leaving Merseyside, as well as settling contracts with the previous management team of Howard Kendall, Adrian Heath and Viv Busby. The Goodison finances are unlikely to be in a healthy state until the tangled web of the boardroom takeover is finally resolved, and there is little sign of that happening soon.

Yesterday, though, Smith wanted to talk about football rather than finances. The 1-0 win at Anfield was, he claimed, "the most pleasing moment of my time at Everton".

Smith happily basked in the glory of his first Merseyside derby triumph - and admitted Everton's cash crisis has rewarded him with the team spirit he had been searching for.

Being forced to sell to save Everton from financial ruin has, Smith believes, had a remarkable effect on the players left at Goodison Park. "In some ways having to sell people has helped," he said. "We have now got a small squad, but there is more togetherness in that squad and there's more spirit and determination. That was the most pleasing moment of my time at Everton. It was a team performance from front to back. But that has been the basis of what we have done. We have been on about that all season to the lads. We have tried to achieve a good team spirit.

"Winning at Anfield is a big boost for everyone at the club, and I'm just pleased that I got my first derby win as a manager on Merseyside," he added. After Smith's difficult first season, which led to another Goodison relegation battle, Everton have moved up to sixth place in the Premiership - their highest position for three years.

The former German international Karlheinz Riedle yesterday completed his move to Fulham from Liverpool for pounds 200,000. The 34-year-old striker agreed an 18-month contract which has been quoted as being worth around pounds 12,000 a week - and Fulham had to compete with late interest from Derby for his signature.

Riedle, who was capped 42 times by Germany but fell out of favour at Anfield this year, said that Liverpool's manager, Gerard Houllier, had wanted him to stay, but had not stood in his way. "He was very good to me and I'm thankful that I had two good years at Liverpool. But I was looking for another challenge. I still feel fit and I want to play first- team football," he said.

Riedle, who also played for Werder Bremen, Lazio and Borusia Dortmund's 1997 European Cup-winning side, added: "I had other offers from abroad, but I enjoy playing in England."

Riedle's arrival, meanwhile, could spell the end of Stan Collymore's loan period stay at Fulham. The Aston Villa striker, who suffered from depression last season, was lent to Fulham at the start of the new campaign but has struggled to find his form. His loan period expires on 15 October.

Middlesbrough have rejected a move by Aberdeen to lure the striker Andy Campbell north of the border. The 20-year-old, who along with Alun Armstrong has acted as an understudy to Brian Deane and Hamilton Ricard this season, remains part of Boro's plans despite interest from the Scottish club and an approach from Huddersfield.

The Nigerian international Kingsley Obiekwu has started a one-week trial with Sheffield United. The 24-year-old defender came to England after being recommended to the Blades' manager, Adrian Heath, by Arsenal's Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu.

Obiekwu, who played in Nigeria's Olympic-winning side in 1996, is currently with the United Arab Emirates side Al Ahli. He played in a Blades practice match yesterday.

Photograph, page 31