Bill Kenwright, left, and David Moyes became close friends at Everton (Peter Byrne/PA)
David Moyes paid a warm tribute to “wonderful man” Bill Kenwright following the death of his former chairman at Everton.
Everton announced on Tuesday that Kenwright had died aged 78 following a battle with cancer.
Moyes and Kenwright formed a close bond during the Scot’s 11-year spell as manager at Goodison Park between 2002 and 2013.
“It’s incredibly sad news,” Moyes said at his pre-match press conference ahead of West Ham’s Europa League clash with Olympiacos.
“He was a wonderful man, he gave me a big opportunity in my career, taking me when I was a young manager in the lower leagues and gave me a job in the Premier League.
“Brilliantly supportive. I couldn’t have had a better chairman, as a young coach.
“When I look at modern football nowadays, how difficult it is for any young managers to make their way, Bill Kenwright was great to work with.
“We had great times over 11 years with him and we had some successful moments together. He’ll be sadly missed.”
On Wednesday morning current manager Sean Dyche and club captain Seamus Coleman laid flowers at the statue of Dixie Dean outside Goodison Park, where the Everton squad were holding a training session.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman and manager Sean Dyche laid flowers at Goodison Park (Peter Byrne/PA)
All players and staff observed a minute’s silence before the session and Kenwright’s image was shown on the stadium’s screens.
In a statement on the club website, Dyche said: “It’s a very sad time for everyone at Everton Football Club to lose our chairman, someone who has been such an amazing servant to the club in so many ways.
“His influence in bringing me to Everton in the first place
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