Monday 15th March 1999
Bill Kenwright has reportedly got financial backing from the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corportian for his Everton takeover. Everton may appeal against Don Hutchison's sending off.


Sunday 14th March 1999
Some Sunday papers report that Bill Kenwright is close to having an offer in the region of £35 - £50 million accepted. According to the "very reliable" Sunday Mirror, Walter Smith WANTS to offload Olivier Dacourt, Marco Materazzi, Ibrahima Bakayoko and Slaven Bilic in the summer.

Saturday 13th March 1999
Everton lose 2-0 at home to Arsenal. To make matters worse Don Hutchison is sent off for a harmless looking elbow on Martin Keown. The Gunners goals came from Ray parlour and a Dennis Bergkamp penalty. Emmnanuel Petit is also sent off for Arsenal. Everton are now four points ahead of the relegation zone. The other results were not too bad as Coventry and Blackburn drew as did Leicester and Charlton.

Friday 12th March 1999

Thursday 11th March 1999
According to reports from Holland, Ajax's unsettled midfielder Georgi Kinkladze is close to making a £2 million switch to Everton. Ibrahima Bakayoko admits Walter Smith was right to drop him before the FA Cup match against Coventry.

Wednesday 10th March 1999
Bill Kenwright reports his takeover is well on track. Everton beat Blackburn 2-1 thanks to two goals from Ibrahima Bakayoko. Due to Everton having so many players out they started the match with seven defenders in the starting line up. Weir and Unsworth started in central midfield. African
Ibrahima Bakayoko was back instead of Francis Jeffers. Ashley Ward gave Blackburn the lead after two minutes but Bakayoko scored on 15 minutes with a far post header and then a stunning finish on 65. Everton are now five points clear of the relegation zone and the result leaves Blackburn deep in trouble.

Tuesday 9th March 1999
Blackburn boss Brian Kidd reports that half of his squad are injured, have the flu or are suspended for tomorrow's big game. Walter Smith is trying to sign Norwegian striker Thorstein Helstad.

Monday 8th March 1999

Sunday 7th March 1999
Everton lose 4-1 to Newcastle in the FA Cup. The score flattered Newcastle who were marginly better in the first half. Ketsbaia (2), Georgiadis and Shearer scored for Newcastle while David Unsworth smashed in his second goal of the season.

Saturday 6th March 1999
A disastrous day for Everton as Leicester, Southampton and Coventry all win, leaving Everton just two points ahead of the drop zone. On ITV's 'On the Ball' Bill Kenwright confirms he will put his offer to buy Everton in this week.

Friday 5th March 1999
Paul Gascoigne receives a one match ban for eleven bookings when Olivier Dacourt got a two game ban for the same offence.

Thursday 4th March 1999
John Gregory has reportedly offered £5 million for French midfielder Olivier Dacourt.

Wednesday 3rd March 1999


Tuesday 2nd March 1999
Olivier Dacourt has received a two match ban and a £1,000 fine after his disciplinary meeting. The ban rules him out of the vital away clash with Blackburn Rovers a week tomorrow. There is still no sign that the takeover has been completed. There are sixteen days left until the transfer deadline.

Monday 1st March 1998
Walter Smith confirms he is interested in signing Kevin Campbell but admits the situation is very difficult. The youth cup replay against Sheffield Wednesday will go ahead tonight after a pitch
inspection.

Sunday 28th February 1998

Saturday 29th February
Everton draw 1-1 with Wimbledon, although they deserved to win. Efan Ekoku scored Wimbledon's goal after a bad mistake by Dave Watson. Francis Jeffers scored his second goal for Everton with a looping header in the second half. Everton were denied a penalty in the last few seconds when
Michael Branch was hacked down. Everton are keeping a close watch on Kevin Campbell who wants to leave Turkish club Trabzonspor after being called a racially discriminated by the chairman.

Friday 28th February 1998