EVERTON CHIEF EXECUTIVE QUITS FOR TOP JOB WITH REAL MALLORCA

PALMA
PAUL Davidson yesterday made his clearest indication yet as to just how serious he is about buying a controlling stake in Real Mallorca Football Club by hiring Everton's former Chief Executive Keith Wyness to fulfil a similar role at Real Mallorca.

Wyness, one of the most influential people in the Premier League resigned from Everton on Tuesday night amidst rumours that he would be coming to Real Mallorca to join his close friend Davidson in Palma.

Everton admitted yesterday that the club had been aware of the speculation linking Wyness to Mallorca over the past couple of days and the Bulletin can confirm today that Everton's suspicions were right.

In fact, Wyness has been down to Majorca for talks over the past few days but Davidson's team were determined to keep the talks, which at no time included Terry Venables, under wraps until they were finalised.

Wyness has an impressive CV and he has a wealth of experience in the areas of globally marketing top brands and top flight football.
Prior to football, where he built his media profile, his former employers include British Airways, Radisson and the Olympic Club.
In 1978 Wyness was appointed as press officer for British Airways, he was also responsible for marketing of the Concorde.
He was also instrumental in the setting up of the “Executive Club” now the world's largest frequent flyer programme.
In 1986 he relocated to Miami, USA and co-founded Radisson Diamond. He was heavily involved with marketing for the cruise lines and was later involved with attempted and aborted takeover of Cunard.

He was the Founder and later the Managing Director of The Olympic Club, a worldwide marketing programme set up to promote every Olympic sport, and aided the marketing of the sports involved in the Sydney Olympic competition.

In 2000 he moved back to his hometown Aberdeen to take over as Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen football club and then in 2004, he was installed as the Chief Executive of Everton.

He is also a non exec director at the SECC in Glasgow which is building the new National arena for Scotland.
Last year, Wyness was vocal in his backing of the idea that Premier League clubs play a 39th game overseas and, until his departure from the club on Tuesday, he was pursuing the controversial relocation of Everton's new stadium on a greenspace site in Kirkby, Knowsley, Merseyside. Davidson is understood to be set to pay 38 million euros for Vicente Grande's 93 percent stake in the club and the deal is expected to be closed over the next few weeks. Davidson's accountants are currently studying the club's accounts but it appears that all parties involved are satisfied with the offer on the table.