Everton have taken the extraordinary measure of classing their next home game with Arsenal 'high risk' as the toxic situation around the club intensified.
Last Saturday's game against Southampton, which ended in a hugely damaging 2-1 defeat, was put into that category after the club received guidance that the safety of their board members was under threat.
It meant Chairman Bill Kenwright, Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Grant Ingles – the Finance Director – and club legend Graeme Sharp were advised not to attend. The quartet have been the subject of protests, with fans urging owner Farhad Moshiri to 'sack the board.