Everton's entire board have been instructed not to attend today's Premier League match against Southampton due to a "real and credible threat to their safety and security".
Fans' anger towards the club's hierarchy has been growing throughout the season, with the Toffees finding themselves in the relegation zone despite a heavy net spend on players in recent years.
A sit-in protest had reportedly been planned by supporters during this afternoon's meeting with bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Goodison Park, while numerous banners portraying anti-board sentiments have been unfurled at matches over the past few weeks.
Everton have now released a statement saying that the board of directors have been blocked from attending the game today due to "malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression - at recent home matches".
The statement also says that club chairman Bill Kenwright, CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp have all "reluctantly accepted" the results of a safety assessment carried out by the club.
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A security and safety advisor told the club's official website: "Following a thorough risk assessment, and in response to tangible threats received by the club and intelligence we have gathered, the club's board members have been told they must not attend today's fixture."
An Everton spokesperson added: "This is an unprecedented decision for Everton Football Club – never before has our entire board of directors been ordered not to attend a match on safety grounds. It is a profoundly sad day for Everton and Evertonians."
Frank Lampard's side have won none and lost six of their last eight games across all competitions, including three defeats in four games since returning from the World Cup.
The Toffees could climb out of the bottom three with a positive result against fellow strugglers Southampton today, but defeat by a big enough margin could also see them finish the day bottom of the Premier League table.
Barney Corkhill
