Gregg pledges cash for Moyes in battle of Goodison

Paul Gregg, the Everton director who is aiming to take control of the club, apologised to manager David Moyes for the summer of turmoil at Goodison Park as he confirmed that Lord Grantchester was the key man financing his bid for power at Goodison Park.

Paul Gregg, the Everton director who is aiming to take control of the club, apologised to manager David Moyes for the summer of turmoil at Goodison Park as he confirmed that Lord Grantchester was the key man financing his bid for power at Goodison Park.

Gregg's plan would provide the manager, David Moyes, with money for transfers. "On Monday morning David Moyes and his team return from [their tour to] America with a desperate need to fulfil his ambitions for the team. We have made a commitment to support those ambitions immediately."

Confirmation that Grantchester is funding Gregg's financial package smacks of revenge for the Moores family. Bill Kenwright, the chairman who is struggling to keep control of a club he bought four years ago, has ousted much of the old guard, many of whom, like Grantchester, were loyal to the Moores who had owned and run the club for many years.

Moyes complained about his preparation for the season being disrupted by the in-fighting, and Gregg offered him words of support. He said: "David Moyes has had a hard time and this has not helped, and we are all sorry about that. But it is more important that these issues are sorted out in the close season."

Everton's board met on Monday and delayed a decision on Gregg's proposals for the future funding of the club until Friday, when Kenwright had been expected to make a statement. Gregg took the initiative by going to Goodison Park, and revealing Grantchester as the main backer of his planned £15m investment into a club who are in debt by between £30m and £40m.

That debt could be slashed by selling the club's prized asset, Wayne Rooney, probably to Manchester United. Time is running out for any club to test Everton's resolve with a transfer offer this summer, but there is also the January window. Last night David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, who was in New York for the team's match against Milan, was unwilling to comment directly on rumours linking Rooney with a move to Old Trafford.

But he said: "This time last year Louis Saha wasn't on the agenda but as we moved through the season, and he became available, and we needed to strengthen that position, we did that in January. We would react to the situation as it unfolded."