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Chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale will act as Everton's 'transfer facilitator' this summer to help sign the players identified by Marcel Brands and Marco Silva.

Barrett-Baxendale was announced as the replacement for Robert Elstone last month and has already helped oversee a summer of major change at Goodison.

The Blues' chief exec has implemented a significant restructure of the club's leadership team ahead of next month's move to the Royal Liver Building with two new appointments, six promotions and the re-hiring of a finance expert from Liverpool.

But Barrett-Baxendale says her main focus has been to ensure he club's director of football Brands and Silva, Everton's new manager, hit the ground running.

The chief exec has decamped to the Blues' Finch Farm training complex in Halewood to work closely alongside Brands and Silva with the trio locked in meetings about the squad, backroom staff and – crucially – transfers.

And Barrett-Baxendale says that once targets have been identified by the club's new power couple, she will aim bring the players in as soon as possible.

“Marcel is the person who, as the director of football, will be dealing with the agents, who will be scouting and working with the manager – they will be looking at what they need to best populate our team,” Everton's CEO told the ECHO.

“My role comes in to make sure we facilitate that as quickly as possible whether that be financially, whether that's about contract management and so once their decisions are made I can facilitate that execution and making sure we do that as effectively and efficiently as possible.

“But, as I say, this is very inclusive and making sure we do things as a team.”

Barrett-Baxendale will eventually base herself at the club's new offices on the waterfront but said it was vital to be at Finch Farm in the early throes of the Brands and Silva era with many impromptu meetings taking place between the three of them.

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“We have very regular communication,” Barrett-Baxendale added.

“I've been spending the majority of my time at the training ground at the moment, it's essential that I do that as we embed our structure.

“They are extremely consultative, they understand why the three of us have to be aligned and the sense of common purpose.

“We are all striving for the same thing which is results on the pitch.

“I understand my responsibility to them and they understand their responsibility to the fans so we are meeting regularly.

“There is daily contact and that's in terms of schedule meetings, ad hoc meetings and communication.

“Marco has flown in on two occasions, he's spent two weeks here and will be back again and it's about us having that strength of leadership together and committing to that common purpose and working as efficiently and effectively as possible together.

“The communication has been astounding, really, in terms of how we've embraced this new relationship and structure moving forward.

“So all of the things I'm talking about – whether it's discussions around stadium, training ground, adaptations of the Academy, whether it's about the look and feel of how the training ground will be, all of these decisions are being made collectively and in a collegiate manner but with a great element of support and challenge.

“This is not just three people agreeing on things, there's a football debate going on and that's terrific.”

In part one of the ECHO's exclusive interview with Barrett-Baxendale, the CEO spoke of the “phenomenal” pace at which Everton operates and, as she explains, there has been no let-up since her appointment just over a month ago.

“My first priority was to make an immediate assessment of the football club,” Barrett-Baxendale said.

“My priority was to build capacity and leadership in respect of the director of football and new manger to make sure that we we were entering the transfer window in a position to make some very vital decisions, some strong decisions in respect of player recruitment and trading.

“So the first thing was to make sure that we could secure those most senior positions in the football club on the back of having that difficult period of changing a manager and a first-team backroom staff.

“So that was working alongside Marcel to get him into the organisation and acclimatise him to joining the football club, understanding the ethos and philosophy of Everton Football Club, our expectations, the expectations of the Board, the expectations of the staff and, most importantly, the expectations of the fans . And to understand some of the issues and opportunities for us entering into the transfer window.”

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

“And then it was to secure Marco in position,” the chief exec continued.

“I have also been working with Marco to give him an understanding of the football club and to ensure we've had a full audit of all the performances areas and all of the things Marco will need to have access to for a good pre-season.

“It was a very short window for us to make sure those things are in order and it takes a lot of time and attention to make sure we understand the coach's requirements, whether that's about pitch rotation, nutrition and dining, player communication, working with the under-23s, his philosophy about young players, aspirations for the team, pre-season – there is a lot to organise and get in place in such a short period of time.”

“And it's been terrific, I'm absolutely thrilled with how we've been able to manage that together, the three of us, and I'm delighted with their approach to Everton.

“They are very committed, they've settled very quickly with a great understanding of the expectations of the fans and what it means and the privilege they hold in serving at Everton Football Club.

“Following on from that, my priority was to settle them both in and make sure they had the other structure and resources in place to be as efficient and effective as possible.”

On Wednesday, Barrett-Baxendale revealed the club's new-look leadership team which included a promotion for Dave Harrison, the appointment of Joel Waldron as Academy director and confirmation the club are searching for a stadium development director.

“How did I want to structure my leadership team so that I had the structure and resources in place to deliver what they require, which is the best business and the best club sitting behind those two main football professionals?

“I had a restructure and looked at bringing additional positions onto the leadership team, having real clarity about roles, responsibility and accountability and opening that up to the fans so that they are aware who they have in senior positions working on their behalf each and everyday.

“So the priority for me is about leadership, direction and strategy and making sure we're clear on who we are, where we are going and the resources we need to be successful.

“And it's also about working really hard to reclaim 'Our Everton’ and get back a little of what we've lost over the last couple of years and that's really important to the Board, it's a key priority to the Board.

“And making sure all the changes we have made, and all the decisions we have made, are taken in the 'Everton Way' and will be delivered by a team in the 'Everton Way'.”