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Everton apologise over new badge upset

Everton have pledged to involve fans more in future © AP

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Everton have apologised for changing their badge - and pledged to review it next summer - after complaints from thousands of fans.

More than 20,000 supporters signed an online petition protesting against the new crest, which was revealed on Saturday.

The new design has been criticised because it leaves out two key features from the original crest designed by club secretary Theo Kelly in 1938 - two laurel wreaths to represent the Olympian sign of success, and the motto 'Nil Satis Nisi Optimum', Latin for 'nothing but the best is good enough'.

The motto has not always featured on the club's badge since then, but it has been there constantly since 1991.

Chief executive Robert Elstone acknowledged that the club had not consulted supporters as widely as chairman Bill Kenwright had demanded before bringing out the new logo - as they only spoke to selected fan groups.

Elstone said that the new badge would be used for next season, but that a fuller consultation over the design would be held during the summer of 2014.

In a statement on Everton's website, Elstone said: "Clearly the weekend's response has meant that we have reviewed how we went about the whole of the re-design process and while many objectives were achieved, we recognised we missed the key part out.

"Our chairman had demanded widespread consultation and we stopped short of that. We talked to our Fans' Forum, our commercial partners and our experienced staff around the club. That was not enough.

"We want to put this right. While the time-constraints of kit suppliers in particular present challenges, which inevitably means the version released on Saturday will be in operation for the 2013/14 season, we are determined to give our fans a greater say in how we represent the club on our jerseys, at Goodison Park and across media around the world.

"In advance of the 2014-15 campaign, we are turning to you to help us shape and refine the badge we'll adopt in the future.

"Evertonians from all sections of the fan-base will be pulled together in a fully transparent way."

The club expressed their contrition via the club's website. A statement addressed to Everton's supporters read: "We are sorry. It is clear that you wanted to be involved in the selection of our new club crest. We agree with you and we are sorry we spoiled so many weekends. We regret we didn't ask every Evertonian about something that matters so much to every one of you."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.