Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has died at the age of 78.

The club confirmed in a statement that the long-serving boss passed away peacefully on the night of Monday, October 23, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Kenwright had suffered from health problems in recent months, with the club announcing earlier this month that he had undergone surgery in August to remove a cancerous tumour in his liver.

The former West End producer had been released from hospital on October 12 to continue his recovery at home.

"Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones," read a statement on the club website.

"Everton's longest serving chairman for more than a century, Bill Kenwright led the club through a period of unprecedented change in English football.

Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

— Everton (@Everton) October 24, 2023

"The club has lost a chairman, a leader, a friend, and an inspiration. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Everton are with his partner Jenny Seagrove, his daughter Lucy Kenwright, grandchildren and everybody who knew and loved him."

Kenwright, who was a lifelong Everton fan, had been part of the hierarchy at Goodison Park since he joined the board in 1989, exactly 34 years to the day before his passing.

On Boxing Day in 1999, his True Blue Holding consortium bought the club, with Kenwright being installed as vice-chairman before succeeding Sir Philip Carter as chairman in 2004.

Kenwright retained his stake in the club when Farhad Moshiri completed his takeover in 2016, although more recently Everton fans have held protests against his continued involvement - as well as others' at boardroom level - due to the team's lack of progress on the pitch.

During his 19-year spell as chairman, the Liverpool-born Kenwright oversaw 12 top-eight finishes in the Premier League, the best of which saw Everton finish fourth above Liverpool in 2004-05.

That was one of six separate occasions Everton qualified for Europe during his tenure as boss, while they also made it to the FA Cup final in 2009.