Everton chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale has admitted that in an ideal world the club would not be sponsored by a gambling company.

Kenyan online betting firm SportPesa has been on the clubs shirts since a five-year deal was struck in May 2017.

The close links between football and the betting industry are firmly in the spotlight and, at the clubs AGM on Tuesday evening, board officials were asked about their close association with the company and how it could comfortably sit alongside the work the clubs Everton in the Community did around mental health issues.

Barrett-Baxendale accepted it would be preferable to have a different sponsor going forward.

I think you raise a good point, she said.

The company that we deal with has responsible gambling and we know our sport is underpinned by gambling.

In an ideal world moving forward we would look to have a different type of sponsor on the front of our shirts like all football clubs would, but that is a commercial decision that we make as a football club.

SportPesa have actually been a fantastic partner to Everton Football Club in terms of the funds they have given to support Everton in the Community, but I do agree it is responsible betting.

We cant stop people taking a choice but certainly dont want to be responsible for driving irresponsible betting.

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Boss admits Everton would not have gambling firm on shirt 'in an ideal world' - FourFourTwo USA