Everton’s board of directors have been instructed not to attend today’s Premier League game with Southampton due to a “real and credible threat to their safety and security”, the club has said.

Fans are understood to be planning a protest at Goodison Park in the wake of last week’s embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Brighton.

The club said chairman Bill Kenwright, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chief finance and strategy officer Grant Ingles and non-executive director Graeme Sharp will “reluctantly” stay away on the advice of security advisors.

In a statement, Everton called the decision “unprecedented” and said it was “a profoundly sad day” for the club.

The club said: “The board members received the instruction following malicious and unacceptably threatening correspondence received by the club and increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour – including targeted physical aggression – at recent home matches.

“This is an unprecedented decision for Everton Football Club – never before has our entire board of directors been ordered not to attend a match on safety grounds. It is a profoundly sad day for Everton and Evertonians.”

A statement from a security and safety advisor released by the club said: “Following a thorough risk assessment, and in response to tangible threats received by the Club and intelligence we have gathered, the Club’s Board members have been told they must not attend today’s fixture.”

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Everton fans have been furious following the clubs recent bout of poor form which currently sees them languishing at 18th in the Premier League.

The club haven’t won a game in the league since October, prompting supporters to band together to prepare a sit-down protest in the Park Stand after todays match against bottom of the table Southampton.

Fans have been directing their displeasure at all the clubs top brass, including the board of directors, the owner Farhad Moshiri, and manager Frank Lampard.

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