Everton are a club that currently have few prospects at all, with the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium a sole shining light amidst all the darkness.
And yet, even that has its downsides, with there being no true source of complete positivity for the blue half of Merseyside at the moment.
With a questionable takeover with no end in sight, and PSR problems which have plagued their entire season, the steady regression of this once-great institution has been so sad to see.
Now, even former players are coming out to speak about the state of the club, with Niels Nkounkou the latest.
Niels Nkounkou lifts the lid on his Everton exit
Speaking to Peuple Vert, relayed by Sport Witness, the French defender has sought to detail the reasons behind his permanent Everton exit last summer.
Having been signed by Carlo Ancelotti, there were was a quiet confidence that he would be the long-term successor to Lucas Digne, as an athletic and attack-minded young full-back.
Nkounkou has noted: ‘As I explained, when I arrived at Sainté, it was a loan with an option to buy.
‘But the option put by Everton was so high that Sainté couldn’t buy it, knowing that they didn’t know if they were going to maintain themselves. They had money problems.
‘They said to me: ‘You know what? The option is there, we have to accept it, but under no circumstances are we going to mention it or lift it.’