Everton made an 'operating loss' of £6.7million in the year ending 31st May 2009, according to figures released on Tuesday.

The news comes as another setback to the Merseyside outfit, who are floundering near the Premier League's drop zone, and last week had their plans to build a new stadium in nearby Kirby rejected by Liverpool Council.

The Toffees actually posted a record turnover figure of £79.9million over the same period, but players' wages and registration fees dragged their overall figure into the red.

The sums detract from what was an extremely successful year on the pitch for David Moyes' side. Everton finished fifth in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final, where they were eventually beaten by Chelsea.

In a statement regarding the financial revelations, the club's long-standing chairman Bill Kenwright vowed to continue to give Moyes significant financial clout in the transfer market despite the losses.

"As has always been the case, David Moyes was fully supported by myself and by my fellow board members."

"He remains the single most important figure at the club and we all strive - on a daily basis - to provide him with the tools he believes are necessary if we are to continue to evolve and develop into a genuine, meaningful force within both English and European football."

Kenwright added that in some ways, Everton's run to the FA Cup final, where they lost 2-0 to Chelsea, had resulted in them not being given the credit they deserved for their highly commendable fifth-place finish in the league last term.

"Our wonderful FA Cup run quite possibly deflected attention from what was another hugely satisfying Premier League campaign.

"To again finish fifth in what remains Europe's toughest and most unforgiving league was a magnificent achievement."