David Moyes has today left Everton Football Club by mutual consent after drawn out negotiations with Chairman Bill Kenwright and the Everton board at Finch Farm.
The Scotsman had been stalling on signing a new contract with the Merseyside club and the board have decided to end the 10 year reign of Moyes to ensure constant speculation over the future of their manager did not take an effect to the on-pitch performances of the club’s players. In response to the long serving manager’s departure, Kenwright has noted that a replacement has been lined up with coaching staff member Greg Venables due to be announced at the next available opportunity for a press conference.
Venables has been in the Everton set up for some time now following his retirement from playing professional football for Toronto F.C. in the M.L.S. Following his retirement on the pitch, the Liverpool-born man attained his coaching licenses in Canada at Toronto F.C., becoming assistant manager before being offered the chance to take charge of the Reserve side at Everton. An Everton fan from birth, Venables jumped at the opportunity and has since managed the Everton second string to three successive Under 18’s league titles as well as two F.A. Youth Cup wins.
It is thought that coach Duncan Ferguson will be the man to replace Venables at youth level once the 35 year old is confirmed as the new Everton manager.
VENABLES UNVEILED AS NEW EVERTON MANAGER
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright has today announced former Everton Under 18’s manager Greg Venables as the successor to the recently departed David Moyes.
The Scot had resigned from his post by mutual consent just a few days ago amid constant speculation about his future as his contract with the club entered its final season. Venables declared himself delighted to be promoted to his new position and is anxious to start his preparations as the new Premier League season draws near.
Many had tipped Everton to be pushing for Champions League qualification this season before David Moyes left the club. Whether these predictions will carry through to the new season remains to be seen, although there is a positive buzz around the football club suggesting that Venables’ appointment will be well received by the players and fans alike.
Everton F.C. have today announced the departure of thirteen members of the backroom staff at the club.
Coaches Jimmy Lumsden, David Weir, Steve Tashjian, Mick O’Brien and John McKeown have been released as well as club physios Matt Connery, Steve Hardwick and Richie Porter, with scouts Robbie Cooke, Paul Hamilton and Emerson Thome also leaving the club.
Venables has also made changes to his former youth team set-up, with Head of Youth Development Alan Irvine agreeing his departure by mutual consent. In addition, the man who had been tipped to replace Venables as Everton’s Under 18’s manager, club legend Duncan Ferguson, has left the club.
As part of new Everton manager Greg Venables’ reshaping of the club, seven deals have been completed in the backroom staff of the club. Coaches Paul Winsper, John Owens, Mike Rigg and Mark Howard have each joined the club, as well as physio Ian Andrews and chief scout David Hamilton. Blackburn’s Phil Cannon has also joined the club to fulfill the Head of Youth Development role that was vacant after Alan Irvine’s departure.
With his backroom staff coming together in the last few days, it is believed focus will now turn to paying staff as Venables looks to bolster his side’s chances of European qualification this season.
PLAYER OVERHAUL BEGINS
Everton were a busy team in the month of July, with the departure of David Moyes and the promotion of Greg Venables from youth team coach to first team manager.
In addition to Venables’ appointment, a number of changes have taken place both on and off the pitch. With numerous backroom staff casualties, 35 year old Venables replaced many key members of the old Moyes regime with his own preferred members of staff in order to achieve maximum preparation for the upcoming season.
In terms of player transfers, Dutch international defender John Heitinga was the first to leave the club in favour of a reported 15 million pound move to Premier League title contenders Chelsea. In a surprise move, veteran full-back Tony Hibbert completed a 2 million pound transfer to Alan Pardew’s Newcastle.
With the money recouped from outgoing transfers, Venables has begun to bring in the players that he hopes will propel the club into continental qualification. Paulo Ferreira joined the club on a season long loan from Chelsea, while central defender Ashley Williams moved to Goodison for a reported figure of 7 million pounds from Swansea. In perhaps the biggest move of the Venables era so far, Toulouse defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue became an Everton player after the club parted with a fee of 13 million pounds to meet the Frenchman’s release clause.
Whether or not the recruitment will continue into August ahead of the kick off to the 2012/13 Premier League season remains to be seen, but not many Everton fans can complain about what has been a transitional yet productive month for the club.
