Bill Kenwright pushes for Everton to hire Rafa Benitez as fractures emerge behind the scenes
Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright are at odds with one another over the appointment of the next Everton manager, according to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles.
As reported by the Daily Mail’s Dominic King, majority shareholder Moshiri has sent a written offer to Nuno Espirito Santo.
However, Castles reports that Blues chairman Kenwright wants Rafa Benitez amid potential fractures behind the scenes at Goodison.
“You have noises of Rafa Benitez being a strong candidate for the job,” said Castles on the Transfer Window podcast.
“Again, my understanding is Bill Kenwright has been pushing for Benitez after David Moyes signed a new contract at West Ham United.
“I don’t think the Everton fans will be impressed by that move if it transpires.
“Essentially, you have a lot of internal dispute at Everton and a lack of a coherent direction with Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright pushing in opposite paths.
“Marcel Brands is getting involved, the ultimate owner Alisher Usmanov has Farhad Moshiri in place and you have Nuno who wants to become the Everton manager.
“He’s ready to do it but he doesn’t actually have the contract offer from Everton in order to be able to commit himself and is now wondering is it actually going to come despite Everton briefing he was the first choice.”
It was always on the cards
There’s always been a bit of a fractured relationship between the mone men and the football men behind the scenes at Goodison Park, as far as we can tell from various reports over the years.
Kenwright always seems to want a manager who has proven himself in the Premier League and is a bit more of a grounded person to have in charge. Moshiri, on the other hand, always seems to want someone from abroad, someone who can sometimes be the left-field pick.
While Nuno has proven himself in England, he doesn’t have the CV that Benitez does – not does he have the connection to Merseyside.
Kenwright has been in this game a long time and while we appreciate his input massively, he does seem to be too safe at times.
Nuno is a bit more of a risk because while he’s done well at Wolves, he did have a bad season last time out and has relied a lot upon Wolves’ Chinese owners to stump up the money to sign players, who are usually linked with his agent Jorge Mendes.
Nuno will surely use Mendes at Goodison but hiring a manager who’s over-reliant on money and an outside agent is riskier than someone of Benitez’s ilk.
We’d be happy with either manager, in truth.
In other Everton news, this Toffees ace has posted a picture of himself in a Leicester shirt on social media.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.