Duncan Ferguson could keep Everton role then hand over to Wayne Rooney
Gabriel Agbonlahor has tipped Wayne Rooney to ultimately be the right option for the Everton manager’s job because of his club connection.
The ex-Aston Villa forward cited the failure of big-name managers previously as reason that the Derby manager, and current caretaker Duncan Ferguson made sense, suggesting that both could be given the chance to lead the Toffees.
He said live on talkSPORT on Thursday (20 January, 08:40am): “I think even, maybe give it [to] Big Dunc to the end of the season, and then let Wayne Rooney finish what he’s got at Derby, and maybe join at the end of the season.
“I don’t think there’s a rush for Rooney to go right now.”
Fan favourites
The sequence suggested by the ex-England international would be popular among fans but, depending on how things go across the remaining months of the season, it may not be as popular with the man in charge right now.
It seems likely that Ferguson would like a chance to show what he can do as he has now stepped in twice when needed.
And while he was happy to step back and become assistant when Carlo Ancelotti came in, if he was asked to once again vacate the top job for Rooney he may not be as willing.
While the Italian is one of the biggest names in management and has three Champions League trophies on his CV, England’s record scorer is a comparative novice in management, for all the good work he is doing at Pride Park.
The two strikers were teammates when a teenage Rooney broke through, and the Scot was a coach when the former Manchester United man returned to Goodison, so their familiarity with each other may make it a different proposition.
Also, if Ferguson struggles in charge this season while Rooney manages to help Derby avoid relegation then Agbonlahor’s idea might work.
But if the ex-Rangers front man achieves results similar to the ones he managed in his previous spell in charge, and is still asked to stand aside at the end of the season, it would surely test his loyalty to the club to the limits.
In other Everton news, this first team star gives insight into playing for the big Scotsman.