Everton interview claims strongly denied by Frank Lampard
Everton manager Frank Lampard has come out to strongly deny claims that Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was part of his job interview at the club.
The Telegraph reported that the businessman, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asked the former England international a question during the interview process despite not holding a club role.
Usmanov has since had his assets frozen and the club have cut ties with his company due to the Russian invasion into Ukraine that is currently ongoing.
Lampard came out in his pre-match press conference before the FA Cup tie with Boreham Wood to deny the claims from the media.
“Those reports were inaccurate. My interview was with the board: Mr Moshiri, the chairman, Denise the CEO and the board – not with Mr Usmanov,” he said, as quoted by Richard Buxton on Twitter.
Be done
Whether Usmanov really was part of the interview or not, it is almost entirely irrelevant now he has been axed from the club.
He and any ties to Putin and the horrible ongoing in Ukraine are now gone from the club and they can look forward to the future without him.
Lampard is still the best man for the job right now and he has proven that with two wins from his first three home games.
He is the boss to lead the Toffees away from the relegation zone this season and he can now do that without the burden of Usmanov hanging over Goodison Park.
It will be a great relief to left-back and Ukraine international Vitaliy Mykolenko given the crisis currently happening in his homeland.
He is set to feature for Everton against Boreham Wood tomorrow evening and he will for sure get a rousing reception from a packed Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, they are in the race to sign this 17-year-old midfield maestro from the EFL this summer.