Rio Ferdinand admits Everton in ‘disarray’ from top to bottom despite Premier League survival
Rio Ferdinand believes Everton are in “disarray” from top to bottom despite staving off Premier League relegation on the last day of the season.
Sean Dyche’s side ended the season in dramatic style, with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday (28 May), resulting in the Toffees finishing the season in 17th position and two points above the bottom three.
However, speaking live on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE (29 May), the former Manchester United defender reacted to the “toxic environment” at Goodison Park, which saw fans call for the board to be sacked shortly after the final whistle.
“It’s a club that is in disarray, from the top down to the bottom,” he said.
“The recruitment of some of the players in that squad, you’re left scratching your head a little bit, but at the top, the fans aren’t happy.
“They stayed up and they’re still shouting ‘sack the board’.
“You can see there’s a toxic environment there that needs sorting out. I think Dyche has got a difficult job there, a big job, but I think it is still a great job because Everton are a big football club with a great fan base.
“He needs the full backing of the board and the recruitment team to be on point this year.”
Time for change
Ferdinand is spot on with his assessment of the mood at Goodison Park.
Although there was joy and relief that the club managed to maintain their Premier League status, this didn’t stop the fact that the current board have been leading Everton into the ground over the last few years.
A football club of the size of Everton should be in the top half of the table, competing in the latter stages of competitions and for European football, but as it is, they are barely managing to keep themselves in the top flight.
This is solely down to the board and their rudderless leadership.
The Toffees have had their fair share of successful managers come into the club and quickly get spat back out, from Marco Silva and Rafa Benitez all the way to Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti.
The one common denominator is Farhad Moshiri and those in the Toffees boardroom.
If Dyche is to progress the club back up the Premier League table, change is needed and fast.