Everton backroom figure who rose to national prominence leaves after 9 years at Goodison
Everton club doctor John Hollingsworth has left the club after nearly a decade at Goodison Park, Training Ground Guru reports.
According to the outlet’s website on 8 November William Fotherby, who was Assistant Men’s First Team and Academy Doctor, has been promoted to replace him.
Hollingsworth first joined the Toffees in 2015 and “rose to national prominence” following his treatment of Andre Gomes’ serious ankle injury in 2019, when there were fears the Portuguese midfielder may never play again.
Instead the former Barcelona man returned to action 111 days after the Tottenham game where he was hurt in a challenge by Son Hueng-min, crediting Hollingsworth for his role in the recovery [Sky Sports].
John Hollingsworth leaves role as Everton club doctor
It is a period of significant change on Merseyside and the impending takeover from Farhad Moshiri by The Friedkin Group may have influenced Hollingsworth’s decision.
The doctor will have been in place for virtually the entire reign of the outgoing majority shareholder, having arrived a year before him, and leaves just before his expected departure.
With the Toffees moving into their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium next season, and believed to be a matter of weeks from a new era under American ownership [Alan Myers, 25 October], there is bound to be major turnover at the club.
Hollingsworth will always be remembered for his role in Gomes’ recovery, with the midfielder remaining at the club until his exit to Lille in the summer a year after returning from a successful loan.
Much of the squad is predicted to change between this season and next as a host of players on expiring contracts could leave, and Friedkin tipped to invest in the transfer market when PSR limitations permit.
And Sean Dyche’s future also looks uncertain as his deal also runs out in the summer, and despite looking likely to get the chance to audition for an extension [TEAMtalk, 24 October] it seems unlikely at this stage he would get one.
New staff will likely come in behind the scenes with the new ownership, and while there is no indication of dissatisfaction with Hollingsworth’s performance he has clearly decided to time is right to move on.
In other Everton news, an update on mooted delays to the Toffees takeover has been issued.
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