Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has launched into several rants about Everton’s decision to part ways with Rafa Benitez - and the upcoming decisions of appointing his replacement.
Benitez was dismissed as Blues boss on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Everton’s away defeat to Norwich City.
A 2-0 loss at Carrow Road leaves the Blues in 16th place in the Premier League table and six points above the relegation zone.
Jordan, who has previously been critical of Everton majority owner Farhad Moshiri, has given his take on the “flawed” decision to appoint Benitez as manager in the summer.
Benitez was brought in to succeed Carlo Ancelotti who departed for Real Madrid, but lasted just six months in charge at Goodison Park.
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“There’s an element to me of the blind leading the blind,” Jordan told Talksport.
“Moshiri isn’t making these decisions because he’s been educated in the view, he’s being educated by those around and formulating an opinion upon him.
“So while we’re piling on him, and I was the poster boy of piling on Moshiri a long time ago, and now a lot of people are saying the same thing that the owner is responsible for the thought processes.
“[Appointing] Rafa Benitez, as a decision, was flawed from the outset.
“You don’t bring in that’s pretty much universally disliked by the majority of Everton fans. The style of play won’t sit with them.
“There's not a narrative, besides what Benitez once was - to your neighbours - that makes you think that’s an educated football decision.”
Jordan then went on to explain why he thinks it’s “laughable” to think that assistant boss Duncan Ferguson could be the long-term solution for Everton.
The former chairman then went on to argue what role Ferguson should have while Everton look for a replacement for Benitez.
“If they want to be an elite football club, then it’s laughable to think that Duncan Ferguson is going to provide that in the longer game,” said Jordan.
“I think it’s embarrassing to think that Wayne Rooney will, but it depends what you want.
“You’ve got an owner that’s spent half a billion quid to build nothing.
“This season has gone, you’ve wasted this season. Whatever reasons you’ve had to waste it, you’ve wasted it.
“Duncan Ferguson should be put into place to hold order and to get them past the initial problem of being sucked into something they don’t need to be anywhere near.
“Then look at it properly and strategically and go ‘what have we really got here? Is our academy good enough, is our recruitment good enough, do we need a director of football? What does our manager look like and what does Everton really want to be under this ownership model?’
“Spending half a billion quid should be giving you far more than this. It gives Leicester City far more than that, it gives Southampton far more than that.
“I’m not being disrespectful to Southampton, but if Everton fans want their team to be a mid-table side, then make these decisions with Duncan Ferguson because he once played for the club.
“How many legends that have played for the football club have gone back and managed their football clubs and been really successful at it?”
Jordan then looked at the possible successors to Benitez that Everton should look at, and argued why the club’s long-term vision should be crucial to their decision making.
“They should be looking at Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard,” said Jordan. “There’s no reason for David Moyes to go back to Everton unless West Ham don’t give him what he’s entitled to, which is more support.
“They should look at nicking Patrick Vieira out of Crystal Palace, if they’re able to.
“They should be looking at Steve Cooper and the job he’s doing at Nottingham Forest and with Swansea City.
“They should be looking at Eric Ten Hag (Ajax manager), have they got that kind of ambition?
“They should be looking at, maybe, Graham Potter, can we get those sorts of guys?
“And they should also give consideration in the conversation to Wayne Rooney, I don’t think he’s anywhere near ready and I don’t think his backroom staff are strong enough behind him to give him the support and the guidelines to go into, what should be, a big and powerful Premier League club.
“So all of those conversations should happen, and they should be looked at and assessed in the rounds as to what they represent to Everton.
“But the most important thing now is to bring stability.”
