Everton are to retain the vacant position of director of football to work alongside new manager Frank Lampard.
Following criticism of Everton’s recruitment process under their two directors of football to date, Steve Walsh (2016-18) and Marcel Brands (2018-21) with the latter’s three-and-a-half year tenure coming to an abrupt halt last December less than eight months after he’d penned a new contract at the club until 2024, there have been questions over whether the role will be kept on.
Brands’ last public act at the club was to become embroiled in a verbal exchange with an angry fan after the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at Goodison Park when he was asked if he’d brought in those on the pitch and issued the cryptic response: “Is it only the players?”
However, while a strategic football review at Everton remains ongoing, the ECHO understands the club are seeking a new director of football so the position will be retained.
There is no comment on reports that owner Farhad Moshiri and the board have targeted former Liverpool talent-spotter Steve Hitchen for the director of football role after Tottenham Hotspur’s director of technical performance handed in his notice today.
The 45-year-old Salford-born former Blackburn Rovers and Macclesfield Town defender has also worked for Queens Park Rangers and Derby County.
