Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs has launched a scathing attack on the club’s board and believes his old side will be relegated if they don't bring in reinforcements this month.
Chants of 'Sack the board' echoed around the stadium after Brighton’s third and fourth goals and the final whistle at Goodison Park last night. The defeat leaves the Blues just one point above the relegation zone.
Speaking post-match, Frank Lampard conceded that his year-long tenure at Goodison Park would come under the microscope following his side's latest setback. But for Stubbs, the club's problems run much deeper than the manager.
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“To be honest, I don’t think any Everton fan is that surprised. I think that manner in the defeat will be the surprising bit, but it is a tough time for Everton right now,” Stubbs told Five Live breakfast.
“I think the fans showed their voice last night in terms of how unhappy they are with the board. Frank Lampard has to take huge responsibility, but the board have got to take a lot of this criticism as well.
“Even more so than Frank because he has gone in and had to deal with the failings of previous managers that the board have brought in.
“Unfortunately, sacking managers is the easy way out. I hope they give him a bit more time and a bit of the window, but they have a decision to make.
“They have three games now. They have got Manchester United away. They have got a huge game against Southampton at home and then West Ham on the 21st of January.
“They have got to decide whether they are going to back him or give him three games and then see what happens after that. I think the big question marks should be pointed at the board. They have overseen the last five or six years of mediocrity.”
The former Blues skipper then continued, saying: “I think it is very obvious. We have had a board that have meddled in the transfers. They would say they haven’t, but they certainly have.
“Everton have spent over £500m in the last six, seven years on a team that is worse now than before they started spending.
“That tells us everything about how wrong it is. They have brought Kevin Thelwell in this season to oversee it and the early signs of his signings have been positive, but this is going to take 18 months to two years to try and get rid of all signings they have made over the last five or six years.
“Everyone is talking about change on the pitch, but there needs to be change behind-the-scenes. I have been saying this for the last two or three years.
"Certainly Mr Kenwright, he tries to keep you quiet by not allowing you into the games, unofficially that is. There is one thing they will never do and that is quieten my voice because at the end of the day, I want what is best for Everton Football Club.
“Yes, I was a player, but I am a fan first and foremost. Right now it is sad to see what is going on, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well.”
“He has decided not to give me tickets because basically I have said the truth in terms of wanting change,” Stubbs added. “Bill’s way of dealing with that is to try and stop you from going to watch the team you have supported since you were a boy, but that will never happen.”
The ECHO contacted Everton for comment on Stubbs' claims.
Asked where Everton go now, Stubbs replied: “We have literally got four weeks because that is what the window is to bring in new players, and unfortunately we have a chairman that has really gone quiet, in terms of Mr Moshiri being nowhere to be seen.
“I think it is common knowledge that he is looking for investors or would be happy to sell the club. We have got a new stadium in the background that looks fantastic, which I must admit because I pass it everyday.
“But right now that is so far in the distance because what is stirring us right in the face right now on the pitch, we were lucky last year at Everton, there is no doubt about that.
“The one reason we stayed up last season was purely the fans. They will come out and support the team, but they need support themselves.
“They need support and the players have really got to get the fans back on side because this is probably turned about three weeks ago, four weeks ago, from the Bournemouth games when they got beat twice.
“You look at Everton’s last results, they have been beaten by Bournemouth, Wolves, Leicester and Brighton. Three of them teams are in the relegation battle and they have been beaten by the teams around them. Which is not acceptable.”
Stubbs, speaking to Rick Edwards on Tuesday morning, then continued on what he would be doing if he was in the Blues’ dressing room right now.
He said: “I think football has changed now. When I was playing there was an honesty where you could call a player out and say listen it is not acceptable and we need to rally around.
“But I think there is a bit of why you are saying it to me. Rather than look at yourself and your performance to the acceptable level and if it is not then you have to take the criticism, or the constructive criticism or the talking to.
“Whether it is a player or a member of staff, the one thing you have to do is respond and not feel sorry for yourself when you are in your situation.
“You have a responsibility, first and foremost, to perform at the best you can possibly do. And if you are not having one of your good days, then at least try and work 100% to try and do the right things.
“But right now it looks like some players are not at that level. Rightly or wrongly, whether it is confidence, or whether they are just not up to it, but the one thing Everton fans can’t accept is a lack of effort.”
Speaking last month, Blues boss Frank Lampard revealed that strengthening his side’s attack is going to be the club's priority during the winter window. Everton’s need to strengthen up top has been well-documented so far this season.
The ECHO reported on Friday that work is ongoing behind-the-scenes, with Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga among what is said to be a detailed list of targets. The Blues have also made the decision to recall Ellis Simms from his successful loan spell at Sunderland.
But Stubbs believes if the Blues aren’t active in the transfer window this month, then they could well be relegated to the Championship.
“Probably, yes,” he replied when asked if Everton will be relegated if they don’t bring players in this month.
Before he added: “It is painful now. But I must admit, they have made a couple of signings that have helped. James Tarkowski and Conor Coady have been positives, but Everton have gone into this season without a recognised striker.
“Even though they knew their main striker, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was not going to be fit for quite a bit of time, and for me, that is poor management.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin has unfortunately been injured more than he has been on the pitch. Everton don’t just need one or two signings this window, they need five or six.
“Some might say more, but I think they need at least five or six and right now all eyes are on the board to come up with the goods.”
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