Gary Neville likens Everton plight to Mike Ashley’s…

Gary Neville likens Everton plight to Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has likened Everton's recent struggles to Newcastle United under Mike Ashley. The ex-England right-back has said on a number of occasions how toxic the atmosphere was on Tyneside under the previous ownership regime, but has since burst back unto life since the takeover.

Everton, on the other hand, staged a sit in protest at the weekend and a number of players were confronted by supporters leaving the ground on Saturday night. The board of directors had been told to stay away from their clash with Southampton, with the visitors running out 2-1 winners thanks to a brace from James Ward-Prowse.

"When you go there and get a bouncing Goodison Park, it is special. It was depressing to go to St James' Park for many years, knowing what it could be, and it's now a little bit like that at Goodison Park," the ex-Manchester United defender told Sky Sports.

"They are demoralised and the fans need more. I feel for the Everton fans and Frank as well because it is a really difficult club to manage. My brother was there for many years and had to fight through that in the first 12 to 18 months when they were really tough with him. You don't expect an easy ride over there, you expect them to be tough with you and you want them to be."

Everton supporters, unlike Newcastle, do not necessarily blame the current owner, Farhad Moshiri for a lack of investment into the squad, more so the aimless spending by the current board and lack of guidance. The Toffees hope the building of the new Everton Stadium can help kick-start a new era for the club once open during the 2024/25 season, but Neville has stressed the Toffees are so far behind the big hitters of the division that this move can't come soon enough.

"You think back to the end of last season when you saw that spirit building outside the ground when the coach was on its way - you thought that would be a catalyst. We all know how passionate Everton fans are, we know they're desperate. For years, years and years, they feel as though they have been hard done by and they have been dealt with poorly by successive owners," he said.

"Look at this ground here [Spurs], look at Manchester City, look at Chelsea... Everton are the equal of these clubs. They are not at the level of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, who are a level above, but they are the equal of Tottenham.

"They need it [new stadium] now. They are behind, so far behind. There has been money thrown at it, but they are all over the place and it's a mess. Every season I say the ones to watch are Everton and they [David Jones and Jamie Carragher] always laugh about it on Monday Night Football. I almost want them to have that season when they jump up and surprise me."

Gary Neville likens Everton plight to Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United

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