Brands in key role as Sam exits Everton
Everton’s summer restructuring is under way after manager Sam Allardyce was sacked and PSV Eindhoven’s Marcel Brands arrived to replace director of football Steve Walsh.
Both departures were expected as the pair paid the price for poor performance on the field and disappointing business off it, after the biggest transfer spend in the club’s history – almost £200million – backfired.
Brands spent eight years at PSV and signed players like Georginio Wijnaldum, Kevin Strootman and Dries Mertens relatively cheaply. He will be tasked with the search for a new manager along with new chief executive Denise BarrettBaxendale and deputy chairman Keith Harris.
Marco Silva is the favourite to take over from ex-Sunderland and Newcastle boss Allardyce after a failed bid to secure him from Watford in November. Silva was sacked in January with Watford stating that the catalyst for their slump in results was Everton’s “unwarranted approach”. It is understood that Everton anticipate having to pay Watford substantial compensation if they appoint Silva, having had a £12million offer rejected six months ago.
Brands is relishing his role, saying: We will look to build something really strong and lasting here at Everton.”
Allardyce was an unpopular choice with fans when he replaced Ronald Koeman. Everton were 13th at the time of the appointment in November, and finished eighth.
Allardyce’s backroom staff of assistant Sammy Lee, firstteam coach Craig Shakespeare and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson have also left.