Angry Everton fans demand answers from woeful team

EVERTON director of football Marcel Brands has calmed a group of angry fans who threatened to blockade the club’s training ground.

About seven supporters fuming at Everton’s humiliating FA Cup loss to Liverpool’s second-stringers turned up at Finch Farm on Monday demanding to see the players.

It is understood they threatened to mobilise more fans and blockade the entrance when they were told by security they could not speak to any of the players.

Brands, who is in charge of Everton’s football operations, agreed to go out and meet the supporters at the security barrier.

The Dutchman listened to their grievances for about 20 minutes and promised to relay them to the players.

The episode highlights the depth of the fans’ anger at Everton’s defeat at Anfield, where they have not won since 1999, and the view of many that it was the Toffees’ worst derby loss.

There is likely to be more acrimony at the club’s annual meeting next week, which will be attended by Brands, majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Moshiri hopes to present an exciting view of Everton’s future as the club advance plans for a 52,000-seater stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

But many fans are angry at the club’s Premier League standing, sitting five points above the drop zone.

Ancelotti was dismayed by Everton’s second-half showing at Liverpool and will wield the axe as he begins an overhaul of his highly-paid and underperforming squad.

Iceland’s Gylfi Sigurdsson, the club’s record £45million signing, could be the most high-profile casualty after he was hauled off at Anfield.

Cenk Tosun, who has managed just 10 goals in 51 appearances, and Morgan Schneiderlin could also leave.