Let Big Dunc get his teeth right into Toffees
Trev tells Everton it’s Fergie time as they eye Roberto after Rafa
TREVOR STEVEN last night called on Everton to let his former Rangers team-mate Duncan Ferguson ‘get his teeth’ into saving the Toffees from relegation.
Goodison legend Ferguson is set to be thrown into the frontline as interim manager for a second time following the sacking of Rafa Benitez yesterday afternoon.
The Spaniard was axed after his side slumped to defeat at Norwich on Saturday, a result which has dragged Everton into a scrap for their Premier League lives.
Roberto Martinez has emerged as the favourite to become Benitez’ successor after talks were opened with the Belgian FA.
But Steven, who helped the club conquer England’s top flight as a player, believes Ferguson deserves the chance to prove that he is ready to take on the task on a permanent basis, two years after standing in as an emergency caretaker before the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti.
Steven said: “What a time to come in as a new manager. To have to put a performance together and build when you’ve got no momentum and no confidence. That’s the full picture of it.
“You’ve got to think that a Duncan Ferguson would fit the bill. And to be quite honest with you, when Carlo left, I got in touch with Duncan to wish him all the best with getting the job at that point because he knows the club so well.
“He’s a driving force. He’s respected. He doesn’t suffer fools. He’s been around that Everton dressing room and the club for such a long time that he lives and breathes it. So I am hoping that this is the opportunity that he gets and not just to come in as an interim manager.
“Give him the opportunity to go and take Everton from here forward.
“Give him 18 months of a contract and let him get his teeth into it. That to me would be the sensible way of trying to make a far better situation out of one which is very negative at the moment.
“No one else comes to mind who’s going to be able to deal with the initial crisis better than Duncan Ferguson.
“There’s enough of this season to go to see if he’s actually got the skills. I think he does. I just don’t think he’s been given the platform yet.”
Martinez has indicated he would like the challenge of resurrecting the Blues and keeping them in the Premier League but he will not walk out on Belgium after steering them into the position as the No.1 in the world and favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar this year.
Talks with the Belgium governing body proceeded deep into last night, for a manager who was favourite to take the job in the summer, until owner Farhad Moshiri decided to appoint Benitez.
His reign was always doomed, and he was sacked after the shortest term of any manager in the club history.
Benitez had tried to exercise complete control at the club, forcing the exit of director of football Marcel Brands and popular star Lucas Digne.
It has also emerged that the deposed boss refused the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho, even after the club had agreed a deal to bring him back to Merseyside, because he demanded final say on all signings. Everton are hoping to agree a deal that will see Martinez arrive before the weekend game against Aston Villa, along with his national team coach Thierry Henry.
But Moshiri is also a fan of Jose Mourinho and will also place Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard on his list.
Benitez spoke last night of his sadness at his dismissal.
In a statement on his personal website, he said: “My love for this city, for Merseyside and its people, made me accept this challenge.
“We didn’t only have to get results, but we also had to win over people’s hearts. However, the financial situation and the injuries that followed made things even harder.
“I am convinced we’d have been better once the injured players were back but sadly it won’t be possible to continue this project.”