Everton’s Sean Dyche claims ‘siege mentality’ driven by off-field issues
Sean Dyche has said he does not have to create a siege mentality at Everton because the numerous issues surrounding the club generate one regardless.
The Premier League is reportedly seeking a 12-point deduction if Everton are found guilty of a breach of its financial fair play rules by an independent commission, which began hearing the case last week. Leeds, Leicester and Burnley have written to Everton’s prospective new owners, 777 Partners, warning they intend to sue for damages in the event of relegation. All three clubs were relegated in the past two seasons when Everton narrowly survived.
The threat of a points deduction is the latest in a long line of problems that Dyche has faced at Everton, but he remains confident it will not affect his players unduly. Dyche believes there is no requirement on his part to create a siege mentality in response because of the unrelenting nature of the off-field distractions at Everton.
“I don’t think a siege mentality needs much fostering here,” he said. “It’s kind of an ongoing thing. The players know there have been varying ups and downs and noises around the club for various reasons. You don’t want them to get used to it in terms of it being acceptable because you want to change the story, and it often starts on the pitch. We’re the ones that can control that bit and change that bit. There’s been some signs of it but I think the league table doesn’t show what the signs are and that’s the important one.”
The Everton manager added: “There are loads of stories of this type but the commission will decide and when they do we will find out. Ever since I’ve been here there’s been pressure of all sorts on Everton Football Club. There is so much noise here it’s just another part of it. We are trying to make a more positive noise about the whole club and every time you are just about getting there, another thing comes up.”
Dyche paid tribute to Bill Kenwright, who died on Monday aged 78, and revealed he once got word to the late Everton chairman that he would like to manage at Goodison Park. He is indebted to Kenwright for eventually making that happen.
“I was told a number of years ago that I was a manager he liked, but you hear different things from different people,” he said. “I told someone who knew him quite well that I always thought I could do a good job possibly one day for Everton Football Club. And then my day came around and he was a big influence on that. Obviously I met with the owner, Mr Moshiri, and went through the interview process but I think the chairman was a big influence in bringing me to the football club and that is a debt of gratitude owed.”