Everton have sounded out former Toffees midfielder Lee Carsley over a potential return to Goodison Park as assistant coach to Duncan Ferguson if he becomes their next manager.
That’s according to The Athletic, who report Ferguson would love to at least continue his caretaker spell until the end of the season. Blues owner Farhad Moshiri has appointed the 50-year-old as the interim head coach, having sacked Rafa Benitez after losing to Norwich.
Benitez lasted six-months in the hot seat following the former Liverpool boss’ controversial appointment to replace Carlo Ancelotti. He oversaw 22 games in all competitions, including 19 Premier League games, for just seven wins and four draws. They won five in the league.
Ferguson has told Moshiri that he wants a chance to replace Benitez as Everton’s manager full-time. The Goodison fans’ favourite will take his first caretaker game against Aston Villa on Saturday. The meeting may also see Lucas Digne return to Merseyside after his transfer.
Everton are putting plans in place to offer Ferguson greater support during his interim run as manager. He will have Leighton Baines, John Ebbrell and Alan Kelly with him this week, as Francisco de Miguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez, Jamie Harley and Cristian Fernandez left.
Everton sound out Carsley over Goodison return
Everton have contacted former Toffees midfielder Carsley over joining as one of Ferguson’s assistants if he is made the permanent manager. The highly-rated England U21 head coach – a position he has only held since last July – played at Goodison between 2003 and 2008.
Carsley joined Everton from Coventry City and played 198 times for the club before joining Birmingham City. He also scored 12 goals and provided four assists across all competitions.
The 47-year-old has previously worked as the caretaker manager for Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham. He was also the England U20s boss before stepping up to the U21s and handing Everton ace Anthony Gordon his debut, in which he scored twice in November.
FA Technical Director John McDermott also lauded Carsley for his ‘wonderful knowledge’, via the England website, when appointed as the new Young Lions head coach last year.
Everton confident of Baines, Ferguson relationship working
Additionally, Everton are confident that Ferguson can achieve results during his interim run as manager with fellow Toffees legend Baines. Staff at Finch Farm are confident they work well together, having built a rapport off the field since Baines returned after his retirement.
Ferguson and Baines have a mutual respect for each other and club figures feel their skills complement one another. Also, both know what it takes to play for the name on the front of the shirt and to rise to the Goodison crowd – a trait Benitez felt the current squad lack.
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