Pundit issues ‘truth’ verdict as Brands followed out of Everton door by another senior figure
Marcel Brands fell on Rafael Benitez’s sword at Everton in taking the blame for their current plight.
So says ex-Premier League boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about behind-the-scenes developments at Goodison.
Brands confirmed last Sunday (5 December) that he had left Everton after three-and-a-half years, citing a “clear difference in vision and direction.”
A Toffees source told this site the next day that transfer chief Rafn Steinsson was also in line to leave as Benitez looks to take full control of recruitment.
The source has updated today that Steinsson has now left the club.
Everton have spent close to £300million on new signings during Brands’ tenure but have failed to qualify for European competition in that time.
And McLeish claims that it is now only right that they change tack and give the manager greater influence over recruitment.
“We’ll never know what the full truth is,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“It’s a hard one to evaluate. Normally, the manager gets blamed for recruitment, but it seems like Brands has fallen on his sword.
“Everton have compared what they have spent on these players to other teams and reached this decision.
“I never wanted not to have the final say on the player. I also wanted to watch players with my own eyes, even if the job of a manager is time-consuming.
“Look at Liverpool under Klopp. For the first two or three years, he had to play players out of position. Then he got Van Dijk, which was crucial.
“I’m sure that the manager will have been personally trying to get him for a long time. It just goes to show, the manager has to have the final say.”
Everton spent just £1.7million on new signings over the summer of 2021 as financial fair play regulations caught up with them.
They are currently 13th in the league table ahead of today’s (12 December) meeting with Crystal Palace.
In other news, injury expert expects new Everton approach as Benitez rues Yerry Mina risk that’s badly backfired.