Pundit defends ‘brilliant’ Brands at Everton after sack reveal
Noel Whelan has insisted Marcel Brands does not deserve to be sacked by Everton amid the club’s woeful run of form.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, applauded the 59-year-old for his “brilliant” work in signing Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend this summer.
An Everton source told Football Insider on Friday (3 December) Brands is “90 per cent likely” to be sacked after Farhad Moshiri publicly backed Rafael Benitez this week.
The Dutch figure is understood to be running out of allies among the Goodison board and management.
However, Whelan suggested Benitez should be the one under scrutiny.
Asked how much blame he believes lies at Brands’ door, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “When you look at Demarai Gray and Townsend, they’re really good signings.
“I think you’ve got to give him a round of applause for those two. They have probably been two of the most consistent, better players this season.
“So on that front, getting those two players for next to nothing, brilliant. Look, they’re struggling for money. They have put the new ground that they are building first.
“But if they don’t start getting some players back from injury, they’re going to see themselves in a relegation fight.
“This is really important that they turn this around as quickly as possible. When it comes to a manager, the manager will take the blame. There’s no doubt about that.
“They were a team really looking to build to start pushing and breaking into the top six only a year and a half ago.
“This is a massive step back for Everton right now. Difficult times ahead.”
Brands has a contract at Goodison until 2024.
However, as revealed by Football Insider (1 December), Benitez wants to take further control of the club’s recruitment.
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