Season › 2017-18 › News Speculation building over potential Brands switch Lyndon Lloyd Wednesday, 9 May, 2018 34comments | Jump to most recent Some of the strongest indications thus far that Marcel Brands will shortly be joining Everton have cropped up in reports on both sides of the English channel over the past couple of days. Speculation has been rife the past few weeks that PSV Eindhoven's renowned technical director was considering leaving the Dutch champions for a fresh challenge in the Premier League and it would appear as though an announcement confirming that decision is imminent. Paul Joyce of The Times, usually a reliable reporter when it comes to Everton news, made reference to the fact that Brands's is expected to come on board at Everton over the close season in his report regarding the Wayne Rooney situation earlier today. Meanwhile, in an interview with Voetbal International in the Netherlands, Brands makes another reference to how difficult it would be to leave his “family” at PSV but that he feels like he is leaving them in the lurch. VI's own suggestion was that, “[h]is statements are in the knowledge that a departure to Everton is forthcoming and done.” Article continues below video content “I am at the most beautiful club in the Netherlands and those who really know me know that I am very attached to people,” Brands said in quotes translated and published by the Sport Witness website. “That I should say to Toon [Gerbrands], my secretary, the people in the scouting, in the training or to Phillip [Cocu]: ‘I am leaving,' I think that's the hardest thing there is. “I am tough, but at these moments I am very small. I have something special with so many people here. And they all give me a nice [send off], but I always feel like I'm abandoning those people.” Having made the step up from a general manager role at RKC Waalwijk where he finished his career as a player, Brands took up technical director roles at AZ Alkmaar (where, coincidentally, he had to sack ex-Everton boss Ronald Koeman in 2009) and PSV. Brands has earned a reputation as a savvy recruiter of players and under his sporting directorship, PSV have won the Dutch title in three of the last four seasons, dethroning perennial title winners over the previous four years Ajax. It is believed that he would step into the director of football role currently occupied by Steve Walsh, with the latter perhaps moving into a chief scout position. Reader Comments (34) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Liam Reilly 1 Posted 09/05/2018 at 22:41:18 Could be the catalyst for building something great; god knows Evertonians deserve it. Joe O'Brien 2 Posted 09/05/2018 at 22:45:11 Can't see him working with Sam which is another thing we deserve. Gordon White 3 Posted 09/05/2018 at 22:47:37 Can't argue with Joe or Liam. Bring it on. COYB's Don Alexander 4 Posted 09/05/2018 at 22:51:36 Walsh as "chief scout"? Jeez! Does anyone know precisely just what part he played in finding and developing Vardy, Kante and Mahrez because since he's been here the recruiting has gone to hell in a handcart in terms of unearthing unknown talent who quickly, and in Kante's case instantly, hit the heights. Steve Ferns 6 Posted 09/05/2018 at 22:52:23 I hope his reputation for promoting youth continues. Bill Gienapp 7 Posted 10/05/2018 at 00:40:56 Tentatively hopeful. I can't imagine he'd agree to come unless he was told it would be a clean slate and he'd at least have input in the managerial search. Steve Powell 8 Posted 10/05/2018 at 00:44:57 Maybe his first task will be to appoint a new Head Coach? Chad Schofield 9 Posted 10/05/2018 at 02:21:05 I'd be interested to see if Walsh stays if it happens. There's no glorifying it as a "sideways" move if he is demoted to Head Coach. If Allardyce goes too, given Walsh allegedly back him, perhaps he'll become Executive Chief of Spotless Boots. Justin Doone 10 Posted 10/05/2018 at 05:05:37 Personly I don't think we need him and I'm not sure the good work in Holland will translate to the Premier league. It's like comparing Apples and Oranges.But Mo the business man wants a longer term (no such thing in football) man to oversee development and bring continuity.If we are successful great, he should be paid a large % based on success and then another team will come in for him. If not he's criticised, falls out with the manager and change is inevitable.I think whoever comes in that role will be given 6 months to identify our next manager. Meaning Sam stays for another season. It's about stability and business strategy.Hopefully I'm talking out of my rear pipe and we get Mancini in the next few weeks. Brian Porter 11 Posted 10/05/2018 at 06:31:00 I have a feeling that Brands is waiting for assurances that he won't have to work with perennial loser, Allardyce, if he comes to Everton. Surely he will want to be working with a progressive, forward thinking manager, not one mired in the ways of the past or who has such a poor win percentage record over that last twenty years. If he comes he will want to be building for success, something that no team under Allardyce can ever aspire to. Just my thoughts. Christopher Timmins 12 Posted 10/05/2018 at 06:53:11 He can improve things if he comes through the doors. I am not sure what he will make of Bill's welcoming speech. Sam Hoare 13 Posted 10/05/2018 at 07:06:05 Everything I have read about Brands is extremely positive. He is a great talent spotter, believes in promoting youth and is known for creating a ‘Feelgood’ atmosphere in which players can develop and thrive. His work at AZ and PSV is impressive and though it might take time (he had slow starts at both Dutch clubs) I think he would have a great chance of moving us forward.A combination of Brands as DOF and a coaching- focused manager (like Silva) would seem an excellent and exciting step in the right direction to me. Marc Hints 14 Posted 10/05/2018 at 07:51:45 Sam Hoare #13I totally agree with everything you are saying, I think Moshiri knows this is a big summer and I don;t think Sam will be part of it either. I have read nothing but great things so far about Marcel Brands.By the way my surname used to be Hoare, not related are we? Rob Halligan 15 Posted 10/05/2018 at 09:12:04 Christopher # 12, probably something along the lines of . "What a technical director" . Sam Hoare 16 Posted 10/05/2018 at 09:36:36 Marc@14, it's certainly possible, us Hoares seem to be everywhere! Ian Burns 17 Posted 10/05/2018 at 09:41:15 "(where, coincidentally, he had to sack ex-Everton boss Ronald Koeman in 2009" - I like this guy already! John Clowes 18 Posted 10/05/2018 at 10:00:24 I'm thinking out loud here (which does get me in to trouble sometimes!) but if he wants his own managerial team in as others have suggested, could he maybe ask for Cocu to join him? I know nothing about his managerial ability. Peter Lee 19 Posted 10/05/2018 at 10:05:38 If he is appointed I think it not unreasonable for the club to give a clear statement of what exactly he will do/be responsible for.Could be a chance for clarity on what other senior staff do too. Bob Parrington 20 Posted 10/05/2018 at 10:17:03 Interesting. If I was Sam, but I am not, I would be saying to the board - it is your job to stop this speculation. Get rid or support! David Hallwood 21 Posted 10/05/2018 at 12:25:16 Pardon my naivety but what does a DoF do? The answer to the Everton model is very little or even less than that considering the glaring imbalances in the squad and a confused footballing philosophy. The Chelsea model seems to deliver to the manager players he doesn’t want(Barkley??). The manager in turn is continually at odds with the DoF. I could go on. So does he/they pinpoint the players, oversee the infrastructure, or the philosophy I am genuinely confused Keith Harrison 22 Posted 10/05/2018 at 13:24:16 Sam 13 and Marc 14. Sure I've been out with a few of your relations.In the days of yore if you weren't fixed up near the end of the night, it was any old Hoare will do.By the way lads, how old are you, and neither of your mothers used to go to dances at Moota near Cockermouth did they?? 😎😎 Marc Hints 23 Posted 10/05/2018 at 14:45:11 Keith 22Hilarious post, nearly choked on my Mars Bar at work!Believe me I have I have been through the late nights and as you say any old Hoare will do, interesting conversation once I told them what my surname was. I will ask my 63 year old mum tonight and maybe my Auntie if she has been near Cockermouth. :) Jamie Crowley 24 Posted 10/05/2018 at 14:59:41 My wife and I tried to visit Cockermouth once. She was driving and got lost. Never found the place. More’s the pity. Brands is an outstanding acquisition and if we bring him on we need to simply let Walsh go. Save the money. Keith Harrison 25 Posted 10/05/2018 at 18:43:10 Think of "From Dusk till Dawn" with menaces, Jamie.Lucky escape there pal. Colin Glassar 26 Posted 10/05/2018 at 19:06:37 I hope he only comes if he demands the resignation of most of the current board. Sack the amateurs!! Nigel Munford 27 Posted 10/05/2018 at 20:19:05 I see Ian Holloway is now available is this what we’ve been waiting for?? Colin Glassar 28 Posted 10/05/2018 at 20:34:27 No Nigel, we need Neil Warnock. Peter Thistle 29 Posted 10/05/2018 at 21:10:22 Sack Walsh, happy days. Nigel Munford 30 Posted 10/05/2018 at 21:38:20 I’m sure Holloway could do a job for us Colin ;-) Don Alexander 31 Posted 10/05/2018 at 22:00:47 Holloway certainly brought the best out of Seamus at Blackpool, got them promoted, wasn't allowed to spend anything but played exhilarating football scoring more times than all but the top four and two other teams (and twelve more than we've managed this season) before they got relegated with 39 points. Just saying, tongue firmly u-no-where! Nigel Munford 32 Posted 10/05/2018 at 22:34:33 Just thought I’d toss it in there Don. Jamie Crowley 33 Posted 10/05/2018 at 22:59:35 I'll put on my tin hat, but I loved watching Blackpool under Holloway.Fantastic football, but very "Martinesque" in that defending was definitely not a priority.Find me a Holloway who actually recognizes defending is important.Actually, that's Klopp.Life as a Blue right now simply is shit. Bill Watson 34 Posted 11/05/2018 at 18:16:04 I want a manager who can string together a consistent run of results.Pardew's available...no hang on: just checked and his consistent runs are all defeats! Andy Meighan 35 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:10:10 Nigel (#30). You're right — Holloway could do a job for us.,, The tea lady has just retired! 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