You can add to that the promote from within list the Mr Moyes has added. Seriously we can do better and I do not want the outgoing manager choosing his own successor, bad idea. I don't doubt Moyes' integrity but this is not something he should be involved in.

What about Martinez? He is shite!

FSW? He would bankrupt us. I can't stand scribblers on the touchline (Round included). Have they a short memory or what?

Surely Rafa Benitez has to be a big NO?!!!

How there are so many evertonians suggesting him is beyond belief! The guy conducted himself without class or respect when he was at Liverpool. He openly called Everton a small club and clearly considered us as beneath him. He constantly took swipes at our tactics and players.

If Kenwright really is proper blue he would take Benitez through the whole process, interview, follow up, negotiations etc. etc. make him think he's got the job .......... and then very publicly shoot him down!

I agree steve! He is also negative!

I've got myself all mixed up I keep weighing up the pro's and cons and I keep rearranging the order of those I think might do a good job, I can't decide whether it should be Pesto Guy, Inert Tram Boozer or Ein Fat Zebra. My heads mashed with all this speculation.
Whoever it is will have a difficult task replacing save my dido.

Kenright will make the decision no matter what the fans say. Been here before. Lets hope he makes a good decision but not holding my breath. But either way lets have a quick decision and not leave it to the day before the next season begins.

I want whoever is going to bring success to Everton, I don't care what they have said in the past about this club just as long as they do the job. What Benitez said for example was said when he was manager of Everton FC, it's about rivalry, today he has said he has a lot of respect for us but he does not expect to become our manager. For me actions speak louder than any words and if he did come to us and did a great job then I'm all for it. I also think that he would come to recognise the real meaning of being a true blue. Still I doubt he will be our manager so what is there to worry about for the Rafa haters who live on a couple of words.

Tony, I have a horrible feeling it will be someone from that list of horrors or an insider, yes man like Neville. I am thoroughly convinced that BK will fuck this up like he usually does.

Just a point, it seems odd that Moyes could possibly get his highest points total if we finally manage to beat Chelsea, but the author suggests his best days are behind him.......as he is fucking us off for Man U. As I said, quite odd.

Can't stand O'Neill, he left Villa because he wanted more money....he's never going to get any here.

I have always said Rafa is a good cup manager but would our league position get worse?

Steve king, quality post mate. Made me laugh.

Really concerned Stubbs is going to get the job. Promoting from within would be the worst decision possible.......apart from Steve Bruce.

Interesting to hear DM giving big Duncan and Alan Irvine some plaudits in his farewell speech last night ; particularly complimentary about Duncan's leadership qualities. Had me wondering if he was making the sales pitch on Bill's behalf one last time ? Probably reading it completely wrong as always but it did seem rather contrived. Ferguson and Irvine anyone?

Add Gus Poyet to the NO list please.
He's now the favourite for the EFC job with Paddy Power.
I don't like his attitude judging by his comments on the BBC website.

Available soon for nothing.,. A total winner. Top class CV. Brilliant tactician and currently lives on Merseyside.

Yes he slagged us off a few times. Who cares? Blues used to chant stuff at him.

Let's get Rafa.

The best days of Moyes are behind him?

Unfortunately his best days are ahead and in good number.

Any thoughts on Sven??

Just want to throw another name into the mix, ex Everton player Stuart McCall now manager of Motherwell, currently 2nd in the SPL and not having lots of money to play with. He is someone who is used to winning, with 6 league titles with Rangers (as a player) but used to winning.
Better than some that have been mentioned

If you want your company to do well you hire the best man for the job.
Only a foreign based manager with European experience and success will do.
Don't go near a British manager. They are tactically inept!
We want a technician a tactician and a leader.
Jesus, Vitor Pereira or my pick Lucien Favre. Forget the rest.

His best days for Everton are behind him that's for sure. Whether he will be a success @ Man U only time will tell, after all who thought he was going to be a success when he came to us. In the end I think it was probably the right time for him to move on, he didn't have anything else to move us on and I am of the opinion that it wasn't just down to money. He did a good job of bringing stability but this club needs to win things and I think there is somebody out there who will bring that to the club.

Ste, Jackie, Tony J and others,

You're starting to wind me up with this Rafa nonsense. Have some bloody respect for the club you love.

Nick (972), I have some thoughts on Sven, how the hell was he a p***y magnet? That, for me, was his greatest success. As a manager, the players seemed to like him. Did he blot his copy book at Leicester though?

Looks like it will be from within. Moyes said today the chairman will ask for his advice and Moyes will have no hesitation recommending any of our backroom staff or Pip. Kenwright has said Moyes work won't go to waste and you can't always start with a clean slate. You have to have someone who knows the club and it's restraints (added Moyes). He did seem to single out Dunc and Stubbs.............the saga goes on.............

Whats with the love in for Manuel? FFS get him back on the beach hiring pedalos out where he belongs

Sven, Speccy bald Swede. Bedded both Ulrika and Nancy. Credit where it is due. Definitely a better option than Hughes...but still a shit one.

I find the calls for Rafa very disconcerting. It seems to show an alarming lack of self-esteem. What is it about the fact that he is a proper redshite wankero who has no place at Goodison that everyone seems to be missing? That said he is still a better option than Hughes.

Steve McLaren - NO NO NO!

Alex McCleish - NO!

Steve Bruce - NO!

Bryan Robson - NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!

Steve McLaren - NO NO NO!

Alex McCleish - NO!

Steve Bruce - NO!

Bryan Robson - NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!

Oh John why don't you say that about the people who want Nev in charge, or Ferguson or Stubbs? I want whomever will bring glory to this club, not some schoolboy who has never managed in their life. This club is huge and some of us need to remember that. What he said when he was managing the RS was all part of the rivalry, just like the players like to have a dig, get over it, you make us sound bitter. I doubt he will ever become our manager any way but he has a known ability. As for Moyes he can shut his trap about hiring from within, I wonder whether he would want anybody to come in and do better than he did? Hmmmm.

Mike I think their is more of a lack of self esteem when people like Stubbs, Ferguson and Neville are being mentioned, that worries the heck out of me. This could be the decision that determines our future, if players are sold and their is money, that money needs to be spent properly by somebody who knows what they are doing, there wont be anymore once it's gone.

To be honest Jackie, I think if we did promote from within Moyes would be chuffed for them. Not sure about an outsider though.

I'm sure he would be Al, that's my problem. I don't think a manager with no experience fits the bill for us, it's not a risk worth taking in my humble opinion. You also know that BK would never fire anyone if it wasn't working right? He doesn't have the balls.

I don't trust Bill at all.

My worry is this, if Moyes is suggesting "promote from within", why hasn't he taken those individuals he rates so highly with him to Man Utd ?

Couldn't agree more John, not good enough for United but good enough for Everton FC, that about sums it up for me.

John, Maybe he is. We won't find that out until the season ends. My guess is he might be able to employ 1 or 2 new people over there for him to talk to. Everything else seems like he's just going there to be Fergie's bitch.

Fergie- 'Now, Davey, I'm gonna be upstairs watching you.'

Giggs- 'And I'll be outside watching you.'

Moyes- 'So what is it you want me to do in my new role?'

Fergie & Giggs- 'what ever we tell you.'

Well if that is the way it is going to be he made the choice and chose the likely pay increase over doing it his way at Everton. In the end he should be having no say so in who comes in as his replacement, after the game against Chelsea he should play no part at Everton FC.

Jackie, I actually agree with you, Stubbs, Neville et al would, in my opinion, be a total disaster.

But we can't allow a fear of the Hughes' of this world to create some kind of weird and thoroughly inappropriate love-in for Rafa.

Setting to one side the inevitable ridicule we would suffer at the hands of the RS ( I still take the piss out of them for playing on our old ground ), I used to mock Rafa when he was their boss for a multitude of reasons. The ones that immediately spring to mind were the wasting of colossal amounts of money to get exactly nowhere and selling Xavi Alonso when it was obvious to Stevie "I'm not interested in soccer" Wonder he was their 2nd key player - didn't he trot out some shit about not being mobile enough...hmmmmm.

If I was BK I would look up the phone numbers of the top 5 managers from all of the top 5 leagues ( + Bielsa and Hiddink )and see who might be tempted.

He may yet do this, but if he doesn't I would demand to know why!?!

Phil Neville - NO! NO! NO!
Rafa - NO! NO! NO!

Oh I agree Mike, but despite my dislike of Rafa I would rather have him than Pip, Stubbs, Roundy and Ferguson. If any of the latter were given the job it would only go to show how much we have truly fallen from grace in my opinion. The only person to blame for that would be BK.

I wish people would stop suggesting Benitez for manager. I could well see him handing in his notice to go back to the Dark Side if the opportunity came up. How would we feel then?

That isn't my main concern though,I just don't rate him. Yes, he has won things but every club where he's done it he has had a lot of money to spend or walked into a club that has already done the hard work in assembling a squad (usually from the previous manager) and I haven't forgotten how disrespectful he was about our club.

My message to him is "Go fuck yourself."

Jackie, I'd take an Evertonian over someone who has declared their dislike for our club every time. But the fact remains that Rafa isn't actually a good manager. He has presided over decline in every job outside Spain. Even in Spain, I get the impression (no research, though) that he was successful at a time Barcelona were in transition and RM were thinking 'well, we've bought all these gallactico's, what now/'

He's hated at almost every club he's ever worked for. The RS only like him because of his soured relationship with H&G and have conveniently adopted a high level of mawkishness (so unlike them!) that glosses over the FACT that they all wanted him gone because they thought he'd 'lost it'.

Forget Benitez — it ain't gonna happen. NEVER!

The word all over Wigan is that Martinez is already installed here. If that falls down, BK will go for an in-house appointment. Easy and cheap and good for the sentimentalist, he is...

And wrong.

Richard, I'm inclined to agree with you abut the in-house appointment. But...(dun, dun, duur)... When Jelavic spins in the box, smacks it into the top right hand corner and Big Dunc turns and does his one arm punch in the air to the crowd it would be spine tingling.

Rafa is a big NO NO for me. We need someone who has a good track record in the transfer market. We have some ageing players in our squad who need replacing at some point. I think Felliani will be leaving this summer, Baines could be another one leaving, so they could be a substantial amount of money to spend for the new incoming manager. We need someone who has proved they don't waste money in the transfer market.

Martinez has been excellent in the transfer market with Wigan, he's bought players like Moses, macarthey, Kone and Diame. The only thing that worries me about Matinez is, his Wigan team look so fragile at the back and are very inconsistent, i'm a little bit unsure about Matinez but would rather give him a chance over most of the names being mentioned.

My first choice would be Laudrup, he's bought some really good players at Swansea like Michu for very little money. Laudrup has improved Swansea in the league whilst playing good attractive football and has also delivered a league cup. Its a no brainer for me, Laudrup would be my first choice and I would hate it if BK hasn't even tried to approach him.

Even better if Dunc turned around and gave a one armed punch to the nearest kopite

Not looking to ruin anyone's weekend but Dougie Freedman's odds are shortening significantly with some bookmakers...currently 4/1 joint third favorite with William Hill

Brendan who's this William Hill bloke has he got PL experience? Sorry about that, Dougie Freedman sounds Scottish why are Everton FC obsessed by Scotsmen, oh I know Kilts don't have any pockets, BK has no money perfect solution.

Brendan, for all the faults that exist in our club, one thing they deserve credit for is they tend to keep things in house. It can be frustrating at times, Especially when we're all desperate for information. But it also prevents us from having to endure the whole media circus/drama stuff. The changeable odds for whoever the bookmakers can think of is just a by-product.

Does Freedman live closer to Finch Farm than Rafa the shite Gaffa? The commutable distance seems to be a factor!

I just looked him up he hasn't been a manager long, less than 2 years.

He has an overall 37.30% win rate but at Bolton he has 41.67%

126games 47wins 39draws 40losses 37.30 win percentage
Well at least he'll be cheap.

"Cheap" Patrick #068
"In Dougie We Trust" then...

Alright maybe inexpensive would have been a nicer phrase, BK's a founder member of FOB.

It's a pity we haven't got one thread for a debate on a new manager. We seem to be all over the show! However I just want to say this to those few to whom it applies: if you really care about the future of the blues you really wouldn't keep talking about an internal appointment.

As much as I loved Duncan Ferguson he's never managed anything. Longer term he may prove himself but he's actually got to manage a team and have success to climb in to the picture. The same applies to Phil Neville, and David Weir. All of these people would longer term benefit from taking more responsibility under a new manager!

In fact you really couldn't look at anyone internally other than Alan Irvine (who I like but failed at Preston) and Steve Round who has I think been a great assistant to DM but I really don't see as a manager of EFC at this moment in time.

So I just wish certain people would get real and talk about potential managers we deserve not adopt some sort of patronage thing where we appoint 'our own' because they're 'ours'. I try not to swear in these debates but to be honest that kind of view is complete bollocks!

So please can these debates assume a sensible approach. We're talking here about Everton Football Club who finished 6th in the premier league - not some ale house team who play on the local rec!

We need a manager who has actually achieved some measure of relevant success!

I work with a Bolton fan and he says Bolton have come on leaps and bounds since Freedman's appointment. He says Freedman plans his tactics to suit the different kind of opposition and that was something Owen Coyle was incapable of doing. He wouldn't be my first choice by any stretch of the imagination, but I think we could do a lot worse, especially with some of the names being mentioned

Crikey John Gee, if Rafa is not a successful manager then I don't know who is? As for the taking any Evertonian over Rafa would that come at the expense of not winning anything? Sorry but I would take winning something over that, it all sounds like the BK saying "I won't sell Everton to just anyone, they have to have blue blood in their veins".

Now I don't particularly care for the guy but if he did come in and won things he would get my backing as would any manager. Seriously though I very much doubt he will come any way, my concern is about the possible degrading of Everton FC by installing an in house no experience job. Now that is sad.

Dean Freedman? What's it coming too?
We can thank our lucky stars
http://youtu.be/PrVP9yM-Vi8

It"s a massive decision and a job that should be very appealing. After all we are a top six side in the richest league in the world. The trouble is two things, firstly the list of candidates is poor. There are no outstanding British Managers available, the internal candidates have no experience so they are a big risk and the foreign managers being talked about all have good and bad points. For example Martinez, has won something but has only won six prem games a season for the last 4 years. If I can compare ourselves to Spurs as nearest to us in the league, when Arry left last year, I can't remember any of the dross we have been linked with, Hughes, Maclaren, Lennon being linked. For me we should be trying to entice someone like Guus Hiddink.

Secondly, you just now, that Kenwright, will look at this as a way to cut costs. Moyes was something like the 7th most well paid manager in Europe. His successor will be cheap. Hopefully I'm wrong but expect the announcement along the lines of, "we've appointed from within to ensure continuity and finish the job David started" or "Roberto was an outstanding candidate who we hope will bring a further period of stability". Sadly, you will not hear "we've gone for the very best available and secured them to take us to the next level" The media are not often wrong, and how many of the current candidates have us all sitting up and going 'wow' I'd love it if we got him?

A sure sign of small club thinking.when the mere thought of hiring a manager who is a proven trophy winner puts the shits up so many .

Mike Green, I completely agree, so My now revised NO! NO!! NO!!! List :

Martin O'Neill — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Mark Hughes — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Neil Lennon — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Malky MacKay — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Steve Round — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Desperate Dan Allardyce — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Orrible 'Arry Redknapp — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Steve McLaren — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Alex McCleish — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Steve Bruce — NO! NO!! NO!!!
Bryan Robson — NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!

Also,

Bill Kenwright — NO! NO!! NO!!!

Dick, you're completely missing the point. Rafa may or maybe not a good (he's definitely bad!), he may have won (fluked) trophies. But he's a dyed in the wool red now. Some idiots in here seem to be trying to act like his agent. It's not a Hobson's choice. We have a big pool of potential candidates, why pick a guy who has gone on record criticising the club? That, for me, would indicate a small time mentality where we'd lie down with a spaniard who doesn't respect us. We're not a drunk milf in Malaga, we're Everton football club and we deserve to be loved!!!

Moyes best days behind him? Best football at Everton for decades, and if we win tomorrow, our best points tally since when? 1990?? Who is this clown?

Homer Simpson-style: "Mmmmmmm...druuuunk miiiiiilf in Malagahhhdrool"

Dougie Freedman? Hmmmm... Up-&-coming young Scot. Bolton came with a rattle late on, only just missed the play-offs. Cheap. I voted for him in the ToffeeWeb poll the other day.

Judging by the names thats been trawled through here, I would say hes not a bad shout. We could do a lot worse.

Lambert?

Parkinson of Bradford?

I want an Evertonian - someone that understands the club.

I would be happy with:

Phil Neville, Peter Reid, Stuart McCall, Alan Irvine, Alan Stubbs.

I realise they are risks, but anybody is a risk after 11 years with the same manager.

I worry that Big Dunc and Davey Weir are not quite ready to be the main man, but I'd love them to have more involvement.

I'd be accepting of Martinez or Malky Mackay.

I don't want O'Neil, Lennon, Hughes or McLaren.

If it's Rafa I might vomit!

Alasdair (#287),

You worry that Big Dunc or Davey Weir are not quite ready but you would be happy with Phil Neville?

Ehhh?

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Naismith as a possible manager? He must be good at something.

To turn it into other manager "debates" I'll throw a few fantastical No's out there:

- Rolf Harris NO, NO, NO
- Ryan Giggs NO, NO, NO
- Gary Glitter NO, NO, NO
- Andy Gray NO, NO, NO
- Richard Keys NO, NO, NO
- The Actors who play Ken Barlow and Kevin on Corrie NO, NO, NO

It's about as useful as suggesting Rijkaard or some of the others.

Personally my No list is shorter but does include Rafa. It definitely DOES include promoting from within, so perhaps I don't "really care about the future of the blues" - let's not get sill Sid #73.

Malky McKay - Took over Cardiff when they had 12 players on the books. Got them to the play-offs. This season got them up by a mile. Plays decent football and doesn't like getting beaten and for all our moans about Moyes can any of us say that we aren't pleased that we only walked away from the Old Lady with just one defeat this season? I know me and my two boys were chuffed that we only lost one. I want attacking football but promoting from within isn't the answer. We're not getting a continental type and anyone who saw Malky square up to Blackpool's manager when he was talking shite would be proud to have him in our technical area. Big Dunc he ain't but he's got nouse and is a good man manager.

Klinsmann has now come in at second favourite 6/1. Hmmm

Well, to come from well down to 2nd fav, there must be something in it.

The bookies are taking money. Slash the odds and the punters pile on. Can you see Bill appointing Klinsmann, I can't..

Jim Trott from the Vicar of Dibley - No, No, No!! Yes. I will get my coat.

It looks like were going to appoint from within,we ain't got a prayer with a quality manager from abroad because of the lack of funds. Even foreign managers here seem to be finding their feet in the Prem, building up teams for the future. We could appoint from the lower league & surprise a few people.

My tip, as I've said before, is Simon Greyson: good young manager, bloods young players, plays the game right, with the ball on the floor & won't cost the club a fortune in compensation. Some may scoff like, but look what happened 11 years ago. We might go down that route again, but this time pick a manager that likes to play attacking footy!