Sheedy takes coaching role in Saudi Arabia

One thing is certain he has served the club excellently as a player and coach.

Wish him all the best in his new role.

Brilliant player and fantastic coach. Good luck, Sheeds.

I hope he enjoys the sunshine and is getting a good wedge.

"We are entitled to make an educated guess". On what basis do you regard your comment as an "educated guess", a phrase which suggests to me that one would require some definitive inside knowledge of what has gone on? Otherwise it's just a guess with no foundation.

How about, "My guess is that Sheeds has gone chasing the Arab money and lining his pocket"? Just as valid?

Sheeds is one of my all-time favourites so don't think I'm having a go at him, I'm just playing the devil's advocate.

I just hope Sheeds has had an offer that's just too good to turn down and nothing else. Thankfully it doesn't appear to be health related.

I would say we always produce a load of good kids, particularly for the youth level, if not always for the first team level, but Unsy has been able to nurture them well.

On an aside, would anyone who watches the lower age ranges be able to confirm that there is not much coming through in the 17-19 year old age range? If so, it makes sense that we are signing new players to make up for our local deficiency.

I really hope Ronald keeps a path to the first team clear for the best of them.

More a wild stab in the dark than a (cough!) 'educated guess'.

This offer was made to him and he fancied some sun for a year or two. That's mine.

Thoughts Des?

I for one have always like Unsie, just telling you what I was told.

When you add all the pieces together, your post is the only logical conclusion anyone offering an educated guess could realistically reach.

Sheeds scoring at the Kop end and giving them the 'Vees' was obviously an encrypted message to 'the Reds', the consequences of which are only now beginning to emerge.

Although I wouldn't touch Saudi with a shitty stick... He's better than that.

Nothing wrong with that either, they have to pay big to get people to work there and so it is likely to be a temptingly high premium over what he'd earn in the UK. And tax free.

Having "definitive inside knowledge" would hardly qualify as a guess. Sheedy has been an employee of the same club for past 25 years and the manner of his departure, without any explanation, is strange to say the least. I therefore concluded, deduced, whatever term you prefer, that his departure was not amicable. Not a stretch.

Your opinion is every bit as valid as mine, I just look at the balance of probability and think my deductions are more credible.

He signed 35 years ago and played for two other clubs then was assistant manager at two more when he finished playing for the Blues.

I heard a few weeks ago that he had been sacked. Why the fuss? We sacked Royle and Kendall, twice in his case. Someone had made a judgement call.

That's the way it works.

Doesn't mean that we don't appreciate what he did for the club as a player.

In various walks of life, many people go to work in Saudi purely for financial reasons, there is no other possible reason – why would Sheedy be any different?

Peter Lee has stolen my thunder by pointing out that Sheeds has only been at Everton since the 2006 season when he took over the Under-18s. His last involvement with Everton was 1992. Hardly part of the woodwork then, eh?

Only guesswork, but I don't believe Sheedy would have left Everton lightly. Not with the reputation he has gained for nurturing young talent at a club he loves.

I worked for over a decade in the Middle East (not Saudi, thank god) and the salaries are definitely higher for most roles; I'm sure for sports coaching it would be even more true. But what you then add is the expat package of a house, car, flights, school fees etc. If you're at all rated, this is what you can expect and it makes the (tax free) salary pretty much your pocket money.

Good luck to Sheedy, though unless he is very stoical, it's a 3-year stint max...

The club has not made a statement and I would "guess" that, due to a possible compromise agreement neither will Sheedy. Here fore we may well never no the reason.

I don't see how you can claim 'credible deductions' based on pure conjecture.

Beni Baningime counts but he has been playing with the older age group for some time. Same goes for Morgan Feeney, he is also playing with the U23s. Then there is the lad Fraser Hornby we signed from Northampton, assuming we still have him. He looked good.

But no, there do not seem to be youngsters with such obvious talent as Dowell and Kenny, the latter in particular has been impressing for his country's youth teams for a long time.

That all being said, it is early days. Tom Davies's rise was fairly meteoric so who knows which of the younger kids could do the same.

He left Everton (with no official explanation, make of that what you will, but the word has been he wasn't happy about it) a few weeks ago, was unemployed and has now landed a job in Saudi. Big difference.

Quite possibly better money, but boring lifestyle and paymasters are also funding terrorism and all sorts (allegedly) in a footballing backwater. A forced career path change, I'd call it.

I've also worked in Kuwait and UAE 4 times (where I am now).

And have no expenses with the company providing accommodation, flights, medical, etc. And you spend virtually nothing in kingdom unless you jet off somewhere for long weekends.

Think what a difference that 50% extra would mean in your UK pay and that's the financial benefit.

I have never worked in Thailand but I have recruited from there and I'm amazed by your claim. I accept you personally may have earned more there but Thailand is not exactly renowned for paying top dollar to expats, although there will always be exceptions. That's why I was recruiting from there!

I grant you that averages are deceptive and not necessarily directly comparable but according to Gulf Business, the average (western) expat salary in Saudi was $14,300 plus per month and that was in 2015 so I expect it is over $15,000 per month now. I don't know the figures for Thailand but I would be astonished if it were even half that.

Hope you're enjoying the summer heat (not!). At least Ramadan is over...

Can you send me £150,000 so I can get home?

Will repay immediately.

As for getting more money in Thailand than in Saudi Arabia, it's possible. I earned more in Asia than I was offered in the Middle East then I worked in Iraq. If he's not gone to Saudi for the money, then the reasons why he's possibly been sacked are obvious: he's daft.

Sheedy's gone and we'll never really know why until he publishes his memoirs. Maybe that's the big plan.

Wink wink... you know the score.

Of course you have to pay for accommodation, car and beer which you won't have to pay for in Saudi, but it's still better than being in Saudi. Tax and school fees too unless the company pick up those bills.

I do enjoy the heat actually, hate the air conditioning.

I'd also agree with the suggestion that he will have to be particularly "stoic" to stay for more than a couple of seasons. As he has lived the life of a professional footballer and coach, I would suggest he may find it a struggle.

Although I wouldn't touch Saudi with a shitty stick... He's better than that.

So I see a huge pension plan here, good luck Kevin take them for every penny you can.