It has been “three very, very difficult years” at Everton, as director of football Kevin Thelwell candidly admits. But quietly, a new vision for the academy has been forged amid the off-the-field uncertainty and it is beginning to have a real impact.
“It’s been hard for everyone because it’s been a tough three years hasn’t it, let’s be honest. It’s been very, very difficult for everybody,” Thelwell tells i in an in-depth interview.
“There’s a lot of noise out there and that’s probably where having a very clear vision and creating opportunities where everyone is collaborating on something better has been important. It’s been about keeping us on this track.
“I’m not saying we don’t come off it or divert sometimes, because everyone does, but us selling this message of ‘Come on, we’re going to need to be ready to be able to achieve our vision’ and focusing on a plan that keeps us aligned has been the right thing to do.
“We also have to create some hope that things will be better, making sure we do get people out of bed in the morning. In due course if you keep selling that message long enough – and you can see that thing coming – then hopefully people start to believe we are going to have a better day and all this noise won’t necessarily disappear but it won’t be as loud as it was.
“The future looks bright,” Thelwell says. “We think we are in the process of building something very, very special here.”