When Joe Royle departed, club chairman Peter Johnson, like Fergus McCann at Celtic, talked himself into a corner by mentioning possible replacements and, having baulked at the wage demands of the same list of prospective managers as the Glasgow club, he appears to have come up with an even less inspired Plan B. Howard Kendall enjoyed some very good days at Goodison Park but this time he looks to be the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Kendall's attempts to strengthen his squad have generally been greeted with requests of £50,000 and upwards just to discuss a possible move over lunch and it looks like Duncan Ferguson will once again be relying on three players - Gary Speed (pictured), Graham Stuart and Nicky Barmby - who have all under-achieved in recent years, after showing exceptional potential. Gareth Farrelly's arrival will add some enthusiasm and inventiveness going forward, while at the back Slaven Bilic will provide some much needed quality but more was clearly needed.
Manager: Howard Kendall.
In: Slaven Bilic (from West Ham) £4.5 million, John Oster (from Grimsby) £1.5 million, Gareth Farrelly (from Aston Villa) £700,000.
Out: Marc Hottiger (to Lausanne) £25,000, Chris Price, Richard Townsend, Eddie Hussin, Richard Moore and Mark Quayle (all released).
Last Season: 15th. FA Cup: Fourth round. Coca-Cola Cup: Second round.
Betting: 50 to 1.
