Duncan Ferguson once remarked of Everton: “There is only one way after leaving this club, and that is down” – but such wisdom doesn’t seem to apply to former managers at least.
At the relatively advanced age of 51 – the same age as Howard Kendall in charge at Goodison Park third time around or older than Walter Smith when he came from Ibrox – Ferguson has had to drop to the basement of English football’s third tier to cut his managerial teeth with Forest Green Rovers. The Gloucestershire outfit remain rooted to the same bottom place in League One they occupied when the Gwladys Street idol took charge with eight defeats from 10 matches so far. But while Ferguson coveted the top job at his beloved Blues yet admitted he was too inexperienced despite two caretaker stints in charge, several of the bosses he served under have subsequently fallen on their feet since exiting Everton.
The latest in this not inconsiderable line of gleeful gaffers could be Frank Lampard with those in the know around the club claiming that he is being considered for a sensational managerial return to Stamford Bridge as a caretaker boss until the end of the season. It’s difficult to work out whether such a scheme says more about the tumultuous situation behind the scenes at Todd Boehly’s circus or Everton.
