Everton manager Frank Lampard has shared details of a fine system at the Merseyside club after a similar approach attracted attention during his spell in charge at Chelsea.
A list of fines was leaked online in 2019, shortly after the former England midfielder took over at Stamford Bridge. These purported to include a fine of £20,000 for anyone late for the start of training and £1,000 for a phone going off in a team meeting or meal.
While Lampard's successor Thomas Tuchel scrapped the punishments, the fines didn't disappear forever. Indeed, the fines list was reported to have returned after his arrival at Goodison Park, and he has now opened up on the subject.
"We have a fine system now," Lampard said ahead of Everton 's match against Newcastle United on Wednesday. Three points against Eddie Howe's team could be enough for Everton to climb into the top half, while closing the gap to the Magpies.
"I said at the time [I arrived] it didn’t feel a priority at the time to say, ‘you are fined if you are late.’ The priority was, ‘can we get three points this weekend?’" he continued.
"Now we have a little bit more time this season, the group is set up, the players have come and I think a lot of the players like some sort of policing of the standards. It can help if it is done right."
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Lampard's team survived relegation with just a game to spare last season, eventually finishing 16th. They have tightened up at the back this term, though, with the 11 goals conceded in their first 10 games representing the best record in the bottom half of the table.
The 44-year-old only made two signings in January, but has been able to add to his squad over the summer. Amadou Onana arrived for £35m, but Lampard also added Premier League experience with the likes of James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and returning midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
"I have a lot of trust in it [the group]. There are good pros in it and a bit of balance that it hopefully represents all of the squad," Lampard said. He had previously added experience at Chelsea as well, bringing veteran Thiago Silva to Stamford Bridge as well as some younger talents.
"I went into management and I wasn’t sure about ‘leadership groups.’ I went through my career and I wouldn’t say I didn’t pay attention to it, but I was fortunate that at the club I was at [as a player] it was just there. The leadership group [at Chelsea] just dealt with stuff without being a group."
