Everton are still searching for a new manager.
Rafa Benitez’s sacking earlier this month has left the Blues looking for a replacement with Duncan Ferguson placed in caretaker charge.
Some of the names linked with the job include Frank Lampard, Vitor Pereira and Wayne Rooney.
But reports from earlier this week that Pereira was the 'front-runner' for the job, aligned with the way that the club is being run, led to hundreds of Evertonians staging a protest outside Goodison Park on Wednesday night.
Against that backdrop, ECHO Everton writers Phil Kirkbride and Adam Jones have answered your questions .
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And here is a round-up of their answers from the Q&A they held earlier today.
Dan T: “If the new manager comes in before deadline day will they have any money to spend or will it mainly be loans?”
Phil Kirkbride: “Rafa had wanted Longstaff and Newcastle were looking at getting between £3-5m for him. Now, depends on the player and the selling club, but I would think loans seems more likely or, at best, a cut-price deal. Ferguson spoke to Ancelotti last week and was asked by a reporter if he's asked for any players on loan. He replied, with a laugh: 'I don't think we've got any money to sign players'. So that may have been indicative of the situation.”
Redgend: “Is there any news on a director of football/the strategic review?”
Phil Kirkbride: “No, sadly. The club communicated last week (Friday) that they would offer an update when it was completed 'later this year'. So no timeframe.”
Harv EFC: “Do you think the Everton way of employing ex-players in key roles within the club is stifling ambition as very few of them have ever tasted any real success at all as players.”
Adam Jones: “I'm not necessarily sure about that, because I don't think being successful as a player automatically would make you a good fit for a post-playing key role if that makes sense? Everton will have fully believed that those they hired in those positions were the best qualified for the jobs at hand, whether they formerly played for the club or not. I'm not sure success as a player would come into the thinking very much either.”
Bluelister: “Hi Phil, Our biggest problem is scoring goals. Rondon is clearly not the solution if DCL and Richarlison are not scoring either. Rafa did not play Tosun (once a highly rated striker)... what is the situation with Cenk Tosun?”
Phil Kirkbride: “I think Cenk will stay with the squad for the rest of the season (think he's said as much himself) and then leave when his contract is up. We've all seen that, in the right system and in the box, Cenk is a decent player and a good finisher. I just feel as though the wider demands of playing centre-forward in the PL, leave him wanting somewhat.”
Michel: “Do you think Lampard's interview this afternoon is to finalize or are we still deciding/pondering on more candidates? You think there are any serious other contenders than Lampard? Pereira probably but not after the backlash of fans. Rooney hasn't been spoken to, Martinez a no go, any others seem a long shot?
Phil Kirkbride: “I get the feeling that the club are keen to make an appointment very soon. Deadline day is fast approaching, put it that way. I think the chances of Rooney getting the job, now, appear slim. They have been fading for some time. I sense it's Lampard or Pereira but never say never and a new name could spring up!”
Watty9: “Do you think that those in charge understand the fans' frustration at a lack of decent football business strategy and do you think they accept responsibility for it getting to this point?”
Adam Jones: “As Phil has said in response to another question, only those in charge will know the true answer to this. I think everyone at the club will certainly understand the frustrations of supporters (probably as evidenced by the sacking of Benitez and Moshiri's recent letter) and I think everyone at all levels at a football club has to accept at least some responsibility when things are going this wrong. In terms of their true feelings on the situation, though, it'd have to be a question for those in charge I think.”
Everton fan: “In this search for the next EFC manager, I see a huge lobby by native Lampard fans. Why? Vitor is already a successful and consolidated coach. Lampard has three years as a coach and has never won anything.”
Adam Jones: “I think Lampard is seen in some quarters as an up-and-coming manager who can take Everton in a new direction - giving youth a chance etc. Yes, granted, his inexperience is a risk - but there's no standout candidate for the side at the minute. I think many fans are seeing a new style of option and are getting behind it. In terms of Pereira, while he might have been successful, are those trophies and the times he won them particularly relevant as things stand? These are all interesting questions.”
