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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Sean Dyche says he's planning to introduce infamous fine system at Everton with 'hideous but genius' results

Everton manager Sean Dyche has revealed the reason behind surveying his players almost immediately after succeeding Frank Lampard at Goodison Park.

And the 51-year-old has divulged plans to introduce his infamous spinning wheel of fines into operation in the coming weeks at Finch Farm in order to maintain "professional respect".

Dyche made headlines earlier this month when he revealed he had carried out an anonymous questionnaire in the week leading up to his first game as Blues boss.

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Speaking in his first press conference, Dyche revealed that each member of the squad was handed a piece of paper was a set of varying questions. On the form, which the 51-year-old wanted to be filled out anonymously, were open and non-guided questions that he hoped would help him identify some of the reasons behind Everton's slump in the Premier League in recent seasons.

"I just want feedback, honest feedback, anything you want that you think is relevant," said Dyche on February 2. "Often, I have done this before, similar themes come back and I said 'right that is what we have to look at'. If you are telling them to me, then they are things we definitely have to look at."

Now, speaking to Soccer AM, the former Turf Moor boss has offered more insight into the process, insisting that he wanted to understand the players' "gut feeling" behind aspects of life at Finch Farm.

"Well, they [questions] are not totally private. In fact, try and give less direction to the question," said Dyche. "[I] try and keep the question very short and very open because I don't want to guide them to where they think they want to be.

"I call it classroom answers, I don't want that. I want them to tell me what they think. So part of that is complete anonymity. If you really want to you can, but don't put your name on it.

"Go away and give yourself some space, fill it in. Give your gut feel. Don't overthink it, it's not a classroom - give me what you want to say or your gut feeling. As soon as you read the question give me a feel."

He added: "It's a chance for the players to voice what they think. And I make it clear if you want to draw a picture, draw a picture."

The Blues boss also revealed that he plans to bring back his renowned spinning wheel, which became public knowledge during his time as Burnley boss. When incurring fines for minor breaches, players will spin the wheel to find out what their financial punishment is.

Speaking to SportBible earlier this year, Dyche lifted the lid on the wheel and its punishments: "One that was a good one - they would have to be dinner for you and a mate or your partner, whichever

"Of course someone tops it don't they, they hit the big one - bottle of shampoo and all that. Before you know it, they're screwed because the bill's coming in like four hundred quid.

"They have to pay it. That's just an example. There was a river by the training ground, they’d have to sit in the river for a minute.

"Lap dance - lap dance was hilarious. If you got a lap dance, you'd have to spin again and get the number for someone you'd do the lap dance for. Genius. Hideous but genius."

And Dyche has now confessed his plans to reintroduce the system, which he hails as successful, on the Blue half of Merseyside as he aims to maintain professionalism within the ranks.

"We will introduce it," said Dyche. "It's a bit of fun with the players and a way to keep some professional standards in a way that they can buy into. It's not for the heavy stuff, if there are heavy situations, I deal with that.

"But just all the light stuff. A bit of professional respect and we just use it to keep everyone aligned and just pit some fines, monetary fines, quirks and twists. Little things they have to do. Make sure they are staying in line.

"It's a pretty soft start. There's nothing too uncomfortable on it yet. But we do change it every four or five weeks and put new stuff on it so it will come."

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