Everton Goodison Park Dan Friedkin (1)
(Credit: TIFF Originals YouTube)
Pranav Shahaney
Tue 11 March 2025 7:10, UK
Michael Ball has issued an insight into David Moyes and the plan for Everton next season.
Kevin Thelwell officially confirmed that he will be parting ways with the club this summer when his deal runs out.
Angus Kinnear will join the Merseyside outfit but he will be coming in as a CEO and not a direct replacement for Thelwell.
Angus Kinnear is set to join Everton.
Toffees decision to not have a sporting director backed by Michael Ball
Ball has backed the club’s plan to not hire a like-for-like replacement for the departing Thelwell.
He believes that Moyes is well equipped to work directly with the hierarchy to discuss the players he wants to sell and keep.
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The Scotsman has a rich legacy at the club and he was never sacked but opted to leave to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Everton manager David Moyes. (Credit: Imago)
While not immediately, Ball does see Moyes moving into a back-office role at the club at some point in the future.
He told the Liverpool Echo: “David Moyes will be working without a director of football at Everton next season and the 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers gave a clearer indication to him over what he needs to bring to the club. Yes, this group of players has been fantastic for him and a squad of around just 13 players have been having to go out and produce the goods, but the signs are there over what is required to kick on.
“I’ve already suggested in my column that in the future, Moyes might be the right kind of man to move upstairs and have a role looking down but I just feel when it comes to English football in general and Everton in particular, the role of sporting director doesn’t seem to work.
“There have been the odd couple of success stories but it doesn’t really fit with English football where the managers want to be in control.”
Angus Kinnear – career Role(s)
Arsenal Marketing staff, Head of Marketing 2005-2013
West Ham United Sporting Director 2013-2017
Leeds United Chief Executive Officer 2017-2025
Everton Chief Executive Officer 2025-onwards
Kinnear will move from Leeds to Everton (Transfermarkt)
The Friedkin Group are risking not hiring a sporting director
The Friedkin Group’s decision to forgo a sporting director at Everton, opting instead for a leadership team under Kinnear, carries inherent risks that could test their ambitious blueprint for the club.
Traditionally, a sporting director bridges the gap between the manager and ownership, overseeing long-term strategy, recruitment and squad planning, which is crucial for a club like Everton transitioning to a new stadium and aiming to climb the Premier League table.
Without this role, Moyes will shoulder an outsized burden, managing not just on-pitch tactics but also transfer negotiations and player retention, areas where his expertise may not fully extend.
The Friedkins’ trust in Moyes’ experience is understandable given his storied tenure at Goodison Park, but this setup risks over-centralising power in a single figure, potentially leading to burnout or missteps in a complex modern football landscape.
While Ball argues English football favors managerial control, successful clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City thrive with sporting directors orchestrating behind the scenes.
The Friedkins’ gamble hinges on Moyes’ ability to adapt and their own hands-on involvement, but it could expose the club to instability if results falter or strategic cohesion unravels.
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