Everton fan applied to be manager with radical '10-point plan' and got perfect response

A fan’s application to become Everton manager after chairman Peter Johnson advertised the position in 1998 has come to light, along with the reply he received from the club and 25 years on it is illuminating to see how many of the issues he tackled remain relevant.

Prior to the Blues’ survival showdown against Bournemouth on May 28, the previous occasion that their Premier League status was at risk going into the final day of the season had come in 1997/98 when they stayed up above Bolton Wanderers on goal difference after a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City. Despite the result, Johnson subsequently sacked the club’s most-successful manager Howard Kendall who had returned for a third spell in charge and had placed an advertisement for the post in a national newspaper.

The ad detailed that Everton Football Club seek to appoint a team manager and declared: “Candidates must have a proven track record at the highest level. You will be expected to possess first class coaching qualities and motivational skills. It will also be prerequisite that the successful candidate will have an extensive knowledge of both international and domestic football.”

Walter Smith – who had guided Rangers to the last seven of their nine Scottish Premier League titles in a row before drawing a blank in his final season – ended up landing the post (without replying to the ad), but someone who did was lifelong Evertonian Eric Hynes from Netherton. Sadly, Eric passed away earlier this year aged just 61 but when going through his papers, his wife discovered both his letter of application to the chairman to become Blues boss and the official response.

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