THELWELL'S ALWAYS BEEN ON THE BALL

ONCE upon a time during a more prosperous period in the swinging 60s, Everton were famed for being the Millionaires of Merseyside.

- By Andy Newport

By the time Kevin Thelwell pitched up at Goodison six decades later, the hard-up Toffees were on their way to being tagged the Premier League’s Klarna kings.

With the Liverpool giants teetering on the verge of financial ruin, and with debts of more than £450million, hampered by FA points penalties and desperately seeking fresh ownership, it was director of football Thelwell’s buy-now-pay-later approach that proved vital to keeping the ailing ship afloat.

The Blues have come through those testing times and will next season begin life at their new home by the Bramley-Moore Docks with their status as one of England’s top-flight clubs safely secure.

And for that, former Everton and Rangers ace Michael Ball will always feel a debt of gratitude to the man newly appointed as the new sporting director at Ibrox.

"When Kev came in to the club in 2022, his remit at that time was totally different to the remit he’s operating under now as he prepares to leave the club," the retired Scouse full-back told Express Sport.

"Back then, Everton were trying to compete and move up the table.

"Very quickly, though, he realised the club wasn’t in the stable position he first thought they were under (former majority owner) Farhad Moshiri.