Joe Royle on Everton Return

Earlier today, Roberto Martinez revealed that he would like to add Joe Royle to his back room staff, identifying a position within the Academy which he feels would perfectly suit the former Everton player and manager.

Roberto Martinez told evertontv: “Joe is someone we identified who would be fantastic in a role we want to create. There is a real need for a figure that is an Evertonian and knows the football club.

“He is someone who has been a manager and has been through a lot of experiences and can now concentrate on giving that final piece of advice to help try and develop a young player. We need to do that.

“The work we do in the academy is phenomenal and we need to help young players get through that process and to try and get them into the first-team. And if we can’t do that, we need to get them into the professional game. Joe Royle could be a perfect fit for that role.”

Joe Royle: [BLOG] “THE national Press has got wind of a possible return to Everton for yours truly and I’m not going to deny that there is such a possiblity. I have talked with Goodison manager Roberto Martinez and chairman Bill Kenwright about taking up a role next season, monitoring the Under-21 players. Nothing has been decided, but I am excited at the prospect of going back, for a third stint, to the club where my career began nearly 50 years ago.

I left Everton as manager in 1997 with a heavy heart and I feel I still have something to contribute to the club I love, unfinished business if you like. Roberto and I agree that there is a place for someone who can cast an experienced eye over the young players’ progress, both within the club and while out on loan. All the more so as we no longer have regular reserve team football and, therefore, the capacity to judge a player’s development in regular, competitive conditions. I can’t say more at this stage, simply because there is no more to say. As they say, watch this space”