With Everton on the lookout for a new manager, it has emerged how Toffees legend Neville Southall almost became the Goodison gaffer years before he was a huge hit on Twitter .

The former shot-stopper is these days best known for anti-Tory, pro-skeleton rants on social media, but back in 1997 he was in contention to replace Joe Royle at the helm after the Blues boss resigned following a dispute with the board over signings.

Southall, who made 578 appearances for Everton, as well as obtaining 92 caps for his country, emerged as a shock candidate for the job.

Southall was a legendary shot-shopper for Everton and Wales (
Image:
Getty)
Joe Royle walked out on the Blues in 1997
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Taken from James Corbett’s new book, Faith of our Families: Everton FC: An Oral History (1878-2018), Alan Myers, former Toffees press officer, recalls just how close Southall came to the hotseat.

Myers recalls: “I don’t think anybody, including Neville himself, was aware of how close he came to becoming Everton manager.

"I was outside Bellefield with [chairman] Peter Johnson the morning after Joe had left and we were discussing who should take over as caretaker boss. ‘I have a shortlist of two,’ said the chairman, ‘Dave Watson and Neville, but I’m leaning towards Neville because a goalkeeper has less responsibility on the pitch.’

Peter Johnson was formerly at the helm at Goodison (
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Big Nev is a big hit on Twitter

"At this point Neville pulls up in the car park - it was early and he was always first in for training - gets out his car and heads to the Bellefield entrance.

"Seeing me he yells, ‘Alright Alan, you fat c***!’ As he headed in through the doors, Peter, says very dryly, ‘I think the shortlist is down to one.'"

That goes to show that banter won’t always get you somewhere...

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