Vitor Pereira is reportedly considering pulling out of the running to be the next Everton manager following an angry backlash from the club’s supporters to his potential appointment.
Former Porto manager Pereira was the favourite to replace former Toffees manager Rafael Benitez, who was sacked earlier this month after a 2-1 defeat to Norwich.
Pereira travelled to London this week to hold a second round of talks with Everton over their managerial vacancy, with owner Farhad Moshiri said to view him as a 'forward-thinking' appointment.
However, some Everton supporters have reacted angrily to the news, spraying graffiti on a wall at Goodison Park in protest against Pereira's potential appointment.
An Everton fan account on Twitter, The Toffee Blues, shared an image of the graffiti, which read: 'Pereira out, Lampard in' – referencing former Chelsea player and manager Frank Lampard, who has also been linked with the role.
Another Everton fan group called the 27yearscampaign, a reference to Everton's time without a trophy, also protested outside the club offices in Liverpool.
They called for the club’s ownership to engage with supporters - holding up banners, with one reading: 'Moshiri if you want success then change this mess'.
According to the Daily Mail, Pereira is now 'giving serious consideration' to withdrawing his application for the role in the wake of backlash from Everton fans.
The Portuguese coach, who has also had spells in charge of Olympiacos and Fenerbahce, is said to have been saddened by the protests and that supporters are 'judging him without knowing him'.
Pereira’s potential withdrawal could open the door for Lampard, who has been without a managerial role since being sacked by Chelsea in January, 2021.
Tony Scott from the Everton fan podcast All Together Now says he understands the fans' concerns after the club's disappointing spell under Benitez.
“It’s very negative. [There’s] a lot of frustration among Everton fans and it’s quite sad really, they’ve lost that anger towards the football club and the way it’s being run over the past five or six years,” Scott told Sky Sports News.
“They’re not happy, there’s a lot of frustration and sadness. They are trying their best to make sure the board get the message that they’re not happy.”
When asked about the protests against the appointment of Pereira, Scott added: “You look at his CV and he’s had a lot of club, he’s had more clubs than Tommy Fleetwood!
“The Everton fans are looking at his CV and they're thinking he doesn’t seem to be successful.
“You want somebody that’s young, pragmatic and knows the Premier League. That’s why they want Frank Lampard at the moment.
“They’re seeing him as the main man to try and get them out of trouble and as a long-term project as well.”
Topics: Everton, Frank Lampard, Premier League, Football
Rory O'Callaghan