Everton suspend head of Academy recruitment over tapping up allegations

Everton seem to be finding themselves in all sorts of trouble recently.

An independent investigation is still ongoing over allegations from Watford FC that the Blues tapped up Marco Silva while he was still manager at the Hornets. Then a couple of weeks ago the news broke that the Toffees were in hot water again, this time for tapping up a schoolboy back in 2016 when he was still at Cardiff City. The unnamed player is currently with Manchester United and an investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Everton have now suspended Martin Waldron, a long-time club scout and current head of Academy recruitment as Premier League scrutiny into the matter continues. Waldron has been with the club for 23 years, and has been in that role since 2014.

His son Joel is the current Academy director, having been named to the position this summer as the club revealed it’s new-look leadership team.

Everton are conducting their own inquiry into the matter and are cooperating fully with the Premier League, but if Everton are found guilty then a possible Academy transfer ban could follow.

Manchester City and Liverpool were handed bans in recent years for similar incidents, “a two-year transfer embargo on players registered with a rival Premier League or EFL side in the preceding 18 months, with the second year’s ban suspended for three years.” [The Telegraph]

There is still no word on what the ruling has been over the Silva tapping up allegations after the two clubs failed to agree to mediation terms from the Premier League, and further legal action possible.