Minnesota coach Heath tells Everton fans: Don't blame the owner | OneFootball

Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath says former club Everton must get their market right this summer.

Heath was assistant to manager and mentor Howard Kendall when Everton nearly went down in 1998 only to survive on the final day with a 1-1 draw against Coventry City.

"I remember driving to that game and the sickening realization that all the gaffer and I had won, as part of that team in the '80s, would be thrown out the window if we were the ones responsible for taking the club down. The relief was incredible," he recalled to the Daily Mail.

"Last season, I'd maintained Everton wouldn't go down but when it got to the Crystal Palace game and we were losing 2-0, I was a mess, pacing up and down the lounge here going 'oh my God, it's going to happen'. I'd always thought the one thing that would save them was Goodison and thankfully that was the case - but those supporters won't put up with that for much longer.

"If that experience of just escaping the drop doesn't galvanize the players and board then I don't know what will. The fear of how close they came has to drive them to improve.

"You can't blame the owner, he's invested millions, but they need to recruit the right characters as it's such an unforgiving league."