Ex-Everton captain Alan Stubbs has questioned the appointment of new manager Rafa Benitez.
Stubbs was in the Everton side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield on February 3, 2007 when Benitez made his infamous “small club" jibe towards the Blues.
He said on Radio Merseyside: “I'm a little bit disillusioned. I think the appointment has taken far too long.
“I think the owner Mr Moshiri has the best interests of the football club at heart in terms of what he's trying to do but in terms of this appointment I think it's really split the Everton fans.
“I think the fact that it's taken so long tells you that they were undecided.
“I think in terms of Bill Kenwright's comments in wishing Rafa all the best, they weren't as conclusive as you've seen Bill in the past in terms of how he'd be so jubilant and talking up the manager.
“If I'm being honest I think Bill is probably distancing himself a little bit from this one.
“I'd like to see Marcel Brands come to the fore a little bit and explain the decision.
“He's the director of football, he's the one advising the board and you don't hear anything from him."
He added: “I think you can say that about every manager that comes in, it's a gamble.
“I think it's just the history that goes with Rafa. It seems very odd seeing him with an Everton scarf today, I've got to be honest.
“I'm not talking as a former player, I'm talking as an Everton fan here. It just seems very odd.
“I don't think there was anybody jumping out in terms of who has been linked to the job and you'd think 'oh I'd definitely take him' and I think that's more a sign of what's actually available right now.
“There isn't a multitude of candidates where you could say 'he's a top-class candidate, let's try and get him.'
“Antonio Conte is the only one at this moment in time but apart from him there's nobody else really.
“I'm probably like a lot of Everton fans, I've got nothing against Rafa himself, he's obviously done well in the past, for me it's what he's said and he's going to have to have an unbelievable start to win the Everton fans over."
