Bill Kenwright has hailed Duncan Ferguson’s impact as Everton caretaker.
Ferguson took the reins in the aftermath of Marco Silva’s sacking earlier this month and steered his former club to an unbeaten run of four games.
They included an emphatic 3-1 win over Chelsea and hard-fought draw at Manchester United as well as a late comeback in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Carlo Ancelotti will assume permanent charge of the Blues heading into the festive period and has retained Ferguson’s services as a first-team coach.
But Everton chairman Kenwright placed on record his gratitude for the 46-year-old’s efforts in restoring a sense of pride to the Goodison Park faithful.
“It’d hard for me to put into words the Duncan Ferguson era. I get emotional because I am an emotional chairman,” he told evertontv.
“He gave the club and fans a reminder of what a privilege it is to be an Evertonian. He stands there and you go, ‘That’s what it is, that’s why I became an Evertonian when I was seven’.
“I don’t know anyone else who could have done it, who could have said, ‘We’re going to work now and show those fans [what it means to play for Everton], because he loves those fans as much as they love him’
“It’s not just a game to him, it’s Everton. I was speaking to his wife earlier and she said he lives, eats, sleeps and breathes this club.
“It couldn’t have been anyone else who’s done what he has for us.”