Monday 7 November 2016 18:36, UK
Everton's owner Farhad Moshiri says he will give "ruthless" manager Ronald Koeman money to spend in the January transfer window and push ahead with plans for a new stadium in a bid to compete in the "new Hollywood of football".
The Iranian billionaire has a 49.9 per cent stake in the Merseyside club and has vowed to "reward the loyalty and passion of fans" as he looks to build on Everton's stuttering start to the season.
Moshiri told talkSPORT: "We have no restrictions to spend. The manager is totally committed and ruthless; if a player is not up to it he uses another player and eventually he buys one.
"There are no sentimental issues there. The manager will strengthen the team in the areas he feels necessary.
"Koeman is Koeman: he does what he wants and I support him.
"I think the job of an owner and chairman is simply to hire and fire the manager, the rest is down to him.
"Once we hire a manager we back him. He has the personality, aura and ability and we trust him. In Everton's culture the manager is the most important individual.
"For our club to compete in the north west of England, which is the new Hollywood of football with (Pep) Guardiola, (Jose) Mourinho, (Jurgen) Klopp, we needed a star to stand on the touchline so I got Koeman."
Everton's £47.5m sale of John Stones to Manchester City in the summer boosted Koeman's transfer kitty but still the Toffees found it difficult to secure the signatures of world-class stars - adding the likes of Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace and Wales international defender Ashley Williams.
"I think the manager had seven names, four of those we got," said Moshiri. "We tried to buy (Kalidou) Koulibaly of Napoli and they wanted £60m.
"It is monopoly money. We went right to the asking price and they decided not to sell.
"He (Koeman) wanted a box-to-box midfielder and we matched (Moussa) Sissoko's asking price and actually paid more and all the terms were agreed and just before midnight we realised he had changed his mind.
"Lucas Perez (Deportivo La Coruna's forward) was all ready to sign and Arsenal took him from us at the last minute."
Moshiri has identified potential sites for Everton's new home at nearby Bramley Moore Dock in the city centre and Stonebridge Cross in Croxteth and he is confident he can see the deal through despite failed attempts in the past.
"We needed a strong balance sheet so I paid off the debts. We are now very flexible financially," he said.
"We need a big stadium, no question about it. We have done the hard bit because the club was restricted to move or expand Goodison by banking covenants but I have paid the debts so we are free to do what we want and we have the finances to do it."
