by big al » Sat Jan 31, 2004 8:23 pm
At the start of the 1993-94 season an anxious board, concerned by the declining fortunes of the team, asked Roy Evans to step up to assistant manager. It was a clear signal to Souness that a new man was waiting in the wings.
An F.A. Cup defeat at Anfield administered by lowly Bristol Rovers in 1994 was the last straw for the board who terminated Souness' contract. Roy Evans was finally apointed manager, some 30 years after signing for the club as an apprentice. Chairman David Moores described Evans as "the last of the Shankly lads."
For a time the clouds around Anfield were blown away. After the strife of the Souness years, Roy Evans' tenure offered a return to Boot Room values. He had steadied a ship that was heading unceremoniously for the rocks. Now it seemed all he had to do was steer a straight and true course and the glories would return.
But it was far from plain sailing. The club had lost it's place amongst Europe's elite. The European ban, imposed after Heysel, had left Liverpool lagging far behind the continent's best. After the ban had been lifted the club were hampered by heavy handed new ruling that insisted each team play 6 national born players in their sides. Liverpool, with a strong Scots, Irish and Welsh contingent were hit hard.
Take from a biography of Roy Evans LFC webcite
Stu t#s#er
"Football Is the greatest democracy of all, That's providing your not Italian and pay the referee" Big al 2006