Everton's fan war leaves owner Farhad Moshiri facing the only question that matters

It was as bold as it was dangerous, a huge gamble to try and win the hearts and minds of a fanbase who are at war with the owner that wants to appoint him.

We will find out soon enough if Vitor Pereira’s unprecedented step to address head on the criticism of angry and frustrated Everton supporters has worked - at least in the minds of the club’s decision makers.

They want to make the appointment of a new manager before the weekend, to give time to bring new players in before the transfer window closes. If it is the Portuguese coach as owner Farhad Moshiri wants, then that particular question will have been answered.

Bigger ones though, will remain in the air for much longer, with the biggest one of all not resolved until the end of the season.

If it was a gamble by Pereira in almost taking the fans on - by suggesting that as understandable as their fury was, it was totally misdirected at him, rather than the managers and decisions that came before him - then it is a far bigger gamble by Moshiri.

He is not only putting the admittedly high stakes of public opinion on the line, by risking his ever shrinking reputation amongst the Blues support with a potential appointment almost as controversial as that of Rafa Benitez, he is also risking his own hard cold money.

If this one is wrong, if Pereira is eventually appointed at the end of this week and proves to be as disastrous as his predecessor, then there are no more options, no more second chances.

Put bluntly, if he is wrong, then Everton will be relegated.

In anyone’s language, that is a huge risk. And there are many - the more vociferous elements of the Goodison fanbase who were at the ground on Wednesday night protesting amongst them - who would say it is too great