Everton staring Premier League relegation in the face after ownership denial

A fortnight before the start of the season and a match against Chelsea, there was a protest ­scheduled to take place outside Goodison Park.

James Tarkowski, a member of the Burnley team that was relegated, is the only new ­Everton signing so far this ­summer – on a free.

In a pre-season game in the States, Frank Lampard’s side were thumped 4-0 by ­Minnesota United.

They have sold their best player, Richarlison, to ­Tottenham, a club they aspire to compete with.

Lampard has already ­mentioned the R-word and some bookmakers have ­Everton as short as 7-2 to be relegated.

Apart from all that, the Blues are absolutely bouncing ahead of their Premier League campaign.

Seriously, the season might not have started and there might be more than five weeks until the closure of the transfer ­window, but already you can say it will be a significant achievement if Lampard keeps Everton in the top flight.

It will be a significant achievement for all concerned if he stays around long enough to do just that.

You have to admire Lampard for his determination to make a real go of management.

Personable, eloquent, ­camera-friendly, insightful, a high-achiever as a player, he ticks so many TV boxes.

The pundit’s path lay stretched ahead of him.

But he is treading a more treacherous route and already looks stressed before a serious ball has been kicked.

Unsurprisingly, the Dele Alli miss in that hammering by Minnesota went viral, a symbol of Everton’s troubles.

Spurs unload on Everton a player who has clearly and quite spectacularly lost his way and then go back for Goodison Park’s crown jewel a few months later.

And that just about sums up the lack of joined-up thinking in the recruitment department and boardroom, which has been the one