Frank Lampard's stance on Everton fine system after Steven Gerrard's ketchup ban

Frank Lampard has revealed he HASN’T introduced a fines system at Everton …leaving his new squad to police themselves.

And he explained that’s because he wants his players to “own” their situation in the midst of an almighty relegation scrap, and understand the best practices to help keep them in the Premier League.

The Blues boss scorned one report in a notoriously anti-Merseyside newspaper which suggested he fined one Goodison star for stopping to tie his shoelaces. This comes after reports of some strict rules when he was boss at Chelsea. But he said:

“We haven't implemented a fine system since we've been here, and our reason is that I want the players to own it.

“We are in a position where the most important thing is to get results to move up the table. If the players can own it and understand their behaviours, then I have no need to bring in a fine system.

“At the moment I don't have one - though I do lay out to them that I try to act myself by being on time and giving my all every day - and I've had no problems with the players. No-one has been fined over shoe laces, let me get it out there right now.”

Everton are deep in relegation trouble after defeat at Newcastle - their fourth straight Premier League loss - plunged them to within two points of the relegation zone.

Defeat by similarly haunted Leeds on Saturday could put them into the bottom three. But Lampard insisted the reaction from his players has shown him there is no need for strict rules and regulations at present.

And he admitted that could be because he has evolved from the manager at Chelsea who introduced a tough list of penalties. “I like players to be on time because I think that's important in everything you do,” he said.

“But, from what I