Failure to win any of their first twelve Premiership games cost manager Mike Walker his job, but the appointment of Oldham Athletic's Joe Royle as his successor and the signing of controversial striker Duncan Ferguson helped to revive Everton's fortunes.
Failure to win any of their first 12 Premiership games cost manager Mike Walker his job and looked to have cost Everton their top flight status less than a decade after they had been league champions. But in came Oldham Athletic's Joe Royle as his successor, and the signing of controversial striker Duncan Ferguson helped revive Everton's fortunes.