Owners facing fan mutiny - McNulty

Everton's shambolic end to the transfer window has resulted in open revolt from supporters that places fierce scrutiny on owners The Friedkin Group and chief executive Angus Kinnear.

The last straw for fans already infuriated by the controversial proposed sale of home-grown youngster Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest - the deal was eventually blocked by Everton's board in the face of the toxic reaction from the fanbase - was the bungled final day before the window closed.

Folarin Balogun's proposed £40m move from AS Monaco descended into high farce in the early hours of Wednesday morning after the original deal was renegotiated when issues arose with his medical, ending with the United States striker deciding to walk away from Everton's Finch Farm training base without signing.

When the problem with his medical cropped up, it prompted Everton to pursue a loan deal for Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, who was happy to sign but was not allowed to leave Old Trafford. A move was also made for Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham but did not progress as the striker wished to remain at Villa Park.

Everton could point to the fact Balogun took a personal decision they could not reverse, but the bigger question is why they took until the final day of the window to address glaring long-term issues?

Kinnear, in what must now be looked upon as an ill-fated recent interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, announced Everton's squad was "in a good place".

After the events of recent days, the word "failure" is being applied to the owners and chief executive, not Moyes. And there will be no hiding place for TFG and Kinnear should things now go wrong.

The "good place" Kinnear spoke about has eventually amounted to leaving Moyes with just one striker in the raw Thierno Barry and only 18 senior, outfield players, a parlous state of affairs for the 63-year-old Scot.

The Everton Fans' Forum issued a lengthy statement featuring widescale criticism of the club, saying the Toffees' squad had been left "dangerously short" in key areas.

"We are demanding competence, preparation and accountability."

All this, however, has been overshadowed by a transfer deadline day that ended as nothing short of a debacle. In reality, they have ended this transfer markedly weaker than when they started it.

Everton are yet to issue any public statement on the events that have led to such damning criticism, fan rebellion and a loss of credibility for owners TFG - but there are many fences to be mended.