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Former Sky presenter and one-time Radio City football commentator Richard Keys has launched a passionate defence of David Moyes’ record as Everton manager.

Keys, who now works for global sports network beIN Sports, reacted to a quote from Roberto Martinez in the wake of Everton’s FA Cup semi-final exit to Manchester United.

Martinez said: “If I had been given 10 years to work with Everton by being mediocre I wouldn’t accept that,” which has been interpreted as a dig at his Goodison predecessor who oversaw 11 years as Blues boss.

In his personal blog, published today, Keys delivered a scathing assessment of Martinez’s tenure and mounted a fierce defence of Moyes.

He rapped: “Mediocre? I suppose there’s an argument that Martinez should know something about the subject, his whole career has been mediocre, both as a player and now a coach.

“Since taking over at from Moyes at Everton, Martinez has run up a transfer deficit of £48m. He’s finished 5th - with Moyes’ team - and 11th. This season Everton will finish in the bottom half.

“The Goodison faithful have seen only four league wins all season - against Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle and Chelsea, at the beginning of the season when everybody was beating them.

“I keep reading about their terrific away form. Really? They’ve won five games - two of them at Villa and Newcastle.

“They’ve won one of their last nine league games - against Villa. Now - that’s a record that I call ‘mediocre’.”

Keys then goes on to look at Moyes’ Goodison reign in more detail.

He added: “He left a transfer of £8.5m. That’s right, after 11 years in the P Lge. £8.5m.

“There was an FA Cup semi and an appearance in the final. There were also Champions League and Europa League finishes.

“Moyes’ complete record looks like this - 17-4-11-6-5-5-8-7-7-6-5. Oh, and he was LMA Manager of the Year three times. Stunning I would say. Absolutely stunning.

“Football fans on Merseyside know their stuff. Evertonians have seen through Martinez, although it took a little longer than I thought it would. He’s lost them and I don’t see any way that he’s coming back from the current situation. I think he’ll be gone at the end of the season.

Watch: what players said at half-time at Wembley

“In recent weeks Martinez has sounded increasingly desperate. What an error of judgement it was to have Leighton Baines go public and issue an apology for telling the truth. Baines is one of a very special group - players that Evertonians have taken to their heart. He’s one of them. My mate Andy Gray is. So is Reidy. There’s a few - but not many. What you don’t do is take them on. The moment Martinez tried to play the tough guy and slap Baines down he lost Evertonians. I think it will prove to be his undoing.

“If Martinez had the players with him he could probably ride out the storm, but I hear rumours of unrest in the dressing room. If true - that’s curtains. And so it should be.

“Everton - mediocre under Moyes? As that fine Scouse actor Ricky Tomlinson might say ‘mediocre my arse’!”