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Everton will consider appointing a sporting director as they plot the new era at Goodison.

The Blues are searching for a replacement for Roberto Martinez’s after the club brought his near three year reign to an end on Thursday.

A shortlist including Ronald Koeman , Frank de Boer and Manuel Pellegrini has been drawn up.

Martinez was sacked yesterday afternoon and key members of his backroom staff followed him out the door and Everton are exploring the idea of a making major changes to their management structure.

Koeman, de Boer and Pellegrini all work as head coaches in a European-style framework where a sporting director sits above them.

Everton are now looking into the possibility of replacing the post left by chief scout Kevin Reeves with a sporting director.

Investor Farhad Moshiri is ready to hand Martinez’s successor a transfer war chest in excess of £100m as he looks to turn the Blues back into a side to compete for European qualification.

Koeman works with technical director Martin Hunter at Southampton while de Boer, before quitting Ajax this week, had Marc Overmars as sporting director.

Manchester City boss Pellegrini, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer, has former Barcelona man Txiki Begiristain above him as the club’s technical director.

Martinez liked working in the traditional management structure, which allowed him to have control over all club affairs, and he had been hoping to build an Arsene Wenger-style dynasty at Goodison.

(Image: 2016 Getty Images)

However, after a run of just one win in their last 10 matches and having overseen a second season of failure, Everton’s board wielded the axe.

And now Blues chiefs are looking at possibly replacing him with a head coach whilst also appointing a sporting director.