Everton PR boss leaves over emails calling club "a kindergarten"

Everton's long-serving press chief Ian Ross has left Goodison after the leaking of emails purporting to be from his account which contained strong criticism of chief executive Robert Elstone.

The Toffees have launched an internal investigation into the messages, which compare the life at club to “working in a kindergarten.”

Some of the emails are highly critical of Elstone’s leadership while others hint at growing air of paranoia in the club and talk of financial meltdown.

One message claims Elstone is “unfit to lead” and likely to have a  “breakdown.”

Club officials have not confirmed if the emails are genuine, but a probe will be conducted to determine how they were obtained by parties from outside the club.

Ross, who had been with the club for 11 years, was renowned as one of the Premier League's toughest press bosses.