“So many of them stepping up”: Coleman backs Garner and Dewsbury-Hall to help lead new Everton era

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Seamus Coleman has named the group of former Everton teammates that he believes can lead the side in his absence.

Coleman called time on his Everton career at the end of the 2025/26 season, departing after 17 years and 435 appearances for the Toffees.

The Irishman's exit means Everton will have a new club captain next season for the first time since 2019, with vice-captain James Tarkowski and third captain Jordan Pickford the frontrunners for the role.

Coleman believes the current group has the necessary leaders to ensure 'standards are passed on', and backed James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to step up.

Garner this week discussed his desire to take more responsibility, after an individual campaign that earned him Everton's Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.

“It’s important that, as you move on, the standards are passed on and we’ve got that,” Coleman told evertontv.

“We’ve got Jordan [Pickford], Tarky [Tarkowski], [James] Garner and Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall], among others. So there's so many of them stepping up into that role.

“It's important they keep relaying that message and it's important they get to know the fanbase. It's important the fanbase keep pushing them because, ultimately, as I’ve said so many times, it's a massive football club. And we're fortunate to be here and we have to wear that shirt with pride.”

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Rob Williamson 1 Posted 05/06/2026 at 16:24:48

If he gives it to Tarkowski, then that allows Moyes an excuse to play him, even though he's been a real weakness this season.

If I remember, he did the same with Phil Neville when he kept on picking him though he was well past his prime…. if he ever had one!

Darren Hind 2 Posted 05/06/2026 at 16:25:39

"Standards are being passed on..."

That's what we are worried about Seamus, lad!!!

Christy Ring 3 Posted 05/06/2026 at 17:41:10

I hope the new captain is Garner, and if he upholds the “same standards as Seamus”, a model professional on and off the field, that'll do for me, no matter what others think.

I agree with Rob @1 about Tarkowski, it would be typical Moyes.

Jack Convery 4 Posted 05/06/2026 at 18:13:25

Christy, I'm in the Garner for Captain too. Apart from Pickford. he's a first name on the team sheet player and is only going to get better and has a good few years left in the tank.

Not one for a goalie as Captain and Tarkowski for me should be a back-up to the Branthwaite and O'Brien centre-back pairing, which must become the norm next season.

Jonathan Oppenheimer 5 Posted 05/06/2026 at 18:16:14

If we have Jake and Jarrad healthy, and we're still starting Tarkowski or Keane in our first match, the supporters will turn very quickly.

We can live with Mykolenko at left-back, even if not ideal, but we damn well better not be playing with players out of position come August, and that includes on the wing.

Garner or Dewsbury-Hall has to be the next captain.

Dave Abrahams 6 Posted 05/06/2026 at 19:17:31

Pickford for captain?

He'd kick off if we lost the toss before the game started!

Oliver Molloy 7 Posted 05/06/2026 at 19:36:59

Branthwaite should be captain for me.

Ian Bennett 8 Posted 05/06/2026 at 19:44:12

Yep Branthwaite for me. Captained England U21s.

Calm, can read the game, and can see everything in front of him.

Tony Abrahams 9 Posted 05/06/2026 at 21:43:38

When I went into Finch Farm, I remember the conversation I had with Sean Dyche, who said that the only real leader in the squad was Seamus Coleman.

"What about your mate from Burnley, Tarkowski?" I asked.

"What about Branthwaite and Garner? They might only be young kids but if you get them involved, I'm sure they will both become leaders," I said.

"We are not privy to what goes on at Finch Farm" is something that people who don't like to see David Moyes being criticised often say. That might be true but a lot of us go and watch Everton every week or every fortnight, and a lot of us can see a good player when we see one.

I obviously don't believe our squad is great, but I do believe our squad is much better than it is given credit for. But the only way this would ever be proven true is if the manager started placing his trust in a few of the younger players.

We need to prioritise signing a few decent defenders; if we do this, then suddenly we might not be as far away as we look, especially if we can sign a little bit of quality further up the pitch.

And once again… the manager starts rotating his squad properly instead of constantly relying on the same faces.

Paul Griffiths 11 Posted 06/06/2026 at 02:53:50

Branthwaite to be captain (7, 8)? Seriously? Someone who we cannot guarantee will play two games in a row? We simply cannot depend on Branthwaite any longer.

Let's see what happens over the next two seasons. Meanwhile, his value will continue to plummet. I very much doubt that we will have a serious offer for him this summer.

Alan J Thompson 12 Posted 06/06/2026 at 07:05:30

Paul (#11);

While Tarkowski might have a struggle with his position next season, we need a captain like him who smiles in disbelief as he close up mocks the referee when we need time to reorganize.

Perhaps the Transfer Committee could use his skills.

Paul Griffiths 13 Posted 06/06/2026 at 07:29:39

Alan - 12 - your first sentence is all I dislike about Tarkowski, but I would add -- in true skipper etiquette -- blaming others for his mistakes.

If Moyes stays, Tarkowski will be captain next season. I don't want that, Alan. But who else? Not Garner. Not Pickford for me. Maybe we can buy Xhaka.

Darren Hind 14 Posted 06/06/2026 at 08:00:07

There is no sarcasm in No 2.

Coleman has been here throughout what many people believe to have been the darkest period in the club's history. Year after year of abject mediocrity. He won nothing. His team mates won nothing. The players he is talking about have won nothing.

Who in their right mind wants people like "Tarks" and "Pickers" passing on the standards? They are just more people who have won nothing. They haven't even challenged for anything. Neither have the mercenaries who have managed and praised them during their time at this club.

The only people who have shown "standards" at this club have been the people in the stands. Without them, these jokers would surely have perished.

Coleman personifies "plucky little Everton". So does Moyes. So does Tarkowski. They should all be thoroughly ashamed that their "standards" have allowed lesser clubs to waltz away with trophies and repeatedly finish comfortably above them.

Bill Kenwight would be proud of them all. They have taken his "standards" to a Whole New Level.

We need winners. Not cheerleaders.

It's been 'plucky little Everton' since the Wimbledon game and the '95 FA Cup Final... and I'm fucking sick of it.

Moyes got the job first time in 2002 because we were already plucky and he more or less kept us plucky, so lying corrupt chubby jowls could keep smiling and wanking over his shares.

We were plucky at the 2009 Final -- just like 14 years before. We have lived on being plucky; the only otherwise was Moshiri's bizarre spends and the new ground.

We are still plucky under Saint Daniel-the-Absent and Saint Angus-the-Silent with Mr Plucky back in charge and all three are made up that we are where we are or 'unhappily satisfied' or gagging to punch above our weight -- a quarter-final perhaps?

But we are far from being eligible for the Three B's club -- Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton.

Tony Abrahams 17 Posted 06/06/2026 at 08:47:06

Standards? What standards? Do you understand the fans disappointment at not qualifying for Europe, David?

They're your words… ”But no.”

John Collins 18 Posted 06/06/2026 at 09:27:20

Standards? Everton FC standards? Nil Satis standards?

John Davies 19 Posted 06/06/2026 at 12:17:29

Darren #14. Paul #15. Both absolutely spot on. I've posted before about Moyes and his ability to set the bar at level zero and then "sell it" to the masses as success.

I'm still pissed off with our pathetic end to the season. Moyes should have had us playing football in Europe again next season but instead refused squad rotation and played guys who were clearly out of form and out of gas.

Add to that, his inability to make any game changes when needed and his appalling use of substitutions. Result? 3 points from a possible 21 to finish the campaign.

But hey, it was good for us not to have been involved in a relegation battle, wasn't it? That's what Moyes "sells" as success. Is that where this great club has ended up?

We should be so grateful to Dull Davey, eh?