Stand-in backs bid to find big-name

DUNCAN FERGUSON last night backed Everton’s ambition to appoint a new manager from outside the club despite overseeing a 3-1 victory in a thrilling audition for the job.

Everton’s caretaker-manager, a former star striker who is now on the club’s coaching staff, took the hotseat yesterday on the understanding it would be temporary.

But the manner of Everton’s performance to climb out of the relegation zone will make him a popular choice among fans ahead of current favourites David Moyes and Vitor Pereira.

Ex-Bayern boss Niko Kovac was in the crowd at Goodison Park but is not understood to be a contender. ‘It’s not about me, it’s about Everton,’ said Ferguson. ‘If they want me to assist I definitely will. I will support every single manager. If we bring in one of the best managers in the world what a fantastic experience it would be for me to work alongside but that will be down to him.

‘It is one game at a time for me. If I do it again, I need to get my fitness up that’s for sure, the way I was running up and down the touchline!

‘I got asked to come in and I would never turn down Everton but I am realistic as well. It was the game, I’m made up, delighted for the fans. Three points is massive for us. I am here for as a long as Everton want me to be here. If they bring in a new manager tomorrow, brilliant.’

The 47-year-old Scot, put in charge after the sacking of Marco Silva, added; ‘The place has been a little bit down, which happens when you get bad results. I think the fans want managers to be passionate. That’s the big thing, body language, getting the fans onside.

‘It was the one game and no one can ever take it away from me, can they? But the players were unbelievable and it is their day.’

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said: ‘We knew it was an extra-dangerous game for us.’