Big Sam calls off Christmas

SAM ALLARDYCE cancelled Everton’s Christmas party because they have nothing to celebrate.

He pulled the plug on the celebration, which was due to take place after next Monday’s clash with Swansea, when he arrived at the struggling club.

Everton, who take on Newcastle tonight, have risen to 10th since Allardyce’s arrival.

Allardyce, below, will instead give them a chance to party in the new year – if they have a good Christmas on the pitch. He said: “I have stopped the Christmas party. It’s not needed at the moment because of the position we were in when I first arrived.

“I told the players I will pay them back when they come out of Christmas and into January in a better position and they can go and socialise at the right time.

“They’ve turned that around already for me but I’m still going to say, ‘Look, lads this is our biggest demand’. But whatever you do I don’t want a phone call telling me you’ve been in trouble because you will be in even more trouble with me than you are wherever you are out there’.”

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, wants answers from owner Mike Ashley over his new year spending plans.

Benitez fears Ashley may be reluctant to splash the cash while in talks with Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners Group over a proposed takeover. “It is always helpful if you have information,” said Benitez. “Hopefully after the Everton game and a win, we will have good news and everybody will be happy. We have a lot of names but do not know what the budget is.

“I was asking Lee Charnley, the managing director, the other day and I’m waiting for an answer. We need to know because our people are travelling around the world watching games.”