Allardyce: I don’t fear for my job

SAM ALLARDYCE insists he has no insecurities about his future as Everton manager and believes an upturn in results has relieved the pressure on his position.

Paulo Fonseca, the Shakhtar Donetsk manager, has been linked with Allardyce’s job and was considered by major shareholder Farhad Moshiri when Ronald Koeman was sacked in October.

It will be a summer of change at Goodison Park, with Marcel Brands set to arrive from PSV Eindhoven to replace director of football Steve Walsh. But Allardyce, whose side face Manchester City this evening, does not fear the axe.

‘You can create as much insecurity as you like with speculation but the reality is I have never felt insecure,’ he said.

‘I sit and worry about the team’s performances — or lack of — and not about whether I lose my job or not. That will be determined by how well the players perform.

‘If I worried about that I would underperform myself and I can’t afford to. I accept the challenge and pressures that come with management.’

Allardyce has refused to quell speculation about a possible summer move for Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who will be a free agent, but suggested the bulk of Everton’s business in the next window will centre on outgoings.