BOSS HUNT WAS FARCE AND WIDE
EVERTON finally got their man, but only after another day of high farce in their often slapstick pursuit of a manager.
Sam Allardyce agreed an 18-month contract, worth around £6m a year, after flying from Dubai to meet owner Farhad Moshiri and visit the Finch Farm training ground.
Late last night, Everton were still to make an official announcement confirming a painful near six-week search was over, even though Allardyce arrived at the training ground at 3pm and spoke to the players during their meal before the game with West Ham.
Yet his appointment had been confirmed by Moshiri much earlier in the day, not through myriad official Goodison channels, but a journalist friend’s Twitter account.
To continue with the sense of circus surrounding the saga, Everton sponsor SportPesa tweeted: “Sam Allardyce is...the new Everton manager! Talk about finding love in a hopeless place...”
The African betting firm swiftly deleted the message, but many fans were quick to express doubts about Allardyce, especially given his choice of former Liverpool player and coach Sammy Lee in his support team.
While the principle owner and sponsor were letting slip the news before a contract was signed – Allardyce is thought to have asked for a further 12 month option on top of the 18 months offered – the club’s media operation was able only to reveal the former England boss was in the building.
He remained at the training complex for three hours before being driven the short distance to Goodison to watch the game against the Hammers.
Even before yesterday’s events, which confirmed him as manager when he had ruled himself out of the running two weeks ago, he at least arrives under no illusions about the mess he has inherited.
Betting firm Paddy Power – with whom Allardyce has a deal to act as an ambassador – released a transcript of his thoughts on Everton’s situation, which he offered before he took the Goodison job.
In the column, Allardyce said the players’ confidence was shot, the club could forget about a top-six place and should instead concentrate on beating the drop.