TOFFEES AXE BIG SAM

FARHAD MOSHIRI’S desire to implement a new management structure at Everton is set to cost the club’s major shareholder more than £30million in compensation.

Marco Silva, the Portuguese who has been out of work since Watford sacked him in January, will succeed Sam Allardyce and could be appointed next week, with Everton officials having already contacted his representatives.

Allardyce’s miserable 162 days in charge ended yesterday, following a meeting with Moshiri in London. The 63-year-old described himself as being ‘disgusted’ with his treatment, but he still received a severance package of more than £5m.

Allardyce became the third manager Moshiri has sacked in the space of two years. Roberto Martinez walked away with a £10m pay-off, while successor Ronald Koeman is having the bulk of his £6m annual salary paid until the summer.

Moshiri will have to continue paying, though, in order to secure Silva’s services. Everton’s offer of £12m to Watford last October was rejected following Koeman’s exit but it left them accused of making an illegal approach.

Watford have gone to Premier League arbitration, but Everton are hoping to reach a financial agreement with Vicarage Road officials. With Silva out of work, the offer is unlikely to be as much as it was last autumn, but it will still be a significant amount.

‘I’m shocked, disappointed and disgusted that the club didn’t have the decency to tell me or my staff about the changes,’ said Allardyce. ‘They must have been in the pipeline for a considerable time, but no one thought to tell me and my staff.

‘I came here with the team struggling and we finished eighth in the table. I’m happy with what we achieved.’