Unsworth ready to stake his claim for Everton job

Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth admits he is desperate to seize a “great opportunity” to secure his dream job at Goodison Park on a permanent basis.

The 44-year-old has been promoted from his role as Everton’s Under-23 and academy manager and placed in temporary charge, after Ronald Koeman was sacked on Monday following a dismal start to the season.

Farhad Moshiri, the club’s owner, is poised to give Unsworth four games leading up to the international break next month to show what he can do, although Everton will carry out due diligence on other candidates for the job.

Among the potential contenders to succeed Koeman are current Burnley manager Sean Dyche, former Everton captain Phil Neville and ex-borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.

Unsworth, who was interviewed for the position when Roberto Martinez was shown the door in May 2016, would be a popular appointment with the players and chairman Bill Kenwright.

The former Everton defender’s audition begins with this evening’s fourth-round Carabao Cup tie at Chelsea, before Premier League fixtures against Leicester City and Watford either side of their Europa League group match with Lyon.

“It’s a great opportunity. I am keen. I’d love this job. I’ll give it everything I’ve got,” Unsworth said. “Who wouldn’t want this job? It is a wonderful football club with amazing fans and it is a top job for any manager, myself included. I want to manage. I think the time has come to say that and I make no secret of it at all.”

This will be the second time that Unsworth has held the manager’s job on an interim basis, having taken charge for one game after Martinez was dismissed.

Despite having longer to make his mark in the Everton dugout, Unsworth claims he does not feel under any extra pressure. He said: “The chairman, Farhad and the board have given me an amazing opportunity to hopefully get a run of games where performance levels

go up and we produce some wins as well. We’ll see how we perform and see how results go.

“Results will dictate any future for me as Everton manager. I don’t see myself under any pressure at all. I’m going to enjoy it.”

Unsworth will be assisted by John Ebbrell and Joe Royle, who both have existing academy roles, while Duncan Ferguson will remain part of the first-team staff.

Alan Kelly, Unsworth’s former team-mate at Preston North End, has joined as goalkeeping coach.