SAM TRUSTS WALSH TO DO THE BUSINESS
SAM ALLARDYCE has urged Everton to bring in new faces in January and highlighted the importance of his relationship with Steve Walsh. Everton’s director of football came under fire at the time of Ronald Koeman’s sacking in October. There was pressure on his position for the role he played in the most expensive recruitment drive in the club’s history, with many signings underwhelming. The alliance between Walsh and Koeman was strained to the point that they only communicated when necessary but he has a better relationship with Allardyce, whom he worked alongside at Newcastle. And Allardyce, whose priority next month is a striker, knows the key to extending his stay at Goodison Park beyond his initial 18-month deal depends on the quality of players he brings in. ‘I’m not going to comment on what Ronald did or didn’t do,’ said Allardyce. ‘What I will comment on is that Steve and I have known each other for a huge amount of time and I have every faith in the process we will have. ‘The massive pressure which comes and falls upon me as a manager, Steve as the director of football and the owner (Farhad Moshiri) who is finding the money or generating the money within the club is a huge decision now. If it goes wrong because that player gets devalued, it is very difficult to move them on as nobody will give him the sort of money they are earning. ‘That is a huge task and a huge responsibility for me, Steve and the system we are going to try and use to make decisions going forward.’