Allardyce is heading for the exit at Everton
SAM ALLARDYCE’S unhappy reign as Everton manager is expected to end this week after he has face-to-face talks with Farhad Moshiri.
The 63-year-old, who still has 12 months left on his contract, will meet Everton’s major shareholder in the next 48 hours and it is expected the outcome will be that Allardyce walks away from the job he took last November.
Allardyce has not built up any rapport with supporters and the clamour for Moshiri to make a change reached a peak when his team were beaten 3-1 by West Ham on Sunday.
Moshiri arrives in the UK today for a series of board meetings which will be crucial to determining the way forward for Everton and although the Iranian billionaire admires Allardyce, he recognises the depth of ill-feeling toward him and knows change is required.
Allardyce has grown weary of the constant criticism and has privately accepted that the moment has arrived to move on. His departure will also signal the end for his backroom staff of Sammy Lee, Craig Shakespeare and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson.
When asked about his long-term prospects during a programme on Sky Sports News last night, he replied: ‘Who knows what is going to happen next? The season is over. I’m going to have a meeting with Farhad and then I am going on my holidays.’
The departure of Allardyce will signal Moshiri’s fourth search for a manager in the space of two years and a firm target will be Marco Silva, the Portuguese who has been out of work since he was sacked by Watford in January.
It remains to be seen what happens with Wayne Rooney. He has an offer from DC United in the MLS and Moshiri would not stand in his way if he wants to leave. Allardyce confirmed, though, that the 32-year-old’s future will be discussed in the next 48 hours.