Toffees back to square Un

STAND-IN STILL IN HOT SEAT AFTER SAM & SILVA SNAGS

DAVID UNSWORTH will be offered another chance to press his claims for the vacant Everton post.

The former Goodison defender stays in charge for the visit to Palace on Saturday after Sam Allardyce ruled himself out of the running.

Hopes of appointing Marco Silva (above) are also diminishing after Watford issued a handsoff warning.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri made an official approach for permission to speak to Portuguese coach Silva but was given no encouragement by his Watford counterpart Gino Pozzo

And despite some suggestions that Everton could return with a huge compensation offer to get their man, Pozzo yesterday made clear he believes the matter must now end.

The Italian said the club would consider reporting Everton to the Premier League for the illegal tapping-up of former Hull boss Silva,

Allardyce, who had denied holding talks with Everton, yesterday finally admitted there had been discussions but said the job was not for him because the Blues did not want him enough.

The former England manager initially held talks more than a week ago but claims to have heard nothing from Moshiri since... and he believes that shows the club was uncertain about him. He said: “When you’re sat in my position you want people to be decisive and feel like they want you. I didn’t get that feeling. They were hesitating.

“Such a long time without a decision meant I had to make the decision myself. It would have been a fabulous job but it didn’t feel right.”

It now seems certain Unsworth, appointed caretaker following the sacking of Dutch flop Ronald Koeman last month, will be given the go-ahead to continue in the hot seat.

The long-serving Everton stalwart has the backing of chairman Bill Kenwright, and victory at Palace, following on from that epic comeback against Watford a fortnight ago, will make him a warm favourite to keep the job for the longer term.