Full article - Paul Joyce is very reliable too
So that's the Telegraph and The Times, expect the others to carry it soon too
Everton aim to appoint Sam Allardyce as manager by tomorrow evening
Paul Joyce, Northern Football Correspondent
November 28 2017, 5:00pm, The Times
Everton are progressing in talks with Sam Allardyce’s representatives as they seek to appoint a new manager before tomorrow’s home game against West Ham United.
Everton reacted to Sunday’s abject 4-1 defeat to Southampton, which highlighted all of the flaws which threaten their top flight status, by inviting the former England coach back to the negotiating table.
Those players who do not have the bottle to take on the fight need to be honest and say there are not up for it.
Length of contract and Allardyce’s backroom staff will feature in the negotiations, which are said to be moving forward slowly but surely. Allardyce is in Dubai and not due back in the country until tomorrow.
Caretaker manager David Unsworth will take training at Finch Farm this evening, and expects to pick the team, but has warned of the potential pitfalls facing Allardyce by claiming too many first team players lack “bottle” and there is no quick fix.
“We need to start winning,” said Unsworth, who has lost five of his seven matches in charge. “The home comfort of Goodison has to help us. We need to stick together, we need men and courage and mental toughness. You need top players to stand up and be counted.
“Those players who do not have the bottle to take on the fight need to be honest, come forward and say there are not up for it and we will get players who are up for it.
“We may need to recruit proven Premier League players who are up for the fight.
“I don’t think there’s a quick fix in football. I don’t think there’s a secret ingredient where somebody just comes in and all of a sudden you start winning again.
“The fundamental problems have been on the pitch and in performance. We need our best players fit quickly, we need some proven Premier League recruitment in January, quickly, in early January, and we need to win a couple of games and get confidence flying again.
“When confidence is low it takes a bit of time to build that back up. I don’t think there’s a quick fix, whoever gets the job needs time and patience, support, and backing and they’ll get all of that from me.”
Everton have also placed Shakhtar Donetsk’s Paulo Fonseca and Republic of Ireland coach Martin O’Neill on a shortlist in case there are any late hitches with Allardyce.
