DAVID UNSWORTH WAS surprised to see Sam Allardyce rule himself out of the running to be the next Everton manager.
Allardyce had emerged as a contender to become Ronald Koeman’s permanent replacement at Goodison Park, however the club’s hesitation to begin negotiations left him feeling unwanted.
“It is a fabulous football club. It would have been a fabulous job, but it just didn’t feel right,” Allardyce told talkSPORT this week.
That attitude baffled Unsworth, who remains keen to step up from his current role as caretaker manager.
“I saw that [Allardyce's comments] and it would surprise me that anyone would rule themselves out of being Everton manager because this is an amazing club with the best fans, as we saw at the last match,” said the former Toffees defender.
“Anyone who rules themselves out of this club surprises me.”
Marco Silva and Sean Dyche have also been heavily linked with the vacancy, with Unsworth also still in the running after winning for the first time in his temporary stint before the international break.
“I have spoken to the chairman every day since I’ve sat in this role and he has been magnificent,” added the 44-year-old.
“I’ve seen bits of speculation but not a great deal.
“Like I said in the beginning, what will be will be, and other people will make the decision on who will be the Everton manager and I am fine with that.
“Whoever gets the honour, be it myself, wonderful. If not, I will shake their hand and wish them all the best because I want them to succeed and I want this club to succeed.
“Everybody that matters knows my feelings and it goes without saying, but other people will make that decision. I’ll just be focused on taking the team [against Crystal Palace] and getting a result.”
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5th Province very unlikely, Connacht struugle to get the supporters need to be viable, a development side, splitting support from one of the established provinces isnt really viable or wanted by the other 4. A team in England or France is unlikely as the IRFU would have to pay millions to have players released for training camps, only realistic options is either a partnership with someone like Dragons/zebre where young players paid by IRFU can go for gametime and player release in agreed, but would the WRU/FIR be happy that Irish players are developing instead of their own? Most realistic is a partnership with the SRU to relaunch a 3rd Scottish side, Boarders or Caledonian Reds, young Irish players and some senior Scottish ones could make a competitive team. Has existing supporter base.
@Kingshu: I’d be sending those post-Academy young players struggling to get game time to the Southern Hemisphere to get game time on loan. Player release isn’t an issue & they need to experience different environments for skill & personal development. Effectively get them doing what Oli Jager has done in NZ but with the option to bring him back after 2 years
@Graham Ross: But how many SH teams would want them in any numbers, for NZ/SA sides they would say why we giving gametime to young Irish players and not young NZ players, that will stay if they are good? Why invest in something they will not get the end result off. Most SR sides would be similar, maybe they would take 2/3 in total, but thats not really going to make a big difference. MLR team may be an option, somewhere with big Irish population, but that isn’t playing with the big boys.