New Everton manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that it was the ambition of the Toffees and not the £6 million which he will be paid that convinced him to come out of retirement and take charge of the Toffees.
Allardyce was at first linked with the Toffees job three weeks ago and talks between the veteran manager and club were said to have been held. However, both parties failed to reach an agreement and Allardyce then ruled himself out of the running.
Nonetheless, he once again became linked with the vacancy last week after the Toffees suffered two heavy defeats against Atalanta in the Europa League and against Watford in the Premier League before eventually being appointed.
Whilst discussing why he joined the club, Allardyce has now said: “I’ve always thought Everton was a great club. It is a great club.
“Obviously, the club has gone through a difficult spell and hopefully I can put that behind us as quickly as possible and start looking upwards again.
“Because, ultimately, it’s the ambition of the club, the ambition of the owner and the board, allied to the fact that it’s Everton and all the fantastic history, which have proved to be key for me.
“Ambition is important for any manager or coach, owner or director. It’s what you need to have and hopefully we can deliver to the fans to get this Club high up the league. That’s what we’re aiming for.
“The attraction of the club itself, the people I’ve known at the club – Peter Reid is one of my best mates, so are Andy Gray and Paul Bracewell whom I worked with at Sunderland – these people have always made me aware of just how special and unique a club Everton is and I feel really enthused and energised to come in as manager.
“I think that whatever’s happened before we’ve just got to all rally around together. Our will to do it all together would be my way forward.
“Because we are all in it together and let’s all pull in the same direction. Let’s try to get a healthy spirit around the club. That’s difficult when you’re losing but the win last night over West Ham and the magnificent atmosphere around Goodison, which was just brilliant, well that’s lifted everybody around the club.
“And we’ve got to try to keep our heads up and push ourselves until we make sure we get that better. The fans are the most important people at any football club, of course, and we have to give the players every possibility to play to their best, really give them no excuses for not playing to their best and get them right back up to the top level we believe they’re capable of.
“Last season showed what the club is trying to build and we need to demonstrate that level of ambition and assuredness again. We can. It’s a question now of putting in the work to do that and I’m really enthused by the prospect.”
