The Real Sociedad president, Jokin Aperribay, has said a decision over the club’s new manager could be taken on Monday and said the two candidates are David Moyes and the former West Bromwich Albion coach Pepe Mel.
Moyes is Sociedad’s first choice and they were waiting on a definitive decision from the former Manchester United and Everton manager when Aperribay spoke to the Spanish TV channel Canal Plus on Sunday night.
The Basque club have sought to satisfy Moyes’s doubts and convince him of the benefits of a move to Spain during a long period of discussions. But there was still significant uncertainty.
The process has taken longer than the club had originally hoped following the sacking of Jagoba Arrasate last Sunday. The initial plan involved the manager taking over in time for last night’s 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid.
Moyes would not be drawn into a hurried decision. Mel has agreed to take the job should Moyes turn it down.
Sociedad reached the group phase of the Champions League last season, having finished fourth the previous year under Philippe Montanier.
But they regressed under Arrasate, finishing seventh. They were knocked out of the Europa League by the Russian side Krasnodar and began this weekend in the relegation zone with one win – against Real Madrid – in their opening 10 matches.
