David Unsworth has requested a run of games to show he can be the winning manager Everton need to replace Ronald Koeman on a permanent basis.
Unsworth, Everton’s academy and under-23s manager, has taken temporary charge at Goodison Park for a second time following the Dutchman’s dismissal. The 44-year-old has confirmed he wants the job and had a lengthy meeting with Bill Kenwright following Koeman’s departure on Monday.
No timeframe has been placed on Unsworth’s caretaker role, though he discussed “how many games, players, short- and long-term plans” with the Everton chairman and wants an extended opportunity to press his claims.
Everton are expected to give their former defender until the international break to demonstrate the coaching and motivational skills that have impressed the Goodison hierarchy, a spell of four games that commences with Wednesday’s visit to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
Unsworth said: “I’m very close to the chairman anyway and we had a great chat, although he wasn’t happy he’d had to release Ronald from his contract. That was tough for him. He just said he wants me to take the team. There’s no timescale. We’ll keep communicating and take it from there, week by week. I would like a run at it but, like anything, results will dictate how long you get. Results and performances will determine how long I stay in the seat. I’m OK with that.”
Beni Baningime and David Henen, two of Unsworth’s under-23 players, have been called into the squad for the game at Chelsea. The under-23s coach John Ebbrell will assist at Stamford Bridge.
The first-team coach Duncan Ferguson has survived the cull of Koeman’s backroom staff. Alan Kelly, Unsworth’s former colleague at Preston North End, has arrived as a goalkeeping coach.
Although Unsworth lacks the Premier League experience of Sean Dyche or the European profile of Thomas Tuchel, two candidates for the Everton job, he says the main criteria is clear with the club third from bottom of the Premier League. “The club needs a winning manager,” said Unsworth, who also has a close relationship with the director of football, Steve Walsh, dating back to Lancashire Under-15s. “Whoever gets it must win. I know Farhad [Moshiri, Everton’s major shareholder], Bill and the board want a winning manager. If you win you keep your job.”
Unsworth held out an olive branch to Ross Barkley, who had fallen out of favour under Koeman and almost joined Chelsea in the summer having declined a new contract. “I would absolutely love Ross to stay,” he said. “He is a top talent. Everton has done great for him and he has done great for Everton. He could one of the all-time greats here. I would love him to be persuaded by myself and the chairman to stay and sign a contract. We shouldn’t be losing players of his quality. I feel very strongly we shouldn’t be losing our own.”
