Everton sack Smith and pursue Moyes

Alan Nixon
Wednesday 13 March 2002 01:00 GMT
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Walter Smith was sacked by Everton last night after an emotional meeting with the owner and deputy chairman, Bill Kenwright, who looks set to give Preston's Davie Moyes the job of steering the Merseyside club clear of the Premiership's relegation zone.

Smith, the former Rangers manager, whose £25,000-a-week contract had 15 months to run, returned to work yesterday after a short break in Scotland and was summoned to a meeting with Kenwright after disgruntled supporters had finally got their message through to his biggest supporter.

Smith's reign, which began in July 1998, ended after two days of talks involving Kenwright, board members, club insiders and the long-suffering followers of the club. After Sunday's limp FA Cup exit at Middlesbrough, Kenwright, who has backed Smith through previous crises, gave in to calls to dismiss him after a leading supporters' spokesman told him the fans had lost faith in the manager.

Kenwright realised that to keep Smith with relegation looming was too big a risk. He feared that fans would turn against the team and him, as well as Smith.

"The fans' reaction is understandable," Smith had said on Monday. "But I will soldier on. I have done so before and I will do it again. When you are going through a spell like we are, people want to criticise. It comes with the territory, especially at a club like Everton."

Everton refused to comment on Smith last night but the decision has been taken and moves to replace him will begin today. Preston's highly-rated Moyes is on a two-man short-list with Gary Megson, the manager of West Bromwich Albion. Both are available, although only one will be officially approached. The appointment of an experienced, but short-term "fire fighter" has been ruled out.

Moyes has an escape clause in his contract and would be keen on the post after turning down several other openings in the past couple of years. Megson is also at loggerheads with the West Brom board over spending and he can leave with a fixed fee of £350,000 in his contract.

After Smith's reign Kenwright wants a young manager with new ideas and a fresh look at a club that has long been stuck in mediocrity. Moyes and Megson have shone brightly and have served an apprenticeship outside the Premiership. Moyes is a football student and, despite his lack of top-flight experience, would command respect. Megson is more vociferous and has also been at odds with his board over money for new players. That experience may even give him an edge to the harmony Moyes enjoys at Deepdale.

Everton fans, treated to turgid entertainment for a decade, may prefer Moyes, whose Preston play with the kind of swagger that comes from youth and a lack of fear. Megson's teams are more functional. Either man would be a risk, but this is the time to gamble.

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