Everton players want David Unsworth to stay on as he prepares for talks with club over permanent role
The former Toffees defender has the backing of some key players in the squad as the club looks to replace Ronald Koeman
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Your support makes all the difference.David Unsworth will go into talks with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright on Friday knowing that key members of the squad want him to be handed the role on a permanent basis.
The caretaker boss saw his side go down 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night in a spirited performance, showing the sort of steel and confidence that was completely lacking in the limp defeat to Arsenal at the weekend which saw Ronald Koeman finally sacked.
Unsworth played for Everton for eleven years over two spells and has been working with the club's Under-23 side since 2013. Many of the players who have played under him at that level are now in the first-team picture and have been advocates of Unsworth taking over but it is not only them who are making their preference for an in-house candidate known. Senior players are also suggesting to club officials that the popular 44 year-old should be given a chance - until the end of the season, at least - to prove his worth as a top-flight coach.
Kenwright's meeting with Unsworth on Friday was already planned but with the club exploring the availability of external candidates it is only natural that conversations will, at some point, turn to the only in-house possibility.
The fact that Everton are willing to take their time over hiring a replacement for Koeman plays into Unsworth's hands and he is expected to have possibly as many as five games to build an on-field case for a longer-term deal.
After the defeat at Stamford Bridge, Unsworth said the board had set him no targets to secure the job.
"I've got a great relationship with the board. I've had no points return, or games total, that they've set. We'll just continue to work and plan, game-to-game, and take it from there.
"We can't be where we are and expect to win every game, but there's a lot to work with there.
"There's an awful lot to work with there. It's a very proud performance tonight. Hopefully be as committed as that every game that I'm in charge."
Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti and Sean Dyche are all managers whose interest in the job will be evaluated, but the club have also received interest from some high-profile names, including Manuel Pellegrini.
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