Moyes signs five-year deal to stay at Everton

Published on Wednesday 15 October 2008 23:36

MANAGER David Moyes is hoping to fulfil his ambitions with Everton after finally committing his long-term future to the club.

The Scot yesterday ended months of speculation by signing a new five-year contract worth a reputed 3 million a year with the Goodison Park club.

Moyes had been in the final year of his previous deal and talks over an extension had rumbled on for some time. However, the 45-year-old had often stated his intention to remain at Goodison Park and there were indications last week a deal was imminent.

Moyes told the club’s website, evertonfc.com: “Since I took over six years ago, I think there has been an improvement and I want a similar improvement over the next five years or so.

“I want the ambition to be greater. I want the expectancy to be higher and I want Everton overall to be higher on the field and off the field. I am determined to try and take it forward.”

Moyes left Preston to take charge at Everton after the sacking of Walter Smith in 2002.

Under Moyes the Toffees have twice claimed a place in the Uefa Cup as well as reaching the qualifying stages of the Champions League in 2005.

The team, however, have made an indifferent start to the current campaign and Moyes recently admitted uncertainty over his position may have unsettled the players.

He admits discussions were protracted, but he is delighted the details have now been finalised.

Moyes added: “There have been many different things for different reasons, but we are here now and the big thing for me is that I am at Everton, as far as I am concerned, for another five years and the job is to make us better than we have been.

“I am really excited and really pleased. I am pleased for everybody – I’m pleased for myself and my family who were desperate to get it signed and secured and it is always what I wanted to do.”

Chairman Bill Kenwright believes the new deal is key to the club’s future.

He said: “There have always been two people – myself and David – confident that the long-term future of the manager would eventually be secured.

“The signatures of those two people are now on a contract. I am obviously very pleased that the contract – that I’ve always believed to be the most important contract – is now concluded.”