Visit from duo gave Moyes ‘final nudge’

SEAMUS AND BAINES CONVINCED BOSS TO RETURN TO EVERTON

- By PAUL WHEELOCK

Seamus Coleman speaks with boss David Moyes

EVERTON manager David Moyes has revealed that a visit to his house from two of the best players from his first spell in charge of the club convinced him to return to Goodison Park.

The Blues faced the very real prospect of marking the 133rd and final year at their historic home with a first-ever relegation from the Premier League when Moyes was approached by the club’s new owners The Friedkin Group to replace Sean Dyche.

And the Scot, whose first stint at Everton lasted 11 years, has admitted he had doubts over whether the squad he would inherit had enough to stay up.

But a phone call from Seamus Coleman followed by a visit from the club’s captain as well as Under-18s manager Leighton Baines helped reassure him.

Moyes said: “When the opportunity came around again, I was thinking: ‘Bloody hell, Everton are on the verge of relegation here’

“There had been a lot of good managers who had been here who had not been able to fix things.