I am sure we will hear of movement on this front very soon. It is my suspicion that Moyes has bren holding this over Kenwright's head during the window to ensure sufficient funds were kept available after sales and not diverted to the banks.

It's not a shift in Moyes's thinking or approach, it's Kenwright's.

If he didn't allow the manager room to manouvre these last couple of windows, the good ship Everton would sink without trace with Moyes heading out the door, free of his contract.

There's been a net spend of zero, which is a lot more than what he has been given for a long time.

Let me get this right. If we sell someone it's BK's fault and if we sign someone it to DM's credit. OK?

I wouldnt put it exactly like that Alex, but Kenwright has had to keep things tight and this time Moyes has been able to squeeze a little more out of him.

No blame — congrats all round.

Tight? We took £17m in the Window Arteta left and the arrival of Jely in Jan was off the back of Bily money. And everything this window was off Rodwell.

Regardless of the hypothetical argument as to whether anybody else would do as well as, or maybe even better than, Moyes - it would be sheer folly for this Board not to do their utmost to secure his services on a long-term contract. Stagnation in the Board-room is masked by the competence of Moyes over the last decade.

Dennis #065 the last contract he signed had been on offer for some time, and made him amongst the top 12 managerial earners on the planet. In signing that mega contract, that at that time put him on higher wages than ANY of the players, he was probably aware that things were not going to change drastically with respect to the resources to spend on the squad. So he went in eyes wide open.

Right now he is in the last 12 months of his current deal, and I'm sure after 10 years he is probably evaluating where he goes from here. There has never been a serious approach for his services from another club - despite the media hype - and I am not saying he wouldn't be coveted by other clubs. But he's shown loyalty, his chairman has shown loyalty, so I would be surprised if he would go on a "free" at the end of this season, if his stock is so high.

Moyes has options with this squad a feature that's troubled him historically if the Rodwell deciveness is indicative of grasping the nettle, fine.

If he keeps going back to Neville etc it's time for someone else

Not too sure what point you're making, Matt. Most everything you've said is common knowledge, however, I'd have to query your last sentence. The only sign of 'loyalty' on either part I've seen is the Board not sacking Moyes when we disappointingly finished 17th, although the cost of shedding one manager & recruiting another may have been a consideration - otherwise is continuing in what may prove to be the peak role of one's career at a fantastic salary really a sign of 'loyalty'? Nonetheless, Moyes & Kenwright both seem quite content with their working relationship - maybe that's the surest indicator that it will continue for some time yet. Although, if Moyes doesn't sign that new contract then he will at the end of it presumably be 'free', regardless of whether his stock at the time is considered to be high.

Dennis #080, fair comment, and I know what I'm saying isn't a reveal, but it was more to get us to a common point before the argument gets boiled down to death.

For sure the cost of sacking would've been considered, and I don't like the use of "loyalty" in football parlance as >90% of the time it's mis-used and abused.

If you believe the stories, Moyes did offer his resignation after the 1-5 hiding in the Europa in 2005. I personally don't believe that...

But the point I was alluding to without wishing to make it so explicit, was that maybe BK "overpaid" DM in that contract was to make his buyout too risky for the other club - not every club is like Chelsea and will shell out £13m to hire a manager, before then shelling out up to £10m to sack him 6 months later (you'll see why his subsequent appointment at Tottenham delighted Bruce Buck).

That safety net is now gone. The aforementioned Tottenham could've had DM for £3.5m compo max. Of course he could go on a rolling contract, which makes him more dispensable, but he is BK's heat shield - so BK would rather he was tied down on a long term deal, even if it's one we can ill-afford - because in BK-economics it makes sense.

I don't think it's just the issue of compensation, Matt, although that is a valid consideration [was it £8 million Spurs paid Pompey for Rednapp?], but being one of the top earners amongst managers also means that far less alternative posts are likely to appeal to Moyes. The number of clubs that can offer both the remuneration package and management opportunity to attract Moyes must be quite small, even including overseas clubs. I dare say the Board wish they'd got the deal done before the latest TV deal was done though.

Dennis #090, I'm not sure we're really far apart on what we think, but for clarity, I'll state what I believe could be at play:
- DM has been here a long time, clearly enjoys - on balance - a good working relationship with the Chairman
- In staying here a long time, DM may not have done long term career prospects good OR harm - but maybe he's pigeon holed "overachieving", "punching above wait" etc. etc. that all get leveled at "plucky Everton".
- Where could he go in the Prem? Chelsea? Hire and fire. Man U? Too much pressure to stay in top 2 to serve debt (will apply to whoever takes over from SAF). Arsenal? Probably the best fit, but they're success-starved / cash rich as it is.

I believe genuinely that DM has fallen for the club in the way that some players do, but if people are saying he's at some sort of crossroads then I am suggesting he's been here before.

I hope he strikes some sort of deal so that if he does decide to go, he goes with our blessing and with some compo going our way. But above all else, I'd like to see him operate under new ownership at Goodison - with fewer constraints, but accepting that it may come with higher expectations.

Christ, I meant "weight" not "wait" above. I've been waiting for new owners for too long, the weight of expectation is affecting me. Or it could be the beer.

Other than the fact that anybody considering a new contract offer would weigh up their options carefully before putting pen to paper, I'm not sure whether Moyes is, or has been, at any crossroads. I'd have thought that it's just a matter of getting a deal that both parties are pretty happy with, as happened in the end last time 'round.

If we get the new Board we need I won't much care whether they decide to perservere with Moyes or not. Even if they do, my feeling is it wouldn't be for too long - for the same reason I don't think the sort of clubs who could afford & would attract Moyes will ever be likely to recruit him.

I think Moyes could only have been at a crossroads if he had another job offer to consider besides staying at Everton, which as far as we are aware has never been the case.

The fact that he is now one of the best paid managers means he's a bit stuck as he has limited options to go somewhere else for better money and would most likely have to take a pay cut.

That may not be out of the question of course if a club like Barcelona approached him but with Moyes record of trophies not won I would think that's unlikely.