Michael, I actually disagree with you. It's like the bosman ruling with players, if any player is out of contract at the end of the season, and its after January, other clubs can speak to the player directly.

I'm not sure if this is actually the case, but I don't see why not, but surely its the same with managers. His contract runs out at the end of the season. If Moyes, let's say, had another 2 years left, then Utd spoke to Moyes before the club, then I would agree, it is a lack of respect.

I just think Utd had every right to speak to Moyes first.

Don't necessarily agree with you Michael but excellent news on your own pesky situation.

Fergie obviously wanted his OT send off so I think its just the curse of modern rolling news and social meadia - once a rumour is out it just gets far and away ahead of what clubs can manage.

I hope Manchester United fans are ready for dour, defensive 0-0 draws and losing at Anfield.

He's plummeted in my estimation. I'll gather my thoughts before I post and see if I can come up with something not along the lines of 'you disrespectful c**t.'

Anyway Michael, I hope your recovery is quick and full. Good luck pal.

Michael I think this situation has been going on for months. Its par for the course in football now. So damned rich fans don't come into any of their thinking. Let's hope your tumors shrink to nothing and we get the lad from Porto as boss. The world keeps on turning. Keep on keeping on La.

Seen out his contract. Given the club 11 years. What is he supposed to have done? Come out and said "I am going to Utd" Before they even announced Fergies retirement? He is off, good luck to him. Time for us to move on.

Nice to hear that your own situation is improving and may you get over it completely. I'm not broken hearted he's gone and see the change just as needed by the club as well as himself. I just fear cheap 'yep, he'll do' types like MacLiesh or O'NIell to replace him.

Great news on your treatment mate that's the most important thing.

I imagine on Planet Moyes he's done the honorable thing he hasn't broke his contract he never became an Evertonian so what is there to criticize? It was just a job to him - like stacking shelves.

The Machiavellian relationship between SAF and Moyes and the litany of tall tales over when he would sign his contract is quite another thing.

Don't let the door smack your arse on the way out Davey boy you shifty get.

I believe there has been a lack of respect. Is it just me that believes that this has been planned for a while now...... He has not shown a commitment to Everton regarding signing a new contract and it looks like for good reason now.

As has been stated he has done well for Everton in terms of giving the club back some semblance of expectation other than fighting relegation. He has also become a man of real wealth as well when in relative terms he has not delivered within his peer group (salary related) and I know the comments will come up regarding his lack of funds, but that didn't stop him from taking top dollar.

People forget that he was an untried inexperienced manager when we took a risk in appointing him. So he has a lot to thank Everton for; however, should he state this, it will have a hollow ring to it for me as I believe that, for the last 6 months at least, he has been aware of this scenario. Don't forget the same guy was saying that his signing a new contract hinged on us qualifying for Europe, not whether Manchester United came in for him.

I won't miss him; for people of my generation the club comes first and we will move on.

One down, one to go; do the honorable thing Bill and fuck off.

Michael – glad to hear that your getting better but I have to disagree with you re the respect bit. After 26-odd years in charge, I think it was always going to happen that SAF got a send off in his last home game, so announcing it a couple of games before the end was not too surprising. Add to that the fact that Man Utd are a public company, then the board had no choice but to announce a successor within a short space of time – they couldn't really wait another 2-3 weeks.

As for Everton, although personally I am over the moon that Moyes is finally leaving, I still think he deserves a good send off for his time in charge. I think that he should have gone 2-3 years ago but still appreciate what he did in the first 5-6 years he was in charge.

Good luck to Moyes at Man Utd, he'll certainly get a lot of help from SAF (I don't think he would have gotten the job had Ferguson not stayed on as a director).

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Man Utd's dominance – I really find it funny that one of the reasons they say they chose him was his 'committment to youth development'! That is priceless!

Players who'll be over the moon: Barkely, McAleny, Duffy, Vellios
Players who'll be shitting themselves: Naismith, Anichebe, Hibbert
Players probably off: Baines (Man Utd), Fellaini (any CL side)

I cannot wait to see RVP being told to track back! Tbh, I think SAF will have a lot of influence in the next year or two.

Michael

Hope your recovery continues and the very best of luck, nice to see you haven't lost your sense of humour. I have to disagree with your views on Moyes, I for what its worth don't think this has been hatched for months, and the appointment of Moyes is largely down to Ferguson. The fact is that even without this offer Moyes was waiting till the end of the season anyway before making a decision.
But he was out of contract so he was free to talk to any club. Bit like the Bosman ruling for players except they can find a new club 6 months before their contract expires with their old club.

Agree completely Michael, I don't give two shites what the 'rule is' or what is 'allowed', it is bad manners. it's United, indirectly, saying 'we don't give a flying fuck what Everton do or don't want, we'll do what WE want WHEN we want' (and us allowing it!).

If United wanted Moyes (and we now know they did) and Moyes wanted to do his very best for Everton, THEN leave, he should have said to United/Ferguson/Kenny Moyes etc - "I do NOT want mention of this to ANYONE until AFTER the final whistle of the final game, if the press get wind, it's off".

It would have been dead dead easy for them (all) to say fuck-all for a couple more weeks.

Sir Alex doesn't get his OT send off?

Ffs, what is this, Toytown Athletc?

(and why would or should WE give a fuck?).

They want to give him a big send off?

Print 75,000 tickets for 'The big Fergie send off' AFTER the season - OT would be banged out, guaranteed.

(those who believe Moyes is a saint won't agree with this, but anyone looking at the facts and using some judgement might).

And no matter what any contract does or doesn't say (re dates etc), in football terms, we have been put in the position where Manchester United's manager will be in charge of Everton for our last two games.

As a general point (for me) the whole Fergie thing is just another example of how good manners/morals/standards (whatever you want to call it) have slipped in recent years.

Yes he was hugely successful, but it now seems we're supposed to forget his cheating, lies ("didn't see it!"), his angry red face spitting venom into the face of officials and say "Yeah but the REAL Fergie is a lovely feller"

"Ho ho, Fergie time" - get to fuck!

Anyway Michael, best of luck with the treatment - "Nurse! Another shot of Trebilcock and 66 milligrams of Temple!"

Michael, good news and good luck with the rest of your treatment.

I totally agree with you, the season isn't over & Man U have announced they're having our manager. Utd & Ferguson have been priming him for this for years & basically he's waited with us until the time was right for him & Man U, Everton have been given a little tap on the head & told to run along, the biggest job in football has gone to a man who has cost the richest club in the world nothing. If Felli or Baines did this to us everyone would ballistic.

Maybe it's because I'm older & remember the days when we were better than Utd & had won more but I don't buy into wishing Moyes good luck. We've lost a manager and any money to help fund getting in someone decent to replace him.

Everton should not be in this situation, people are acting as if he was a huge saviour who worked for free, he has had spells as bad as those that got previous managers sacked, has won nothing and coined in up to £4m a year.

For a man of supposed moral standing he's been arrogant, self serving and highly hypocritical.

I recently left one job to go to another. I worked my notice and left. This is what Moyes has done to a degree, though he is not bound by any contract in a couple of weeks. He has ALWAYS treated us with respect and I don't think any differently now. He hasn't just walked out in the middle of a contract as per Lescott, and I believe he won't let his standards drop for the next 2 games, which will see us finish above the Shite 2 seasons in a row for the first time since 1937.
Man Utd didn't have to announce Moyes as their manager. They could have said a decision will be made at the end of the season, but they wanted it 'out there' to please the share holders and the stock markets, forcing Moyes/Evertons hand.
The big question now is will Bill get the right man in, but there are already enough threads on that.
For what it is worth, I will always be grateful to Moyes for taking us from relegation fodder to trying to break the monopoly with no backing from the board, and doing it with players like Kilbane, Weir, Bent and McFadden, bringing European football back to Goodison and sticking two fingers up to the well informed people who claimed to know that no big club will ever come in for him!

First of all nice to hear about your treatment. Hopefully like 66 it will end in a 3 2 win!

This article does hit the nail on the head. Moyes has been a great servant to us through the years, but he has been a very well paid servant who hasn't done this out of the goodness of his heart. He won't go down as an everton legend and shouldn't, we weren't as some like to say, "lucky to have him".

This season the servant has become the master, Moyes has shamelessly advertised himself for a new job and has held the club to ransom over his contract. This is why i'm personally happy to see the back of him, dour football and lack of success aside. Billy bullshitter has really had the carpet pulled from beneath him by Moyes and utd. Every season he somehow finds a new way to embarress the club.

Just a word on the mighty Fergie, he was a last minute goal and a scuffed penalty away from being a European failure. Seconds and Centimetres.

Life has always been shit for most of the people on this planet for it's entire history. We will get over this, by comparison, mild insulting theatre.

Michael - glad to hear that you are getting better. I have to say though that I fundamentally disagree with you.

Moyes (a professional football manager, not an Everton supporter) has acted with loyalty, integrity and dignity. If it wasn't for the fact that someone at Man U leaked the news of Fergie's departure then none of us would be any the wiser.

He has taken an opportunity of a lifetime (for someone in his career) and he goes with my gratitude, appreciation and best wishes.

I'm not quite sure where all the blame lies for all this coming out before the season end, so I can't necessarily agree that Man Utd or Moyes have shown any disrespect.

Man Utd have legal obligations to shareholders and stock markets to minimise rumour and speculation and therefore release information into the public domain as its deemed unavoidable and in a fair way to all. Its happens all the time in takeovers - once the cat is out of the bag, announcements have to be made so its a level playing field.

The fact is that the bookies drastically cut the odds on Moyes becoming manager several days ago (was it the weekend?) which instantly set off speculation that ferguson was retiring. And it all snowballed from there. It might be that it was intended to be done at the season end, but "no plan survives first contact" and all that.

With news like this, its always difficult, neigh impossible, to keep a lid on things, especially as more people find out closer to the date. Of course, maybe it was always intended to release the information about fergies retirement in time for the last home game, and no-one cared about the effects. But maybe it wasn't, and we probably will never know.

Ahh well which ever way you look at it, it's always been us fans that get shafted, be it by the board, every transfer window then players and now the manager. Its all about personal well being not the love for EFC!

Stuff Moyes and BK for the moment.
I sincerely hope you recover Michael. I am glad to hear that you are responding to your treatment. All the best mate.

Nice one, Michael. Here's hoping for a couple more from Trebilcock and Temple.

Michael - York comments are spot on,, Moyes has shown a lack of class, dignity and respect.Do the decent thing and go now, thanks for your efforts but its over ,what happens if we don't beat the hammers

I hope that Moyes gets a few jeers against West Ham. He has showed a complete lack of respect to our great club. After all he has gone to Manure...

I can't agree with the title of this piece. Moyes has given us 11 years dedicated service. He now wishes to move on. No problem whatsoever, he has fulfilled his contract. He moves on and so do we. It really is that simple.
Best of luck with your recovery anyway...

I'm not really that bothered at this stage. Once the media jumped on the story yesterday with such intensity you knew it was a done deal. The last two games have little or nothing riding on them anyway. It may sound like heresy but I'm not too bothered right now with finishing above the RS.

My main concern and focus is who we get to replace Moyes. I have a horrible feeling that it will be some easy or stop gap arrangement. Looking for Laudrup or any manager currently in employment would cost us money.

Michael - your recovery puts this football lark into perspective, good luck and good health.

As for Moyes, there is no doubt he's been crafty and played the situation to his advantage. Good old Bill must be shell shocked, but I'm sure he's invoking Elstone's succession plan as I type - "Bob, get Walter on the blower"

That said, I agree with Ronnie Goodlass's verdict on the Merseyside phone in tonight, time for Evertonians to show their class and give him a rousing send off in the last two games in appreciation of the last 11 years.

Then move on and stick it to them when he returns next season, with Baines et al. We can but hope for better days ahead.

Al Reddish. Congrats on your new job.

Did you name your old company 'The People's Company.'?
Did you make out that that company was your life?
Did you claim to be so ingrained in their culture that any member of staff that gave less than 100% was castigated by you?
Did you persuade fellow employees to be loyal?
Did you cover up the fact that the company has no money for investment in better quality top ranked employees?
Did you earn £3.5-4m a year and leave the company without your new employers paying compensation even though you'd known you were leaving for months?
Did you run up a street to avoid questions about your new role?

I would suggest that the answers to all of the above are 'NO'. But, then again, you're an honourable man.

Go to Man Utd, Moyes – nobody can blame you, but don't ever pretend you're an EVERTONIAN, because we will still be there next season and every season after it cheering on our mighty Blue Boys!

COYB – MOVE ON – STOP CRYING BILL AND GET A GRIP!

At the end of the day, it is the board who showed a lack of ambition by not backing Moyes, on their shoulders rests the blame!
On the positive side hopefully we will get a Manager who believes in promoting young talent, is not afraid to name an attacking line up 3 up front from the start, makes the right substitutions, has the balls to say back me or sack, and finally someone who is capable of winning at Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and them across the park.

I will tell you one thing there is no way he should allowed to manage the last two games of the season, like he is doing us a favour show him the door and get Sheedy/Ferguson in as caretakers.

Will be a very subdued atmosphere on Sunday I expect.

I hope we're above jeering him, he deserves more than that, but going off to manage for the morons who spend all match singing how much they hate Scousers whilst adoring Wayne Rooney in their plastic world is not going to endear him to most of us is it?

I had a scan as a result of your previous article ( they even gave me a coppy of the dvd ffs ) it was ok so thanks for the push.

Some of us have got what we wished for on 2 fronts ( or is that one front and one behind?).

Moyes can go with his head held well he can go to the possible poison chalace of following a United Legend.

Thanks Davey hope you do well but not too well when you play us. But 2 words keep floating in my mind.

Wilf McGuinness

Agree completely Sean.

To me it's a big part of our problem, we're simply too (for want of a better word) nice.

We have two games to go and winning one of them means we finish above them - not life or death but important nevertheless.

We should have 100% focus on twatting West Ham.

However we now have this fucking sideshow to contend with so we can show Davie how much we love him - pathetic.

Too be honest, I'm really surprised HE'S prepared to go through with it.

Hear! Hear! Sean & Eugene. It's supposed to be Everton FC, not Moyes FC.

Imagine the situation, you have a job on a fixed term contract running out in July, Bill Kenwright rings you up and offers you the job as Everton manager. But you can't tell anyone. To make matters worse you have just been offered a contract extension at your current job.

What do you do?

Steve the key question is why can't you tell anyone?

Will North Korea bomb bootle or something?

Ring in sick?

Simon although I don't think David Moyes should be at Goodison on Sunday, I do agree that any jeering etc from those who dislike the way he left or dislike him in general can wait until he leads out his United team against Everton next season. Far better to show the players our support and not put them off by making them feel ill at ease.

I must admit like Eugene I am surprised that he even wants to be there on Sunday, and always thought that any announcement would wait until after the season had finished and that he would leave quietly without fuss , but people often surprise us and perhaps he has succumbed to the trappings of fame.

It's time to move on. He will get a great reception on Sunday because he deserves one. Arteta wanted to leave and he gets a good reception (rightly so). Life is too short, as the OP's health problems show. Onwards and upwards.

Steve - I'd immediately sign a five year deal contract extension with my current Job, then accept the Everton job and make Bill pay compo to my old company - everyone's a winner.

Had BK got DMs signature on a contract at new year (nb: and remember, Mr Integrity said he was going to sign but went back on his word) we'd now be copping for about £15 mill compo from Utd (who can easily afford it).

Instead, if my sums are right..

(let me just check, 6.76+7896 .78654= AB x C sq = 65789.78.x 789 - 5000^678.76.9879 = 0)

..yeah, we get fuck all.

Michael, best wishes with your treatment and dealing with your illness.

The best of luck Michael mate. You're right, total lack of respect. Not just from Utd and Moyes but Kenwright and the clueless fuckers that pretend to run our club.

Danny, I don't get why he deserves a good reception. Players are different in the respect that once they have signed for another club, they don't turn out for you. He's gone. He should be gone. He got paid well for all he did at the club.

Something else occurred to me this afternoon.

I was talking with a (blue) mate about Mr Integrity, specifically about the possibility of him taking Baines and/or Fellaini to United.

The question came up, should he attempt to buy them for Utd, how much will he be prepared to pay?

The £25 mill he'd have wanted for Fellaini when he was Everton manager?

Or the £15+ mill he'd have wanted for Baines when he was Everton manager?

Or will he say 'Kenwright does'nae ha' a pot tae pish in, reckon ah can get the twa boys fer 18 million poond the pair'

In my view, if we REALLY are close to his heart and he loves us etc blah onions, forget the verbals and prove it with actions...or rather lack of actions

In other words, stay the fuck away from Everton's best/top players for a couple of years.

We'll see.

This article is way off,
Our season IS essentially over, it would be different if we still had a shot at 4th or a cup final, and as well he is not walking out mid contract., it’s frustrating for him and for all of us that we have no serious money, he gave his all to EFC and he has every right to get the chance to take a proper shot in the CL.
As far as I am concerned he can leave with his head held high, and for all but 90 or so mins every season he should be warmly received at Goodison park

if anything is guilty of being disrespectful, it’s some of the comments which have come his way from Evertonians over the last few days (and months), just like this article is very disrespectful.

We have a lot to be grateful for. He closed the door of the 1990s and restored the dignity of the club.

Stephen, the 2000's shut the door on the 1990's. Can you not imagine if somebody/anybody had have taken over after Walter, we could have been in a better/worse state. I didnt need the dignity restored to Everton Football Club btw.

Sorry, Steven.

Colin - you're missing the point and, if I may say so, sounding a bit too precious about EFC, at the expense of DM - like some others on here. David Moyes re-built the club in the Premier league to a level we hadn't got close to in the previous years. It's fine to suggest now that anyone could have done that but I don't think that's true.

Anyway, I think it's a sad commentary on modern life and, football supporters in general nowadays, that we seem incapable of saying thanks, showing our appreciation, and wishing someone one well. It appears that we would rather jeer and abuse people, simply because they have moved on - why is that?

Gary - "Colin - you're missing the point and, if I may say so, sounding a bit too precious about EFC, at the expense of DM - like some others on here".

In this you have summed up the cult of Moyes.

;Moyes FC', 'L. Ron Moyes', 'Kim Jong Moyes' we joked, but talk about many a true word spoken in jest

'Too precious about Everton at the expense of David Moyes'!?

That sentence, if not a wind-up, chills and depresses me in equal measure - god help us!

Eugene - I presume you are suggesting that Moyes (for some) is a bit of a cult - no typo intended....

Frankly, it's a cheap shot and not what I was referring to.

I say again, why is it that footie fans can't show good grace, appreciation, dare I say maturity when employees leave the club?

I'm trying to widen the debate slightly, in case you hadn't noticed.

I think, in general, EFC supporters are better than that and you will see that on Sunday.

Eugene #830 - if it comes to that I think Moyes will explain to Bill that they are not Evertons players, they are David Moyes's players.... ; )

Gary:

"Eugene – I presume you are suggesting that Moyes (for some) is a bit of a cult"

Asks the man who posted...

"Colin – you're missing the point and, if I may say so, sounding a bit too precious about EFC, at the expense of DM – like some others on here".

In-fucking-credible!

What's incredible Eugene?

Gary - "Colin - you're missing the point and, if I may say so, sounding a bit too precious about EFC, at the expense of DM - like some others on here".

We are Evertonians, not Moyesophiles, of course we are precious about Everton, they are us and always will be. I don't give 2 flying fucks about Moyes, he was an employee, a very well paid employee, he was not and never will be an Evertonian, the derby last year proved that beyond any doubt.

Paul #342 "He has not shown a commitment to Everton regarding signing a new contract and it looks like for good reason now."

Or more like our board have not shown a commitment to keep Moyes by backing him as he has asked so when a better offer comes along, the best job in the country, he'd be daft to turn it down.

I think the point is being missed here. Davey Moyes is/was an employee of the club. Unlike the fans, the players, managers and directors are only the custodians of the club. WE are the owners and, although it doesn't seem like at times like this, we will still be here when they move on.

Regardless of how good, bad or ugly Moyes did his job, for him, that's what it was – a job. He honored his contract. The fact that no other club "came in for him" (until now) means that his loyalty was never put to the test, so we will never know if he would have walked.

Let's show some class and not castigate him in public. Unfortunately, the sheer size and prestige of Man Utd affords them a distasteful arrogance, that hopefully one day will see them get their comeuppance.

As Wayne had written on a tee-shirt for him "Once a Blue..."

Robbie - you are missing the point. DM was one of us for 11 years, he was a loyal, committed employee, who lived and breathed EFC.

Personally, I think we should respect that and not piss on it like chavs but each to his own.

As I say, I think most of Goodison on Sunday will mark their appreciation of DM as befits a club of our standing.

Gary, we can show him appreciation when he comes back with United next year. What kind of send off do you think he'll get if we are 0-3 down at half time on Saturday? Will you still be cheering him and singing "Oh Davey Moyes" at the final whistle.

What kind of send off do you think he will get if we're 3-0 down Robbie – is that what we're talking about. Jesus is what I'm saying that complex??

You've either got the class and decency to say thanks for a job well done or you haven't – it's probably a matter of opinion.

But... as I keep saying Goodison Park will give him a good send off.

However, would you like us to be 3-0 down at half-time, to prove some kind of point??

Gary, OK, lets all have a big love in, hugs all round, classy Evertonians applauding the classy David Moyes. I'm sure he won't be discussing with Baines, Fellaini and Jags the possibility of going to Old Trafford will he, he's got way to much integrity for that hasn't he.

You're as naive as our darling lovey duvey teary eyed Chairman, to whom Moyes' departure came as a complete and utter surprise. Moyes has strung Everton, the fans and Kenwright along and you want to clap him out of Goodison whilst he cherry picks our best players!

Totally agree Michael! I have not read all the other posts but I had the same thoughts when I heard the news.

This is United and Ferguson calling the shots, grabbing the limelight once again and treating Everton with no respect. They have already made all the headlines with winning the Premiership and now Ferguson wants more. What was so urgent that the announcement had to be made now with 2 games of the season left. Moyes has said all along I shall decide at the END of the season. Not with 2 games to go.

Show some respect to Everton and their fans - why could they not wait till the season was over, let Moyes say his goodbyes at the last home match v West Ham, have a weeks holiday with the family then announce you are not signed a new contact, leaving the door open for United to come and get you!

So what type of reaction/reception shall he get before, during and at the end of the game when saying his farewell to the Goodison crowd? Well mine is thank you for the 11 year service and good luck now piss off to United.

All I can say is remember Wilf McGuinness, Frank O'Farrell, Tommy Docherty, Dave Sexton and Ron Atkinson.!

When David Moyes got to January and said he would not make a decision on his contract, you could smell a rat. He was clearly annoyed at the lack of transfer activity and the failure of the board and managment of the club to even bring one player in.

But there was a little more going on too, even the most skeptical of ToffeeWeb readers can surely accept that Moyes was tapped up and told to hang on by SAF, don't sign yet, string them along.

I don;t believe for one moment either that Bill Kenwright never saw it coming, if that was true then he would truely be incompetent, if your manager is out of contract, refuses to sign until the last minute, then you would be a fool not to plan ahead. So.. is he a fool? or a bleeding heart?

He's fooling no one... he knew, so the question really is, what has he done about it having 6 months to put a succession plan or a search into action.

I said Moyes would go last season, he didn't and I was surprised he didn't but his departure was merely delayed a season, probably because the phone call didn't come.

Why did he move on? irrespective of club, he would have gone because the trust between the chairman and manager had been strained (never mind with the CEO) No money, no point, a major rebuild and nothing to do it with.. stuff this for a game of soldiers...

No point in staying.. no point at all. One of the best jobs in football handed to him on a plate? Or rebuild a team with no money, frustrated support, incompetent board, a CEO who will not even talk to him..

Good luck to him, I have no regrets him going, I cannot blame him, its a shame the way its been done, feel as though we have been taken for a ride by all concerned, but thats no surprise either is it?

What would have happened if Man U didn't come in? We shall never know, but he didn't have to make the choice, in the end it was easy for him.

Its left a sour taste because the reaction of BK, the stringing along of his contract and the massive job anyone coming in will face.

Two years ago I said that Moyes going would actually take the pressure off the board, expectations eased, new manager, cheaper contract, player sales, bank offsets, less debt, fans willing to give a little..

Its a shame Moyes never got the chance to fulfil his potential at Everton, like Rooney the lure of OT was too great, we will see what he is made of in the seasons to come.