The Blues boss said his focus was on improving Everton’s form but admitted he would like to get a new deal and be the manager who takes Everton into its new home
Sean Dyche would like to have the honour of being the first Everton manager to lead the club at its iconic new stadium. The Blues boss has steered the club through two relegation fights and a series of crises during his 21 months on Merseyside.
Further challenges lie ahead after a miserable start to the final season at Goodison Park but this week he has been boosted by the return to fitness of star defender Jarrad Branthwaite and a breakthrough in the club’s ownership situation.
With change in the boardroom on the horizon and his contract set to expire in the summer, it remains unclear who will take Everton into the landmark waterfront venue it is set to move into for next season.
READ MORE: Sean Dyche shares Jarrad Branthwaite injury latest in mixed Everton fitness updateREAD MORE: I was at Finch Farm on day it started to feel like Everton’s luck might finally be about to improve
Asked whether, after a tenure buffeted by off-the-pitch problems, he would like to be in the hotseat next August, Dyche said: “Of course. What, to dig this out for 20-whatever-it-would-be-by-then months and them to go ‘cheers, thanks for looking after us, off you pop?’ Of course I would, but there is no divine right to just go ‘oh well, you are definitely the person to do that’. And if not, then that is the way it goes.”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
The comments, made during his press conference ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace, are the first in which he has stated a desire to clinch a new deal at Everton. Dyche did, however stress on Thursday that his focus remained on improving the results of a team yet to win in the league.
On that front, he believes positive signs are emerging. They include a first Premier League point, secured at Leicester City last weekend, progress to integrate summer signings into his set-up and the return of injured players – with Branthwaite in contention for the visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday.
While he would like to lead Everton into next season, he said his mind does not drift to the prospect of sitting in the dugout at Bramley-Moore. He said: “I never think about stuff like that. I have learned so much from being in the game, I have learnt from so many twists and turns.
“In my first season of management, after 13 games, they had ‘Dyche out’ T-shirts on. After 13 games. So if you had offered me all of my career in football from then as a manager, to now, I would have ripped your hands off because since then it has been considerably different. I don’t guarantee anything. What I guarantee is hard work. I can’t guarantee that I am here, I can’t guarantee that I am there, I can’t guarantee they finish off the ownership deal, I can’t guarantee they put £100m in or £10m, I can’t guarantee any of that.
“All I can guarantee is my own hard work, working with others, helping others the best I can and trying to balance out a situation. That is all I can guarantee, it starts with hard work – always.”
Dyche has not had contact with prospective new owners the Friedkin Group and said he would not expect to hear from them at this stage in proceedings, with hurdles still to overcome before any takeover is completed.
Dyche suggested he could sense the club may be on the brink of a positive breakthrough but he said it was too early for him to pass judgement on the US group, which also owns Italian giants Roma.
He said: “I can’t say how I feel until it’s over the line and I speak to them and say ‘What do you want to know? What are your thoughts?’ Where is it going to go?’ All I can do is keep working really hard, and that certainly hasn’t gone anywhere but up. The work-rate here doesn’t go down, trust me. The work-rate here just goes up. Every new window, managing the money, managing the wages, can we get players in, can we get players out: it’s just a constant.”
In his last role, at Burnley, Dyche was in charge when the club was taken over by US owners but believes that situation was different. “There was a crossover period between the old and the new ownership where they were allowed a say on things and to get a feel for the club. I imagine each agreement is different. I don’t know if that will happen here. I only know what you know. It seems that they will be buying it outright, where it was slightly different with Burnley with payment schedules and all that. With regards to my role, until the day comes when they want to speak to me – or not – I will have to wait and see.”
