David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson
*Everton FC manager: the lowdown on the candidates
Outgoing Everton manager David Moyes said he was disappointed to be leaving a “great club” but admitted there was no way he could turn down the opportunity to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
In an emotional press conference, his first since confirmation yesterday he would be leaving Goodison Park after 11 years, it was clear how much Everton means to Moyes. However the lure of Old Trafford was something he simply could not resist.
“I’m disappointed to be leaving such a great club,” he said.
“The club has been such a great part of my life.”
But when asked if he had considered turning down United’s approach, Moyes said simply: “I have to be honest and say no.”
The huge numbers of media present underlined the huge interest in Moyes replacing Ferguson.
Moyes greeted those present with a wisecrack: “Have you nothing to do today?”, before confirming he wished to talk solely about Everton, which he did with an acute sense of pride.
“It has been very difficult,” he said.
“I have great respect for the chairman and have a great relationship with him.
“He is a really good guy.
“We had a difficult meeting on Wednesday but he totally understood.”
Moyes rejected any claim the deal had been done weeks ago and said he had been planning for next season.
And, even though his contract was due to expire in the summer, he said his feeling had been that he would stay.
“I wasn’t planning to leave,” he said.
“My contract was running out but if you had pushed me, I would have said I would stay.
“Everything is in place for next season, pre-season has been arranged and the chairman knew what I wanted to do.”
More on David Moyes leaving EFC:
*Everton FC fans on their manager choices: Michael Laudrup, Vitor Pereira and Duncan Ferguson lead the way
*Duncan Ferguson should be next Everton FC manager, says Howard Kendall
*Greg O’Keeffe: January transfer window failure was key to David Moyes’s departure
*Everton FC: Bill Kenwright believes Manchester United are lucky to have David Moyes
*David Prentice: David Moyes has big role to play in choosing his successor
*Everton FC v West Ham should be a celebration of David Moyes era says Phil Neville
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