Everton end manager hunt as Sam Allardyce is drafted in to save Toffees' season after failed Ronald Koeman experiment

Everton have finally appointed Sam Allardyce as their new boss after sacking Ronald Koeman in October.

Allardyce, 63, will earn a salary worth almost £6m per year, according to reports, and has penned an 18-month deal with the Toffees.

Controversially, it is reported he will bring former Liverpool man Sammy Lee with him – who he worked with at Bolton – as well as sacked Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare.

And the one-time England manager should be in charge for Everton’s clash with Huddersfield at Goodison Park this weekend.

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Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri told the Mail Online: “I really want to give him the support he needs. He can go as far as he wants. We need a strong leader, he gives us that.”

The appointment represents a U-turn from both club and manager, after Allardyce rejected a move merely two weeks ago.

That shun came as Everton were said to be eyeing Marco Silva, currently at Watford, as their number one choice – but that particular pursuit was blocked by the Hornets.

Speaking at the time, Allardyce said: “It never materialised as I thought it would, unfortunately.

“I think when you’re in my position, you want people to be decisive and feel like they want you. I didn’t get that feeling overall.

“They were hesitating that I was the man.”

The Toffees have endured a nightmare season, lying just one place above the relegation zone after a £148m summer spending spree which saw the likes of Jordan Pickford and Davy Klaassen join the club.

After hopes of challenging for a Champions League spot evaporated early on, the Merseysiders have parachuted in Allardyce to help secure their position in England’s top flight.

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It is believed the former Bolton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss will be appointed in the short term until the summer, when previous target Paulo Fonseca – whose current contract with Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk has seven months remaining – will become available.

Former Toffees defender David Unsworth, who made 188 league appearances for the Blues, has been in caretaker charge since Koeman’s removal.

He will manage his final game against West Ham on Wednesday evening after a horrible record of one win and one draw in seven matches in all competitions.