United job too good to turn down

After emerging from the whirlwind that engulfed him this week, David Moyes has admitted the prospect of joining Manchester United was too big to turn down.

Rather than shy away from the glare of publicity following confirmation he will leave Everton for Old Trafford at the beginning of July, Moyes elected to face it head on.

That he did so with such dignity and humility says much about the character of the 50-year-old Scot, who will shortly be catapulted into the most high-pressured sporting situation of all.

Every word was delivered with the raw emotion of a man preparing to leave behind a place he loves.

But he does so without an ounce of regret, for the chance of replacing Alex Ferguson, who will lift his 13th and last Premier League trophy in front of the Sky Sports 1 cameras when United host Swansea at Old Trafford at 4pm tomorrow, was simply not something he could refuse.

“Things have developed very quickly,” said Moyes. “It was a whirlwind and it would be wrong to say it was done a month ago.

“Everton Football Club is such an important thing for me. But as for turning the job down. if I am being honest, I have to say no.”

It means 11 years after moving onto Merseyside from Preston, tomorrow’s Premier League encounter with West Ham will be Moyes’ last as Toffees boss at Goodison Park.

Given the circumstances, Moyes did offer to stand aside, even though he did not want to.

Chairman Bill Kenwright would have none of it.

So he will take up his position in the home technical area for the final time, proud of the work he has done at ‘The People’s Club’ as he dubbed Everton on his very first day in the job.

“If ever there was a true statement, it was that one,” said Moyes. “People thought I must have sat up all night thinking of it. But it was nothing like that.

“It was from the heart. Everton will always be very close to me.”

Though his contract was due to expire in the summer, Moyes revealed he had been making plans for the new campaign when the call from United came earlier this week.

It did not take long for the Glaswegian to work out what he had to do.

So, on Wednesday, he took a trip down to London to see Kenwright and tell him in person their professional association, but not their friendship, was at an end.

“There were no tears,” said Moyes. “I explained the situation to Bill and he fully understood.”

Moyes leaves Goodison Park with a sense of regret at not being able to claim the silverware he craved.

The nearest he managed was the 2009 FA Cup final, when the Toffees were beaten by Chelsea.

Moyes, though, prefers to focus on how his own approach to the job has developed.

“I might have got mellower, although you could argue that is a bad thing,” he said.

“When you are young, you are intense. I have not lost the intensity but maybe I use it in the right way. I hope I have not lost the inner devilment which I think I still have within me.”

One of the first tasks Moyes will face at Old Trafford is dealing with the delicate Wayne Rooney issue.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Rooney submitted a transfer request a fortnight ago, which was subsequently rejected by the Old Trafford outfit.

it was noted that Rooney no longer had the words Manchester United on his Twitter page, and instead referred to himself as an “athlete”.

This was taken as a sign the 27-year-old sees his future away from the Red Devils but Rooney is adamant the stories are wrong.

Rooney said in a statement on his website: “There’s a load of rubbish being written about me changing twitter bio saying I have deleted Manchester United from it.

“I have never deleted Manchester United from the bio whatever the papers are saying because it was never on there.

“All that happened was that I was asked by Nike to add @nikeuk to it — the same as many other sportspeople they sponsor. Funny, no one’s written about that though!

“That change was made THREE weeks ago and yet people are talking about it as if it’s something that was put up yesterday.”

Moyes, meanwhile, confirmed Kenwright had asked his advice over a successor at Goodison Park while Neil Lennon, the current favourite, has dismissed reports linking him with the job as speculation.

Lennon was asked if he was flattered by his name being linked with the Merseyside club.

“Of course, it is nice recognition,” he said. “Roberto Martinez was favourite yesterday and I’m favourite today, it could be someone else tomorrow. But all of it is speculation.”