“Opinion: Richard Keys Aids Moyes in On-Air Push for Dyche’s Potentially Vacant Everton Job”

Everton finally secured their first Premier League point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City, but manager Sean Dyche remains under pressure after once again seeing his team surrender a lead, notably after substituting standout player Iliman Ndiaye.

Dyche’s job security at Goodison Park is a subject of ongoing debate.

The club has publicly stated that they intend for him to remain in charge at least until the end of the season【Telegraph, 13 September】, but there are doubts about whether the interim board is in a position to act on his contract, either extending it or terminating it.

However, concerns about Dyche’s future have reportedly been growing among Everton’s hierarchy, as well as with prospective owner John Textor.

According to TBR Football on 13 September, if significant improvements aren’t seen by the next international break, a managerial change could be on the horizon.

Among potential replacements, David Moyes—currently available after leaving West Ham—and former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter have both been linked to the role【TBR Football, 5 September】.

Graham Potter has emerged as a possible candidate for the Everton job if Dyche is dismissed, but whether Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder, can or will make that change remains uncertain.

The ongoing Textor takeover adds further complexity【i News, 17 September】, and there is speculation that sacking Dyche before the summer would obligate the club to pay him for an additional year beyond his contract’s scheduled expiry【The Esk, 15 September】. This financial burden could weigh heavily on the decision to part ways with Dyche.

It’s also worth considering whether a managerial change is the best course of action right now.

Dyche has already kept Everton in the Premier League twice, and while results haven’t been ideal, his experience in avoiding relegation could still prove invaluable as the season progresses.

Nonetheless, David Moyes appears to be positioning himself as a potential replacement, should the opportunity arise.

Former Sky Sports anchor Richard Keys has been publicly championing Moyes for the job.

On his blog on 26 August, Keys suggested Moyes as a strong candidate to succeed Dyche, highlighting how deeply connected Moyes is to Everton, having previously managed the club for over a decade.

Keys noted, “His heart lies at Goodison,” and the campaign to bring Moyes back has been visible on multiple platforms.

On beIN Sports’ Soccer Sunday on 22 September, Moyes appeared in the studio alongside former Everton players Andy Gray and Tim Cahill, both of whom were supportive of his return.

Keys facilitated a conversation about Moyes’ strong connection to the club, prompting him to recall how quickly he grasped the essence of Everton.

“I think I was brought up with the DNA of what Everton meant as well,” Moyes said, referencing his famous quote about Everton being “The People’s Club.”

He emphasized the deep-rooted community support for the club and his understanding of what it meant to manage there.

After discussing his management style, particularly with players like Cahill, Moyes continued to reflect on his bond with Everton, sharing how, on the day of his first press conference as manager, he felt an instant connection to the club as he drove through Liverpool and saw how many people supported Everton.

This nostalgia was echoed by Andy Gray, who quipped, “This city must be full of Everton supporters,” followed by a playful remark from Keys about London being full of Liverpool fans.

It’s difficult for long-time Everton fans not to reminisce about the Moyes era, especially given the turbulence the club has faced in recent seasons.

Moyes, who left Everton in 2013 to take over at Manchester United, seems eager to return, with Richard Keys serving as a key figure in advocating for his comeback.

Though Moyes departed Goodison Park for Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson called, and was dismissed by West Ham this summer amid fan discontent, much like the current criticisms aimed at Dyche, he is making it clear that he wants another shot at managing Everton.

In fact, just days before his appearance on Soccer Sunday, Moyes gave an interview to the Liverpool Echo’s Chris Beesley【19 September】, where he discussed similar topics, further fueling speculation about his interest in the Everton job.

Whether or not Moyes is the right solution for Everton’s current challenges remains to be seen, but he’s certainly making his case to find out.