Approaching 11 years in charge at Goodison Park, David Moyes has yet to face the greatest dilemma of his managerial career. The question is one of loyalty versus personal ambition, risk against surety, control opposed to cash.
When, in the spring of 2002, the virtually unknown David Moyes, a young, raw, steely-eyed Scot, accepted an offer to take the hot-seat at Goodison Park, very few if any could have envisaged his rise to one of the most respected managers in the Premier League and beyond.
His stock has risen, it has never been higher, and with a contract yet to be signed, David Moyes could walk away from Everton Football Club this summer as a free agent.
In his time in charge at Everton, Moyes has spent a derisory £2.42m net a season. This paltry amount is made even more incredible given not only the astronomical amounts of money expeded by his peers but also his Premier League record of achievement since 2002. On this relative shoestring budget, Moyes has driven Everton to eight top 10 Premier League finishes, including two 5th places and his greatest achievement to date, breaking the glass ceiling of the 'top four' in 2004-05.
Whilst a large number of Evertonians accurately point to the chronic lack of financial support from Chairman Bill Kenwright and his board of directors, who openly admit they are unable to deliver anything more, Moyes himself has been loath to criticize his paymasters.
Currently, Moyes' Everton find themselves in 6th place, 6 points behind Tottenham in 4th and despite a trend bucking strong start to the season, supporters are once again finding themselves pointing towards the paucity of financial backing in the January transfer window that would allow Moyes, and his team, a real shot at the promised land of Champions League football.
What Moyes has received from his Chairman, and what certainly has to be a key factor in his reticence to complain about the lack of clout afforded him in the transfer market, is full, unequivocal backing in the running of football matters at the club. The state-of-the-art training facility, Finch Farm, whilst not actually owned by Everton Football Club, has the meticulous David Moyes' fingerprints all over it.
Moyes has the say on transfer targets, renewing of player contracts, pre-season schedules and tours and the last word on the myriad of day-to-day decisions taken at the 4th most successful club in English football history. And there, in a nutshell, is the difficulty he will have to face when considering his next move.
David Moyes has cultivated an iron-willed, no-nonsense reputation, founded on authority and dignity. Attributes that would surely clash with cash rich, high profile personalities running football clubs on impulse.
Arguably, there is no other comparable or bigger football club in Europe where Moyes could expect to have so much power, such complete control over footballing matters than he does at Everton. Yet, in this modern age of money-talks football, Premier League and European titles can no longer be won with a sprinkling of talent, copious amounts of hard work and painstaking diligence alone.
And it is these sort of titles, the undeniably ambitious Moyes must be looking to add to his managerial CV. Within the next few months, Moyes has a huge decision to make, a choice that will not only have professional and personal consequences for himself but also far reaching ramifications for Everton Football Club, the club that gave him his big break and for an owner he has become publically loyal to. However, if Bill Kenwright's decade long, 24/7 search for investment continues to flounder, Moyes' hand may well be forced.
After nigh on 11 highly impressive but ultimately trophy-less seasons, there can surely be no room for sentiment for a man seemingly as driven and fiercely ambitious as David Moyes and unless the club quickly find themselves able
to compete financially with their rivals, there can inevitably be no big titles, no real glory for Moyes at Everton.
Loyalty or ambition? Surety or risk?
David Moyes must decide whether to stick or twist. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Evertonians wait with baited breath.
Moyes Stats:
Everton: Games 503 W 211 D 135 L 157 Win % 41.95
Premier League Finishes (full season):
2002-03: 7th
2003-04: 17th
2004-05: 4th
2005-06: 11th
2006-07: 6th
2007-08: 5th
2008-09: 5th
2009-10: 8th
2010-11: 7th
2011-12: 7th
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David Moyes: Time To Move On?[/caption]
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