Everton interim boss David Unsworth unaware of development in manager search despite Moshiri statement

Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth was not aware of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri's claim that the troubled Toffees are close to appointing a new permanent manager but believes the sorry situation needs resolving sooner rather than later.

Unsworth was installed as interim boss when Ronald Koeman was relieved of his duties in October and has since overseen one win, one draw and four defeats during his second spell in temporary charge at Goodison Park.

'Rhino' was initially backed by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to take the reins permanently on Merseyside, but Moshiri holds a different view to the theatre impresario. The Toffees now have a three-man shortlist for the vacant managerial post, which Moshiri insists they are close to filling.

Such a development was lost on Unsworth, who but the former Everton and West Ham United full-back thinks Moshiri's recent statement is "fantastic" news, if it is indeed correct.

Asked for an update on Everton's managerial search, Unsworth said in his press conference: "I don't know, I've just come in off the grass. I've just seen [Moshiri's comments] myself, if we're further down the line than we were last night or before we went out to train, fantastic."

Unsworth will be in the dugout when Everton travel to face fellow strugglers Southampton on Sunday (26 November) but it is not known if the clash against Mauricio Pellegrino's men will be his last in charge of the senior squad, such is the uncertainty that surrounds Goodison Park at present.

The lack of clarity is certainly hampering Unsworth's ability to do the already arduous job he has been tasked with, but the former full-back insists the short-term planning - if it can be called that - is not an issue for him.

"Like I said at the beginning there were no guarantees," Unsworth said. "The chairman and owner have asked me to take things game to game and that's what we've done and we've given it everything.

"There's no problem for me at all. I'm really focused and have been for five weeks on every single session. We've had so many games, I wish we had more sessions to give the players what they need on training ground. I know the players up until last night were absolutely giving me everything."