David Unsworth admits Everton need to appoint a permanent manager... fast!

Unsworth welcomed majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri’s claim that the club are “close” to finally naming Ronald Koeman’s ­successor, more than a month after sacking the Dutchman.

Caretaker boss Unsworth knows the club badly needs stability — Thursday’s 5-1 drubbing by Atalanta was their heaviest European home defeat.

“If we’re further down the line towards getting a permanent manager, that’s fantastic,” said Unsworth on Friday. “The sooner it’s sorted the better.”

Unsworth is set to be in charge again for Sunday's trip to Southampton (
Image:
Reuters)

Moshiri gave few details when he told talkSPORT: “The first priority is to stabilise the club and finalise the appointment of a manager. We are close.

“It is really best to say nothing more until a new management team is appointed and we climb up the table.”

Those claims were derided on social media by some fans who have become disillusioned with him – one tweeted: “Words mean nothing, the shambles goes on.”

But it emerged on Friday night that Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is one of the names on the Blues’ shortlist.

Moshiri, left, and Bill Kenwright have had a month to make an appointment... (
Image:
Getty)
...with Ireland boss O'Neill the latest name in the frame (
Image:
Reuters)

Moshiri wants Marco Silva, but Watford have rejected two ­Everton approaches — including an offer of more than £10million in compensation.

He knows he cannot let ­the Blues drift any longer and the hammering by Atalanta has just deepened the crisis.

Thursday’s thrashing was Everton’s 11th loss in 17 games — a fortunate victory over Silva's Watford, having trailed 2-0 with 25 minutes to go, their only win during that terrible run.

Dejection for Joel Robles as Everton's Europa League season plumbs new depths... (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
...it's almost a good thing so few fans turned up to watch the five-goal drubbing (
Image:
PA)

With confidence vanishing, they are in danger of being sucked right into the ­relegation fight.

This search for a manager has been shambolic from the ­moment Koeman was sacked.

Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti quickly ruled themselves out.

The club then tried to bring in a caretaker until a ‘big name’ could be appointed in the ­summer, only to ditch that plan because former England manager Sam Allardyce was not keen on a short-term role.

With the top brass also divided over who to select, Unsworth was left in charge, but he has done little to stop the rot.

A man successful as Under-23s coach has lost four of his six games with the Atalanta debacle a new low watched by the second-smallest European crowd ever at Goodison —just over 17,000.

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Yet Unsworth, who made more than 300 appearances for Everton as a no-nonsense defender, insists he is proud of the job he has done, and pointed to his ­return of four points from three games to lift Blues clear of the relegation places.

“I stand there proud and know the players, up until Thursday, were giving me absolutely everything,” he said.

“The league is really important and in the [Premier] league we’ve won one, drawn one and lost one.

“This is a wonderful job for any manager. Who wouldn’t want to be Everton manager? It’s a wonderful place to be stood in front of so many passionate Everton fans.”

* RONALD KOEMAN is still waiting for his pay-off from the Merseysiders.

He had 20 months left on the £6million-a-year deal he signed when appointed in June 2016 and the two sides have yet to agree his severance deal.

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