Everton players want Sam Allardyce to stay on as manager says Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, who looked seriously disillusioned when substituted after 63 minutes at Huddersfield on Saturday, has given some backing to Everton manager Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce was the subject of repeated chants from travelling Everton fans keen to see him exit Goodison Park this summer. That would mean, after Ronald Koeman, David Unsworth and Allardyce, a fourth Everton manager in 12 months and Rooney was asked about stability in the dugout.

“I think that's what everybody wants,” he said. “Obviously it’s tough having three managers in one season, that's not the normal situation you face. I think the club, we all want stability, and I’m sure the owners will do that.”

Whether Everton’s owners will stick with Allardyce remains uncertain though. Chairman Bill Kenwright was at Huddersfield and will have heard the fans’ chants loud and clear.

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“Obviously he's thick-skinned,” Rooney added of Allardyce. “I’m sure he'll keep doing what he does and whatever happens, happens. But I think he's got the full support from the team and, at the end of the day, since he's come in we'd be sixth in the league if that was the start of the season.

“We're moving in the right direction. Obviously that takes time. We’ve had a bit of time under Sam and we're improving every game.”

Allardyce was also pressed on the chanting, which came as Everton were winning a fourth game in seven to take 14 points from the last 21.

“Not [with] that many points,” Allardyce said regarding previous examples of fan abuse. “But I got it at West Ham, one time we were fourth. You never know. I’m Marmite, aren’t I?

“All I can do is keep trying my best. The players are the key element for me, they’re the ones I’ve to work with to get the best out of, get results and entertain the fans. For me they’ve been doing that. I don’t think this squad can do any more than we’re doing.”

Allardyce added that he hopes Everton “can carry on until the end of the season undefeated.” They host Southampton on Saturday and then go to West Ham, where he is ensured a reception.

“At times we’ve had the potential to play better and our passing and performances have let us down,” said Everton captain Phil Jagielka.

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“Obviously the manager takes the flak for that. That's just the way football goes. The manager got sacked earlier on in the season and it wasn't purely about him.”

An undefeated finish might offer protection at Goodison but Allardyce knows the influence of supporters on boardrooms, he was sacked at Newcastle in early 2008 after fan barracking at Wigan. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was in the away end at Wigan that day.

There was some understanding from Allardyce’s opposite number on Saturday, Huddersfield’s David Wagner.

“If you look at the points they’ve got under Sam it’s very very good,” Wagner said.

“And if you hire Sam Allardyce as manager, then you know what kind of football he plays. It’s a different style to Pep Guardiola. If you hire Pep Guardiola then you know what style of football he plays.

“Now to moan about the style, I think this is a little bit unfair.”