Everton set for Round deal

Moyes expected to secure new assistant manager

Last updated: 3rd July 2008

david moyes everton

Moyes: Close to new assistant

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Everton are expected to name Steve Round as their new assistant manager as they end their search for a successor to Alan Irvine.

The Toffees return for pre-season training on Thursday morning, and boss David Moyes is likely to have 37-year-old Round at his side as a replacement for Irvine who left to take charge of Preston in November last year.

Round will leave Newcastle after one season on their coaching staff to link up with the Goodison Park club.

Late night negotiations between the clubs on Wednesday are believed to have thrashed out a compensation deal to allow Round to leave the North East.

Block

Previous attempts to tie up the move had been blocked by Newcastle, who insisted Round was not out of contract.

Everton believed the former Middlesbrough and Derby coach's deal at Newcastle had ended this week without the need for compensation.

But Round's contract with the Magpies was discovered to be a rolling agreement and they, in effect, had a year option on the man who had also worked under Steve McClaren in the England set-up.

It had seemed this problem would stop Round being involved at Everton with the senior players this week, but a deal is now close to completion.