Moyes brings trusted trio of assistants to Everton

“I’m going to try and work quickly with people I know and trust, because of the situation,” he said. “Billy McKinlay, who’s worked with me for while, is with me now. Alan Irvine will join me, probably after next weekend, and Bainesy. 

“I’ve tended to work with a bigger staff as I’ve got on, just like probably everywhere else in football, the staffs get bigger. I want to try and look to bring in a coach with an idea of him working mainly on set pieces and have got some ideas of what I might try to alter in the summer but I want to get us over the line first before I start disclosing too much what I might do then.”

Baines played under Moyes during his previous spell at the club, from 2002 to 2013, and steps up from Under-18s Lead and Professional Development Coach. McKinlay was Moyes’ Assistant at Real Sociedad and during his two spells as West Ham Manager (2017/18 and 2021 to 2024), while Irvine worked with him at Preston, Everton and during his two spells at West Ham.

When Moyes left the Hammers in the summer, eight staff left with him, including McKinlay and Irvine. Many of the others have since got other jobs.

Nick Davies is now Head of Sport Science at Tottenham, Jamie Osman is Head of Analysis at Ipswich, John Heitinga is First-Team Coach at Liverpool and Kevin Nolan is Manager of Northampton Town.  

Four staff left the club when Sean Dyche was sacked as Manager last Thursday: Assistant Ian Woan, First-Team Coach Steve Stone, Head of Performance Mark Howard and Goalkeeper Coach Billy Mercer.