Former Celt is the new favourite for Everton job

Malky Mackay is today’s favourite to succeed Davie Moyes as manager of Everton.

A trickle of bets saw the odds on the Cardiff City boss moving to Goodison cut from 20/1 down to 2/1.

 That triggered reports that an approach had been made to the Welsh side to speak to their manager with Cardiff chief Simon Lim denying that contact had been made from Goodison.

Lim said: “We are moving forward with Malky as our manager. We have not had an approach from any club. Our meeting lasted several hours, we talked about our plans for next season.

“At no stage did Malky give any indication that he would not be Cardiff City manager going forward.

“We met specifically to discuss next season. We were focused on plans for our football club between today and the start of next season.

“We talked in detail and the meeting lasted several hours. Malky did not give any indication at any stage that things may change.”

Since Moyes confirmed his decision to leave Everton for Manchester United Roberto Martinez, Michael Laudrup, Neil Lennon and now Mackay have had the dubious label of ‘new favourite for the job’.

A week ago Moyes was preparing to take Everton to Anfield with Ferguson’s sudden departure taking the former Celt by surprise.

“I don’t think anybody ever thought that the day would come when Alex Ferguson retired,” Moyes admitted. “I think we all thought he was superhuman.

“I said last week in a press conference that he was a great example to everybody in their 70s, in terms of how you work.

“Life’s changing. We’re all living longer; we’re all working longer; eating healthier; doing all the things you would hope would give you a much longer life.

“And I didn’t know anything, just the same as you people. He will be sorely missed. He will be sorely missed by a lot of the managers in football, because he would always speak to them; he always had a quiet word for anybody who was out of work or going into a job.

“I know how much he’s respected and I’m sure you do. The respect for him is beyond any words.”

Comparisons have been made in the career paths between Moyes and Ferguson with the next Manchester United boss admitting that the man from Govan has been an inspiration.

“We’re probably from slightly different eras as age groups go,” he added. “But I grew up looking at Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson. They were the managers I looked at when I was in Scotland growing up.

“He’s always been someone I admired. And as the years have gone by, he’s someone I started to compete against, which was big enough and daunting enough.

“Everybody’s got great admiration for him, and any words I say wouldn’t do him justice because of what the man’s done.”