Moyes shoulders the blame

26 January 2012 16:46

Everton boss David Moyes has attempted to deflect criticism from chairman Bill Kenwright by taking responsibility for the club's perceived failings.

A faction of disgruntled supporters believe Everton have stagnated under Kenwright due to a lack of investment and want him to sell his stake in the club. Kenwright has long said he is willing to do that if he can find a suitable investor but there have been peaceful fan protests against his ownership this season.

Some fans also voiced their disquiet after last week's frustrating Barclays Premier League draw with Blackburn, but Moyes believes it is up to the team to put that right, saying: "The only negativity there is is because of how the team play. We have not played well enough. It is nothing to do with the board of directors or the chairman, it is to do with me and the team."

He added: "We have got to do better on the pitch. If the team plays better it lifts the mood and people change.

"We need to perform better and win more often. If we do that it will change everything. Winning football games is always the answer so I will take responsibility for that."

Moyes has brought in Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan on loan and Darron Gibson from Manchester United this month but the club have still not paid a significant transfer fee for more than two years.

The other notable piece of business in the current transfer window so far is outgoing with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov poised to complete a move to Spartak Moscow.

A fee thought to be around £5million has been agreed for the 26-year-old Russian winger, who has failed to command a regular starting place since his £9million arrival from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2009.

Moyes said: "Billy has been here and maybe not quite reached what we wanted but I couldn't fault anything he did. I am disappointed because he was such a good professional and a great boy to work with.

"He was tremendously committed when he played for us and was really keen to be a success here. From that point of view I have no failings with him at all and we wish him well."

Source: PA