Sam Allardyce has taken the unconventional step of cancelling Everton players’ Christmas party until further notice.
The recently appointed Goodison Park boss insisted the club must ease its way out of relegation trouble before organising any celebrations.
Everton have moved into mid-table since Allardyce’s appointment but they are still only six points above the bottom three ahead of Wednesday night’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
A planned get-together after next Monday’s home game with Swansea has been postponed as the former England manager feels it would send out the wrong message to arrange a night out.
“Yes I’ve stopped the Christmas party because it is not needed at the moment because of the position we were in when I first arrived here,” said Allardyce, as quoted by the Telegraph.
“I told the players I will pay them back when they come out of Christmas and into January and we will socialise and they can go and socialise at the right time.
“It’s off until there is a period of time when we are in a very good position that you can say lads ‘have a relaxing time which you deserve but whatever you do I don’t want a phone call telling me you’ve been in trouble because you will be in even more trouble with me than you are wherever you are out there’.
“They have turned that around already for me but I’m still going to say, ‘Look lads this is our biggest demand’.”
OPINION
The best managers have a streak of ruthlessness and Allardyce has demonstrated he is not afraid of upsetting his players by making such an unconventional demand. English clubs down the years have used pre-Christmas get-togethers as an opportunity to unwind, bond and have some down time ahead of a busy programme of fixtures. Allardyce’s headmasterly move may well backfire, and turn the players against him, but he is an experienced operator who knows how to mould a group of players to fit his demands.