REPORTS: Everton move away from Martin O’Neill as a replacement for Roberto Martinez

Time for the FAI to finally sort out that contract.

Reports on Sunday morning suggest that Everton have switched their attention from Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill to Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores if, as seems inevitable, they part company with Roberto Martinez this summer. O'Neill, who has yet to sign a new contract with the FAI, became the even money favourite to take charge at Goodison Park when he was heavily linked with the job earlier this week. But Philip Quinn in the Mail reports that support for O'Neill within Everton has wavered with only director favouring the former Sunderland manager. Former Everton manager David Moyes, Southampton boss Ronald Koeman and Bournemouth's Eddie Howe are all on a shortlist. But it is Watford's Spanish boss Flores who has now emerged as the favourite with reports in Spain claiming that Farhad Moshiri, Everton's new majority shareholder, has already made contact with the agent of the former Atletico Madrid manager. On the face of it Flores would appear a better fit than O'Neill to carry on whatever it is that Martinez has started. But the fact that O'Neill contract with the FAI remains unsigned means that he will be continually linked to jobs in the Premier League until he puts pen to paper.