Former Everton and Manchester United No. 2 Steve Round has reiterated his desire to go into management, denying reports of an imminent move to Sunderland as part of new boss Sam Allardyce’s backroom staff.
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Round, who worked under Allardyce during his stint at North East rivals Newcastle, is holding out for a head coach role.
The 44-year-old’s last position was at Derby County under now Newcastle boss Steve McLaren, following an ill-fated spell at Manchester United with another long-term associate, David Moyes.
Asked about rumours of joining Allardyce at the Stadium of Light, Round told Sport360: “It’s a bit too soon for that.
“I promised myself that at least until Christmas time I’d have a go myself. If it doesn’t work then I’ll drop back but if you look at the Premier League, I think there will be a lot of changes.”
Round turned down a role with McLaren at the start of the season, citing his desire to move into the managerial hotseat at a club rather than remain an understudy.
The former Derby player followed Moyes to Old Trafford in July 2013 and exited with him in April the following year after a disappointing spell at the club.
Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout, an unenviable task but one that Round believes could have been a success had they been given more time.
“I just think they didn’t quite give us enough time, that’s all I can say really,” said Round of his time at United.
“It was always going to be difficult following Sir Alex. Sir Alex is such an iconic manager, arguably the greatest manager to have worked and lived in England, that’s for sure.
“To follow him was always going to take time to change the culture of the club to your own philosophy and move it very slowly as it’s already got a fantastically engrained culture there, it’s a wonderful place to work. I have to say I loved it there.
“We just didn’t quite get enough time. I think I saw after about 50 games that Louis van Gaal and David Moyes had a very similar record. Louis has spent a little bit more money and been given a little bit more time and I think they’ll be really successful. They could win the league this year, it could be very close.
“I’ve got no complaints really. If you don’t win enough football matches then you don’t keep your job and we didn’t win enough football matches.”
Round recently visited Moyes in Sociedad to watch the Scot’s side take on Atlhletic Bilbao in the Basque derby and although his long-term friend is under pressure following a stuttering start to his first full season in charge, Round believes he has the ability to turn around their fortunes.
Sam Allardyce to step up Steve Round pursuit after Phil Brown rejects job offer. #SAFC http://t.co/qZ7kIfV7jP pic.twitter.com/c59Bw2B4iy
— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) October 15, 2015
“I was out there the other week. [Moyes] invited me out there and I watched them train,” explained Round, who was in Dubai to help run coaching workshops with E-Sports.
“I had a great three days with him and he was on great form. The team’s not started as well as he’d have liked, that’s for sure. He’s been disappointed in the results but thinks it will turn.
“He’s a top manager and a top coach and I think he’s got the basis of a decent team. There always going to be competitive and I think he’ll turn it around this year.”
