Everton boss David Moyes admits he may not be able to satisfy his ambitions at Goodison Park

David Moyes takes Everton into the Merseyside derby with uncertainty over his own future as much as his club’s.

Struggling for form on the pitch and back to square one in their bid for a new stadium, Everton could now face the real threat of losing their manager.

Moyes, who has been in charge for nearly eight years, has hinted for the first time he may not be able to satisfy his ambition for success at Goodison Park.

Rumours of a split are growing and Moyes found it difficult to suppress his anxiety over the team’s plight.

And even though the club have no immediate need to spend on a stadium, the Scot says he will have to seek loan deals rather than buy players in the January window.

In a candid submission, he said: “I want to be involved with a football club that makes progress. I’ve got a lump at the back of my throat because I’m finding it hard to say we’re making progress.

“The one thing I wanted to do here was make progress every year and I think we’ve done that in the League and qualifying for Europe and reaching the FA Cup Final.

“But it’s not the case this season. That’s come to an end. We’re not doing so well in the League, so it’s the word progress that worries me more than anything.

“I think the rumours will always come. It would be Everton first of all I’d have to thank for giving me the opportunity to do this.

“I am ambitious. I want to be in the FA Cup Final. I want to be challenging near the top of the League. I want to be going into derby games feeling there is an even chance and I want to go to Old Trafford thinking if we’re on form we can beat them.

“That’s what I want to do. And last year we went into big games thinking, ‘We’re more than a match for them’. At the moment we’re not. It’s not my style to come out and say anything different.”

Moyes insists he has a “great relationship” with chairman Bill Kenwright, who he acknowledges doesn’t have the financial muscle to compete with the wealthiest clubs in the land.

He is equally appreciative of his bond with the fans, but would not be prepared to outstay his welcome at Everton.

Moyes said: “I don’t want them to be saying, ‘Hey, we want rid of him because his time’s up’. If that’s the case I’d say, ‘Give it to someone else, then’.

“If it’s not going well maybe I’d be the first to say to the chairman, ‘Maybe my time’s up’. But then in the same breath I’d say, ‘Come on chairman, we’ve got to find more investment’.

“I know, though, that he’s not sitting at home keeping all the money.

“You might have a chairman from Abu Dhabi or Mars, but we’ve a chairman from Liverpool who’s trying to do the best for his team.”