Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, said today that there was “no truth whatsoever” in rumours that David Moyes has been lined up as Newcastle United’s next manager.

Kenwright said he had spoken to Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, who assured him they were not chasing Moyes.

“Mike came on the phone and I said: ‘Listen, do you know there’s rumours sweeping round Newcastle and Liverpool that you are after David?’,” Kenwright said. “He said: ‘Even if David was the greatest manager in the world - and I know you think he is - there's no way on God’s Earth we would ever, ever do that kind of thing to Everton.’

“There is no truth in it whatsoever.”

Kenwright said that he understood the pressure chairmen are under, but believes that managers need time at a club to make changes.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about loyalty,” Kenwright said. “David Moyes is the man that we are privileged to call our manager.”