Allardyce bemoans Everton fan survey: Marketing director 'clearly slipped up'

Everton fans' opinion of Sam Allardyce isn't going to cause the Toffees boss to lose any sleep.

The Merseyside club made headlines earlier in the week when it was revealed it had sent its supporters a survey asking them to rate their satisfaction with their manager on a scale of 1-10. Though Everton's fan survey is apparently a yearly tradition, it's unclear whether fans have always been able to officially provide their own take on a manager's performance.

Allardyce, though, feels allowing them the outlet was a gaffe on the club's part.

"The director of marketing and communications has clearly slipped up," Allardyce said Thursday, courtesy of Betfred. "Our department has not been asked what do we think of this survey that was going out, even though I believe the survey has been recently passed out before. I think, from my point of view and the football end's point of view, it was a big mistake. I think it's allowed you to write some beautiful headlines on that situation.

"But the actual survey question was: 'What do you think of the manager, the players, and the staff?' and, obviously, our manager and director of marketing is clearly not a great understander of football and how football works because he's into marketing and branding and market research."

Allardyce has faced his share of scrutiny from Everton fans this season since taking over from Ronald Koeman in November, including receiving boos from his supporters after a loss to Burnley in March.

He says club chairman Bill Kenwright has apologised for the survey debacle, and when asked how he would rate himself on the questionnaire, the Everton manager responded in quintessential Big Sam fashion.

"P--- off! 11!" Allardyce said, before breaking out into a laugh.