David Moyes signs new five-year contract with Everton

However, he revealed last week he had contemplated quitting before being persuaded to stay on by former Newcastle and England manager Sir Bobby Robson.

But Moyes has now reaffirmed his commitment to Everton, and said: "There have been many different things for different reasons but we are here now and the big thing for me is that I am at Everton, as far as I am concerned, for another five years and the job is to make us better than we have been.

"I am really excited and really pleased. I am pleased for everybody - I'm pleased for myself and my family who were desperate to get it signed and secured and it is always what I wanted to do."

Moyes succeeded Walter Smith as Everton manager back in March 2002 and has since overseen a

transformation in the playing fortunes of the club.

The 45-year-old was named LMA Manager of the Year in 2003 and 2005, the latter recognition for guiding his team to fourth place and a crack at Champions League qualification.

Moyes has also earned Everton successive European berths for the first time in 30 years and reached the semi-final of the Carling Cup last season, as well as three top-six finishes in his six full seasons at the club.

"I have enjoyed my time here so far and I am looking forward to the next part as well," said Moyes. "There is definitely a consistency at the club; players know what they are doing and staff know what they are doing.

"It's a great football club and I am privileged to be the manager.

"Since I took over six years ago, I think there has been an improvement and the job is that I want a similar improvement over the next five years or so.

"I want the ambition to be greater. I want the expectancy to be higher and I want Everton overall to be higher on the field and off the field. I am determined to try and take it forward."

Moyes had admitted last month that the uncertainty surrounding his new contract had started to have an adverse effect on his team's performances.

Everton are currently in 15th place in the Premier League table after winning just two of their first seven games, and have already been dumped out of the Carling and UEFA Cups.

But, buoyed by the news of Moyes's deal, the Goodison outfit will now look to begin climbing up the table, starting at Arsenal on Saturday.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who brought Moyes to the club six-and- a-half years ago, was desperate for the Scot to extend his Goodison association.

And Kenwright added: "There have always been two people - myself and David - confident that the long-term future of the manager would eventually be secured.

"The signatures of those two people are now on a contract. I am obviously very pleased that the contract, that I've always believed to be the most important contract, is now concluded."