Season › 2013-14 › News Barry relieved to secure Everton loan Lyndon Lloyd , 3 September, 0comments | Jump to most recent Gareth Barry has revealed that the desire for regular first-team football was the driver behind his keenness to join Everton on loan for the season, a move that both the player and his new manager say could become permanent next year. The England international made a deadline-beating switch from the Etihad Stadium to Goodison following Marouane Fellaini's transfer to Manchester United and he admits that he feared having to return to life on the bench at Manchester City. It was a close-run thing, though, with confirmation of the loan deal not coming until after the 11pm deadline after City expressed reluctance to let the 32 year-old go if it wasn't to be on a permanent basis. “I think when you get into that last hour and there are still a few snags between the two clubs, with not everything sorted yet, you do fear the worst and start thinking you might be going into training with Manchester City,” Barry said. “But I'm grateful it all went through.” “It was important for me [to decide] whether I was happy to see out my last year at Manchester City and not really feature at all,” he continued. “That was never something I was going to be comfortable with I think." Barry described the nervy last hour before his deal was ratified, which included having to kill time in his car before he was allowed to drive into Finch Farm. “I was sitting at home about 7pm and then you get a call,” he explained. “Then you're sitting in your car and they're saying it's not done so you can't make the full journey into the training ground. “I was driving around, just wasting time, and then eventually stopped for a coffee. When it got to about 10.30 I was just around the corner — quite close, but not in sight of the cameras because you learn all the time from things you've seen before. "I was watching that last year [with Peter Odemwingie]. Speaking to people on the phone you're getting reassurances, but when it's getting towards half 10, you're thinking, ‘there's not much time here!' “I didn't come in through the door until after 10.30, and you start thinking, ‘what's the point when I start panicking?' You do start fearing the worst and I did start thinking that I might have to go into training with Man City tomorrow. “I'm sitting here and all of a sudden James McCarthy walks in through the door. We were watching Sky Sports and saw Lukaku was done as well, so that was great news.” His new manager, Roberto Martinez, was equally grateful to add the experienced midfielder to his squad and didn't rule out keeping him beyond the 2-13-14 season. “What we want is to find a way where Gareth can come and be a part of Everton and enjoy his football, and we can all enjoy his experience and his quality," the Spaniard said. “After that, we will see if there is an opportunity to see him for many, many years to come — because I do believe Gareth has got a long-term future at the club.” Quotes or other material sourced from The Telegraph About these ads © ToffeeWeb