David Moyes has urged David Unsworth to leave Everton and find his own way in management.
Unsworth's chances of landing the permanent role at Goodison Park appear to be dwindling with Sam Allardyce apparently back in the frame.
Former Toffees defender Unsworth has been manning the fort for five weeks since Ronald Koeman was sacked but has picked up just one win from seven matches.
Assuming Unsworth does not get the job Moyes, who managed the centre-half during his 11 years in charge of Everton, has told him to look elsewhere rather than go back to coaching the under-23s.
“If he doesn’t take the Everton job I think I would tell ‘Unsy’ to go and manage somewhere and earn your corn,” said Moyes.
“If you want to move on go and get a job in the Championship or League One.
“I think there has been a generation of really good players out there who I believe should go and manage and try and come up.
“I would say earn your stripes first and show you can organise so that you can control the team and show that your training works, all the things that are linked with management and leadership.
“I still believe the best thing to do is to go out and trust yourself to win a few games wherever you go.”
However, Moyes will not be passing on that advice when he returns to Goodison with West Ham on Wednesday night.
“No, because I think one way or another David Unsworth will still be hoping he will still be Everton manager, and why should he not be? He has to do that,” added Moyes.
“But if he doesn’t get it, he has done a very good job with the under-23s.
“He won the league last year, they are up towards the top of the league and you look at the players Everton are bringing through, the Tom Davies’ of the world, and a few more.
“Maybe the next step is for ‘Unsy’ is to try and get a decent job which would give him a chance of getting into management level and get a few years under his belt.”
West Ham will kick-off in the relegation zone but a victory would see them climb above the Toffees.
