Phil Neville urges Everton to give David Unsworth an 'opportunity' as managerial search rumbles on

Former Everton captain Phil Neville has urged the Toffees to give David Unsworth the manager's job at Goodison Park on a permanent basis as the search to find Ronald Koeman's successor drags on into its fourth week.

Everton sacked Koeman over three weeks ago and have been linked with a host of names since the Dutchman departed Merseyside. Sam Allardyce, Carlo Ancelotti and Marco Silva have all been linked with the Goodison Park hotseat, but the Toffees hierarchy are seemingly no closer to finding a new permanent manager.

Unsworth was installed as interim boss in the wake of Koeman's dismissal and has overseen one victory and three defeats in his second spell as caretaker boss. 'Rhino' has publicly spoken of his desire to succeed Koeman permanently, and Neville, who skippered the Toffees for seven seasons, is desperate to see a young British coach in Unsworth be given the reins at a top Premier League club.

"I want David Unsworth to get an opportunity," Neville told Sky Sports. "He knows the club, he was a player he's coached the U23s, he's produced so many brilliant young players. I know he's had four games but I hope he gets longer than that.

"One, I think he's a good person. Two, he's done his hard graft in the youth team and the U23s, I hope as a young English coach he gets an opportunity to do well.

"There are not many managers out there capable of managing a club like Everton. Everton deserves the best, it's a club that shouldn't be down the bottom of the table with the investment they've made."

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright was initially keen to appoint Unsworth as Koeman's successor, but majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has been exploring a number of candidates and target for the vacant position.

After being told in no uncertain terms to look elsewhere by Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo in light of their apparent interest in Diego Simeone, Everton saw fit to make a formal approach for Watford boss Silva, who has done little to discourage their engrossment.

Moshiri was willing to pay £8.5m in order to prise Silva away from Vicarage Road, according to the Times, but Watford have no interest in parting with the Portuguese and rejected Everton's request to speak to him on Monday (13 November). It remains to be seen what the Toffees decide to do next, with Unsworth extremely likely to be in charge for the visit to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday [18 November].