David Moyes believes that Everton will maintain their status as a top-six Premier League side when he leaves the club for Manchester United.

The Scotsman will call time on his 11-year career at Goodison Park when he takes the reins at Old Trafford from Sir Alex Ferguson, who has announced his retirement after 26 years, in July.

"I have always wanted to give the players all we can and I told them we would be at the top of the league and keep getting better," Sky Sports News quotes Moyes as saying at the club's end-of-season awards dinner.

"This group of players is great. They police themselves, in training every day they demand it and they will not allow that to change, they know the standards and they know what is required."

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez is thought to be a leading contender for the vacancy.