David Unsworth is leaving Everton due to the recent arrival of new technical director Kevin Thelwell, it has been claimed.

The Daily Mail says Thelwell's determination to overhaul the club's youth set-up behind the departure of long-serving academy director David Unsworth last week.

Thelwell is understood to have been baffled that Unsworth was combining his duties as academy boss with a secondary role as Under 23 manager and demanded that the former Everton defender relinquish some of his responsibilities, which he was reluctant to do.

Unsworth instead opted to leave, citing a desire to pursue a managerial career, having twice served as a caretaker boss at Everton, with Thelwell's influence demonstrated by the fact that the club are planning to recruit both an academy director and an Under 23 manager to replace him.