Everton had prepared for the eventuality of Moyes leaving, with his contract due to expire in the summer, but were taken aback by the speed of events over the last 48 hours.

However, they are determined not to allow the issue to overshadow their final two matches of the season and this afternoon’s 1.30pm press conference is to preview tomorrow’s visit of West Ham.

In announcing details of their weekly press conference Everton said: “Please note Mr Moyes will not be answering any questions on the subject of Manchester United or his appointment as the club’s new manager.”

Celtic's Neil Lennon, Wigan's Roberto Martinez and Porto's Vitor Pereira are the front-runners to replace Moyes at Everton.

However, the agent of Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has ruled out the Dane - who reportedly has a £10million buy-out clause – from the race.

“Michael is very happy at Swansea. We do not think about any other possibilities,” Bayram Tutumlu is quoted as saying by the South Wales Echo.

“He will not be changing clubs. He likes Swansea and is very settled.

“People always talk about Michael becoming a coach of other clubs because he has done very well.

“But he is the manager of Swansea and that will not change. The Swansea fans do not need to worry. He will be there next season.”

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has learned a lesson from losing Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool last summer – for somewhere between £3million and £5million in compensation – and has put an even higher price on Laudrup.

But he does not feel that the clause will even be tested.

“Michael has made it clear he is not looking to move on,” he said.

“He is not a guy who needs publicity. He is doing a job he loves doing and he is happy here.

“He is different from some managers. He is not on the ladder to try to get the top.

“He only said the other day that he will not be bothered if he does not go on to manage a top club.”

While Neil Lennon's managerial experience has yet to be tested in England, he has been in charge of Celtic in the Champions League and that provides a good grounding.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon insists there is no question his namesake could hack it in the Premier League’s top six.

“There is no doubt Neil could handle the Everton job,” he said.

“The experience he has picked up here in his short spell as a manager, the way he has handled himself, shows he has matured into a man who could go and lead a top club.

“He has had a fantastic season with Celtic and has collected a lot of experience of European football having pitted his wits against arguably the best team in the world, Barcelona.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he’s getting linked with this type of post.

“And it’s a great sign for Scottish football that Neil’s name has been mentioned.

“It’s been a positive week all round in terms of managers who have started their careers up here in Scotland featuring in the headlines.

“We seem to have a wee knack of sending these guys south and them being successful. It’s great to see.

“It’s sad in a way that Sir Alex is retiring. It’s the end of an era.

“But we have got another Scot in Davie (Moyes) going in and it’s the ambition of any young coach to reach those levels.

“It makes you proud to be Scottish.”