Duncan Ferguson says having played or coached at Everton should not automatically mean you should get a "crack at the job" as the club searches for a new manager.
Ferguson will take caretaker charge of the Blues for a second spell following the sacking of Rafa Benitez last weekend.
Everton welcome Aston Villa to Goodison with Big Dunc confident of getting a response from a squad of players who have won just one of their last 13 league games.
Ferguson received a call from ex-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti this week having already told the players, in no uncertain terms, that they have fallen way below the standards expected.
The 50-year-old believes that "one day" he will get the chance to become Everton's permanent manager but has been playing down his chances of replacing Benitez.
Roberto Martinez, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard have all been placed under consideration, along with Ferguson, who says the club must look for "that experienced" manager.
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"I don't think because you know the club you deserve to get a crack at the job," Ferguson said.
"The club are always going to look for the manager who they think is the right man for the job, whoever that guy is.
"They are out there now looking for the right guy for the job and I'm here to steady the ship until the new manager comes in. The club will always look for that experienced manager and who they feel can bring success to the club."
But Ferguson has been using his knowledge and love for Everton to make it crystal clear to the players what is expected on Saturday lunchtime against Villa.
Big Dunc says he didn't ask what the players thought - he just delivered a stern message.
"I just told them, to be honest with you," he said.
"People have to be told a few home truths. The form has not been good enough and the fans expect much, much more. That was basically the message. We are here for the fans, that's it. We are here to play for them so I got that message to them, but in stronger terms than that."
He later added: "The last few days the way I have dealt with it is that it has not been good enough has it? It's been a long time losing, losing and losing and not getting results. So really the gloves are off now. You can get right in there, right after them now because everybody knows in the club, in the city, that the performances have not been at the level we expect. So I've got right into them over that."
Were any of the players surprised?
"No. You just need reminding sometimes don't you?" Ferguson added.
"I'm sure they know what it's like to play for Everton, or they think they know, until someone who has been at the club for a long time and has that experience and who loves the club like me tells them. I think they took it on board to be fair. When you get a lot of bad results the confidence goes down and you can forget that message, so I reminded them why they are here."
Ferguson was in caretaker charge for four matches in late 2019, following the sacking of Marco Silva and has been told he is in the hot-seat for Everton's "upcoming games" this time around.
The club hero has been playing down his chances of landing the job permanently but when asked if he would be ready to accept the job, if offered it, Ferguson said: "The club are looking for experience, aren't they?
"I believe in myself and I believe one day I'll become a great manager. I know I can do the coaching.
"Hopefully one day, whenever that day is, I'll become the permanent Everton manager.
"Of course they are always going to be looking out for the top boys, the guys with the big CVs and the guys who have done a lot of winning and won trophies. And so they should.
"At the end of the day we are one of the greatest clubs in the world. Why not look for one of the greatest managers in the world?"
But Ferguson was prepared to acknowledge that in Everton's hour of need, in the wake of Benitez's sacking and the team only five points clear of the bottom three, there is nobody better placed than him to be caretaker boss.
“There will be many, many managers who are qualified to manage Everton," he said.
"They will have more qualifications than I have got, trophies won and experience and things like that. But right now - because we have lost a manager such a short period of time ago - right now I would probably be the best man to take it on just now. I am sure the club, down the line, will find the right man for this position.”
