West Ham United have told technical director, Tim Steidten, to stay away from David Moyes and the first team for the rest of the season.

Steidten has been leading the search for potential new managers with Hammers boss Moyes, 61, out of contract this summer and unlikely to stay on at the London Stadium.

The German has met with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and ex-Real Madrid and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui, who is the current front-runner should Moyes depart.

Moyes and Steidten have often clashed over potential targets or transfers since the latter was appointed in July last year, though their relationship was said to have improved until of late.

Steidten can often be seen pitchside before games in discussion with the ex-Manchester United manager, while he is often around the tunnel and changing room after games.

However, with tensions increasing over Moyes' future, a decision has now been made to keep the two apart at both the London Stadium and the club's Rush Green training ground.

The former director at Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen will still attend West Ham's final three games against Chelsea, Luton and Manchester City.

Sources at the club say it is so that the manager and players can focus on a strong end to the season and Steidten can continue to work on planning for the future.

West Ham have enjoyed deep European runs during the last three seasons in a row under Moyes' stewardship.

They bowed out of this season's Europa League at the quarter-final stage after losing to Leverkusen last month.

The Hammers are still in the chase for European football next season, sitting eighth in the Premier League with three games remaining.

Moyes' men will need favours from elsewhere, however, as they are four points behind seventh-placed Newcastle and five off Manchester United.