Gus Poyet says he could leave Brighton after their play-off defeat to enhance claims he could become the next Everton boss.

Two goals from Wilfried Zaha gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 victory over Brighton in the Championship play-off semi-final on Monday night to end Poyet's side's chances of securing promotion to the Premier League this season.

The result has led the Uruguayan to question his future and could open the door for a possible move to Goodison Park in the summer to replace the outgoing David Moyes.

The former Spurs and Chelsea midfielder is an outsider for the Everton post at the minute, behind the likes of Roberto Martinez, Neil Lennon, Alan Stubbs and Malky Mackay, but he is thought to be among the initial list of potential candidates chairman Bill Kenwright drew up in the aftermath of Moyes' decision to leave.

"I've not been in this situation but I don't like it," Poyet said after his side's play-off heartache. "It's changed my view completely about everything I was prepared for, so we'll see now.

"I have always said that all the time we keep improving I am going to be at this football club and the day we hit the roof, I'm not.

"Is there something more? Right now I don't know, so I need to make sure I know there is, because if not I am not going to stay forever."

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