Ray Hall believes there's several players in the current Everton academy capable of making the first team.
Hall is being replaced by Alan Irvine as Everton academy chief this season.
He told Liverpool Echo: "I think that's for Alan to decide himself and it would be wrong of me to say we've got another 10 Wayne Rooney's in the building, that isn't true.
"But I do believe the quality, and maybe not every season, but the quality from our young players, we've got as good a group of players here that anyone else would have.
"I do believe that there are five or six in the programme who, if I've learned anything in the last 25 years I wouldn't make rash statements about, but if their development continues and with Alan's appointment that will be enhanced, why they shouldn't go on and play in our first-team.
"I think possibly we could do with more outstanding young players and the way the programme and structure is set up now and the changes that are coming about in the next couple of years, I think we will be as well placed as any club in this country and possibly in Europe to become recognised for the development of young players."
